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Hitch-22
- A Memoir
- Narrated by: Christopher Hitchens
- Length: 17 hrs and 29 mins
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Hitch-22
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Arguably
- By: Christopher Hitchens
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 28 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 13
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 10
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Story5 out of 5 stars 10
Shortlisted for the 2012 Orwell Prize. 'As soon as we abandon our own reason', wrote Bertrand Russell, 'and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles.' For over 40 years, Christopher Hitchens has proclaimed truth where others have spun falsehood and written, with passionate commitment, on matters that others fear to broach. This volume of essays encompasses Hitchens's writing over the past decade on politics, literature and religion.
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5 out of 5 stars
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As always, a great read.
- By Ron Hammond on 14-12-2022
-
The Four Horsemen
- The Discussion That Sparked an Atheist Revolution
- By: Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel C. Dennett, and others
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry, Richard Dawkins, Daniel C. Dennett, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 185
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 150
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 149
Known as the ‘four horsemen’ of New Atheism, these four big thinkers of the 21st century met only once. Their electrifying examination of ideas on this remarkable occasion was intense and wide-ranging. Everything that was said as they agreed and disagreed with one another, interrogated ideas and exchanged insights - about religion and atheism, science and sense - speaks with urgency to our present age.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it but
- By daniel on 19-02-2019
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Letters to a Young Contrarian
- By: Christopher Hitchens
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 15
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 12
In the book that he was born to write, provocateur and best-selling author Christopher Hitchens inspires future generations of radicals, gadflies, mavericks, rebels, angry young (wo)men, and dissidents. Who better to speak to that person who finds him or herself in a contrarian position than Hitchens, who has made a career of disagreeing in profound and entertaining ways.
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5 out of 5 stars
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How fortunate that Hitchens left this legacy!
- By Nigel Jarvis on 10-10-2021
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The Portable Atheist
- Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever
- By: Christopher Hitchens
- Narrated by: Nicholas Ball
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 28
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 25
Christopher Hitchens continues to make the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of the influential voices past and present that have shaped his side of the current (and raging) God/no-god debate. With Hitchens as your erudite and witty guide, you'll be led through a wealth of philosophy, literature, and scientific inquiry, including generous portions of the words of Lucretius, Benedict de Spinoza, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Mark Twain, and more.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Incomplete
- By Amazon Customer on 23-04-2017
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The Missionary Position
- Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice
- By: Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Mallon - foreword
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 2 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
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Story5 out of 5 stars 53
"A religious fundamentalist, a political operative, a primitive sermonizer, and an accomplice of worldly secular powers. Her mission has always been of this kind. The irony is that she has never been able to induce anybody to believe her. It is past time that she was duly honored and taken at her word." Among his many books, perhaps none have sparked more outrage than The Missionary Position, Christopher Hitchens's meticulous study of the life and deeds of Mother Teresa.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Classic Hitch
- By rohan hughes on 06-03-2017
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The Trial of Henry Kissinger
- By: Christopher Hitchens, Ariel Dorfman - introduction
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 35
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
"If the courts and lawyers of this country will not do their duty, we shall watch as the victims and survivors of this man pursue justice and vindication in their own dignified and painstaking way, and at their own expense, and we shall be put to shame." Forget Pinochet, Milosevic, Hussein, Kim Jong-il, or Gaddafi: America need look no further than its own lauded leaders for a war criminal whose offenses rival those of the most heinous dictators in recent history-Henry Kissinger.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The man who created the American Empire
- By Daryl on 22-04-2022
-
Arguably
- By: Christopher Hitchens
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 28 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 10
Shortlisted for the 2012 Orwell Prize. 'As soon as we abandon our own reason', wrote Bertrand Russell, 'and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles.' For over 40 years, Christopher Hitchens has proclaimed truth where others have spun falsehood and written, with passionate commitment, on matters that others fear to broach. This volume of essays encompasses Hitchens's writing over the past decade on politics, literature and religion.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
As always, a great read.
- By Ron Hammond on 14-12-2022
-
The Four Horsemen
- The Discussion That Sparked an Atheist Revolution
- By: Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel C. Dennett, and others
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry, Richard Dawkins, Daniel C. Dennett, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 185
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 150
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 149
Known as the ‘four horsemen’ of New Atheism, these four big thinkers of the 21st century met only once. Their electrifying examination of ideas on this remarkable occasion was intense and wide-ranging. Everything that was said as they agreed and disagreed with one another, interrogated ideas and exchanged insights - about religion and atheism, science and sense - speaks with urgency to our present age.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Loved it but
- By daniel on 19-02-2019
-
Letters to a Young Contrarian
- By: Christopher Hitchens
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 15
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 12
In the book that he was born to write, provocateur and best-selling author Christopher Hitchens inspires future generations of radicals, gadflies, mavericks, rebels, angry young (wo)men, and dissidents. Who better to speak to that person who finds him or herself in a contrarian position than Hitchens, who has made a career of disagreeing in profound and entertaining ways.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
How fortunate that Hitchens left this legacy!
