Portrait of the Author as a Young Atomist
Reminiscences Of A Developmental Ontology
What if your earliest memories were filled not just with wonder—but with questions that shook the foundations of belief?
In Portrait of the Author as a Young Atomist, Dr. Sheldon Katz invites readers into the raw, thoughtful terrain of a young mind awakening to the complexities of faith, free will, morality, and the very nature of existence. Blending memoir with philosophical reflection, Katz chronicles his journey from a tradition-bound childhood to an adulthood marked by intellectual emancipation. Through candid recollections — from battling guilt as a boy over breaking Sabbath rules to questioning the justice of God in the face of the Holocaust — the author explores the evolution of consciousness with clarity, wit, and emotional depth. Each chapter unfolds a layer of his internal transformation, leading to a powerful conclusion: that the meaning of life is not found in divine answers but in the courage to think, love, and live freely.
This book is for seekers, skeptics, and thinkers—anyone who has dared to ask, “What do I believe, and why?”
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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
“…sensitive thought-provoking insight from a bright mind”
—Robert Skrydlo
“Portrait of the Author” does all the thinking about the complexities of mere existence that most of us are too distracted to think about.
—Sean Barlow
Senior Writer. Creative Group Head, Leo Burnett Canada
Sheldon’s “Portrait” takes us on a journey of reason, question, contradiction and finally conclusion. His fascinating struggle with logic, philosophy, religion and good and evil reflects his own anomalous perspective of life. He provides a sort of solace for those who dare to question or challenge the dogma which chains us to our past and stifles our expression of free thought.
—Rachel Fox VP Maclaren McCann
The Author
Sheldon Katz is a Family Physician who has been in practice for almost 57 years. He lives in Toronto.
Buy the Book
From Sabbath guilt to existential inquiry, Dr. Katz shares a bold, deeply personal awakening—inviting seekers to rethink belief, morality, and the courage to live freely.
