Pitchstone’s mission is to publish noteworthy books that promote secular principles, scientific literacy, humanist ideals, and liberal ethics — or, put another way, those Enlightenment values that stand against superstition, intolerance, and bigotry. At the same time, we recognize that there is much about the world that we still do not understand, that people can have honest differences of opinion about important issues, and that no one person, discipline, or approach will have a monopoly on the truth. Thus, we believe that the best way to arrive at reality-based conclusions and optimal solutions in any domain — whether scientific, political, or social — is through the application of evidence-based reason and the pursuit of good-faith debate, whether in conversation, essays and articles, or, of course, books. Above and beyond our stated mission, therefore, Pitchstone is committed to freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of conscience. To borrow novelist Salman Rushdie’s memorable phrasing, “Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game.”
Founded as a traditional trade publisher, Pitchstone released its first title, PsychoBible: Behavior, Religion, and the Holy Book, by acclaimed psychiatrist Armando Favazza, in 2003. That volume, which “in lively, witty, certain to be controversial chapters . . . delineates contradictory messages about current issues in the Bible” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), presaged both the string of best-selling books that would later come to define New Atheism and the rapid growth of the so-called nones, those individuals who do not identify with any particular religion. It also laid the foundation for Pitchstone’s future catalog, with each new title, in its own way, questioning received dogma and contributing to this ever-evolving discussion about the world and our place in it — specifically, about what we know, why we know it, and how we can apply what we know for the greatest benefit to all.
Today, Pitchstone’s contributors include first-time writers, world-renowned academics, popular bloggers, Hollywood screenwriters, intrepid activists, New York Times–best-selling authors, and religious and spiritual leaders. Some have likely changed their minds about issues of substance that they once thought they had exactly right. Meanwhile, Pitchstone’s titles include those that have made national best-seller lists and international book-of-the-year lists, informed grassroots activism and policy initiatives, helped shape university courses, and inspired theatrical and documentary projects. Some have likely gotten some things wrong, even if they got much right.
Considered by many to be the leading publisher of books for the secular humanist market, Pitchstone serves, more broadly, all those who believe in an honest and open search for what’s true. As part of this commitment to the free exchange of ideas, we seek to publish new, marginalized, or oft-ignored voices that deserve more attention in the debate and to explore those questions that might be deemed “controversial” by some but that are fundamental to the discussion.
A note about our name: Pitchstone is a glassy volcanic rock that forms when silica-rich magma is subjected to rapid cooling, such as when freshly erupted molten lava makes contact with cool water. Found in a variety of geological settings, it is notable for being resistant to erosion while being workable as a tool. For us, this dramatic physical phenomenon serves as a striking metaphor for the process of writing, editing, and publishing a book, particularly one that is relevant not just today but also tomorrow.
