According to the doctrine of original sin, all humans are born bad and only God’s grace can bring salvation. James Boyce shows how these ideas have shaped the Western view of human nature, and how the belief that we are all innately sinful retains a firm grip on Western consciousness and culture – even in the writings of avowed atheists such as Marx and Freud. Born Bad traces a fascinating journey from Adam and Eve all the way to Adam Smith and Richard Dawkins in this sweeping story of a controversial idea and its remarkable influence.

Ambitious, thought-provoking … an easy read on an ignored but central and timely topic. * The Tablet *
Born Bad is one of the best books on the history of the evolution of Christianity and its ideology. It is beautifully written and very well argued. This book is a necessary read for all those who are interested in Christianity, its evolution, and its history. * Washington Book Review *
Boyce leads us into new understandings of some of the central figures in Western culture... This is an exceptional, highly recommended work, innovative and creative in surprising ways. * Publisher's Weekly *
A brilliant and exhilarating work of popular scholarship. * The Washington Post *

James Boyce is an honorary research associate of the School of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Tasmania, and a multiple award-winning author.