"In this compelling and highly original book, Paul Seabright combines sympathetic vignettes of believers and practices with shrewd analysis to generate insights that illuminate both a key area of contemporary life and its historical roots."-- Robin Briggs, author of Witches and Neighbours: The Social and Cultural Context of European Witchcraft "This brilliant, challenging, and remarkably wide-ranging book is daringly built around a seemingly simple proposition: all religions are platforms, comparable to the digital platforms that have transformed our world. With inexhaustible curiosity, subtle intelligence, and a deeply sympathetic understanding of human needs and longings, Paul Seabright has illuminated not only the functioning of religions throughout world history but also their ability to survive and flourish in the contemporary world."-- Stephen Greenblatt, author of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern "The coming of commercial society and its dissolving status-society structures provoked countermovements--nation and religion. Paul Seabright's brilliant book begins the exploration of how commercial society can be strengthened by religion, and religion strengthened by commercial society."-- J. Bradford DeLong, author of Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History of the Twentieth Century "Erudite, expansive, and elegant, this is a wonderful book. With characteristic eloquence and charm, Seabright demonstrates the continued resilience of religion in debates about economics, politics, and the global challenges facing our world today.

"-- Sriya Iyer, author of The Economics of Religion in India "The gods may be beyond all understanding, says Paul Seabright in this marvelous book, but the organizations that speak for them are not. Looking into everything from artificial intelligence to the past, present, and future of popes, he shows how religions, like any other businesses, must compete for consumers and build brand loyalty or lose their market share. Religion will never look quite the same after you have read this book."-- Ian Morris, author of Geography Is Destiny : Britain and the World, A 10,000-Year History "If religion or economics has always baffled you, this thoughtful and witty book is the key to unlock the mystery. The best of both disciplines for the most skeptical reader."-- Sheilagh Ogilvie, author of The European Guilds: An Economic Analysis "Have you ever wondered why so many people are religious? Paul Seabright's beautifully written book draws on economics, history, anthropology, and evolution to explain how religious movements attract power, resources, and followers. Who would not want to join that club? Challenging skeptics who have wondered how people could be so illogical as to follow a religion, Seabright explains why it is not illogical at all."-- Ruth Mace, University College London "Business economics meets religion--the result is original, illuminating, sometimes surprising, and always enjoyable to read.

"-- John Kay, coauthor of Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making for an Unknowable Future.