Prometheus Books
Prometheus Books was a publishing company founded in August 1969 by the philosopher Paul Kurtz (who was also the founder of the Council for Secular Humanism, Center for Inquiry, and co-founder of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry). The publisher's name was derived from Prometheus, the Titan from Greek mythology who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to man. This act is often used as a metaphor for bringing knowledge or enlightenment.
| Parent company | Rowman & Littlefield |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Paul Kurtz |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Amherst, New York |
| Key people | Jonathan Kurtz, President |
| Nonfiction topics | Skeptical literature, atheism |
| Imprints | Humanity Books (for academic works in the humanities) |
| Official website | prometheusbooks |
Prometheus Books published a range of books, focusing on topics such as science, freethought, secularism, humanism, and skepticism. It published in the "atheism" category since its founding in 1969, and is considered the "grandfather" of atheist publishing in America.
Their headquarters was located in Amherst, New York, and they published worldwide. Jonathan Kurtz was an executive editor of Prometheus. Rowman & Littlefield acquired Prometheus Books in 2019.
The publisher has roughly 1,700 books currently in print, and publishes approximately 95–100 books per year. Since its founding, Prometheus Books has published more than 2,500 books.