- By Nigel Jarvis on 10-10-2021
-
The Portable Atheist
- Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever
- By: Christopher Hitchens
- Narrated by: Nicholas Ball
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 25
Christopher Hitchens continues to make the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of the influential voices past and present that have shaped his side of the current (and raging) God/no-god debate. With Hitchens as your erudite and witty guide, you'll be led through a wealth of philosophy, literature, and scientific inquiry, including generous portions of the words of Lucretius, Benedict de Spinoza, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Mark Twain, and more.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Incomplete
- By Amazon Customer on 23-04-2017
-
The Missionary Position
- Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice
- By: Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Mallon - foreword
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 2 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 53
"A religious fundamentalist, a political operative, a primitive sermonizer, and an accomplice of worldly secular powers. Her mission has always been of this kind. The irony is that she has never been able to induce anybody to believe her. It is past time that she was duly honored and taken at her word." Among his many books, perhaps none have sparked more outrage than The Missionary Position, Christopher Hitchens's meticulous study of the life and deeds of Mother Teresa.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Classic Hitch
- By rohan hughes on 06-03-2017
-
The Trial of Henry Kissinger
- By: Christopher Hitchens, Ariel Dorfman - introduction
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 35
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
"If the courts and lawyers of this country will not do their duty, we shall watch as the victims and survivors of this man pursue justice and vindication in their own dignified and painstaking way, and at their own expense, and we shall be put to shame." Forget Pinochet, Milosevic, Hussein, Kim Jong-il, or Gaddafi: America need look no further than its own lauded leaders for a war criminal whose offenses rival those of the most heinous dictators in recent history-Henry Kissinger.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The man who created the American Empire
- By Daryl on 22-04-2022
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Inside Story
- By: Martin Amis
- Narrated by: Alex Jennings
- Length: 22 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 26
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 25
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 25
His most intimate and epic work to date, Inside Story is the portrait of Martin Amis' extraordinary life, as a man and a writer. This novel had its birth in a death - that of the author's closest friend, Christopher Hitchens. We also encounter the vibrant characters who have helped define Martin Amis, from his father Kingsley, to his hero Saul Bellow, from Philip Larkin to Iris Murdoch and Elizabeth Jane Howard, and to the person who captivated his 20s, the alluringly amoral Phoebe Phelps.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Extraordinary
- By Anonymous User on 14-02-2021
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No One Left to Lie To
- The Triangulations of William Jefferson Clinton
- By: Christopher Hitchens, Douglas Brinkley - foreword
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 30
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 25
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 25
In No One Left to Lie to, a New York Times best seller, Christopher Hitchens casts an unflinching eye on the Clinton political machine and offers a searing indictment of a president who sought to hold power at any cost. With blistering wit and meticulous documentation, Hitchens masterfully deconstructs Clinton's abject propensity for pandering to the Left while delivering to the Right.
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3 out of 5 stars
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A searing polemic
- By James on 08-08-2018
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Money
- By: Martin Amis
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 16 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 34
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Story4 out of 5 stars 32
John Self is addicted to life. Porn freak and jetsetter, a aficionado of wealth and women, Self is the shameless heir to a fast-food culture where money beats out an insistent invitation to futile self-gratification. Out in New York, mingling with the mighty, making a fortune but spending more, Self is embroiled in the corruption, the brutality and the obscenity of the money conspiracy.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on steroids
- By Anonymous User on 06-06-2023
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The Moral Landscape
- By: Sam Harris
- Narrated by: Sam Harris
- Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 410
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 351
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 344
Sam Harris has discovered that most people, from secular scientists to religious fundamentalists, agree on one point: science has nothing to say on the subject of human values. Indeed, science’s failure to address questions of meaning and morality has become the primary justification for religious faith.The underlying claim is that while science is the best authority on the workings of the physical universe, religion is the best authority on meaning, values, morality, and leading a good life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Sam Harris is the tits.
- By Amazon Customer on 19-09-2016
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And Yet...
- By: Christopher Hitchens
- Narrated by: Martyn Swain
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 4
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Story5 out of 5 stars 3
And Yet... gathers the previously uncollected essays of the late Christopher Hitchens into a final volume of peerless prose from one of the great thinkers of our times. Christopher Hitchens was an unparalleled, prolific writer who raised the polemical essay to a new art form over a lifetime of thinking and debating the defining issues of our times.
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The God Delusion
- By: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 668
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 586
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 581
Winner of the British Book Awards, Author of the Year, 2007.
Shortlisted for the British Book Awards, Book of the Year, 2007.
Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize, 2007.
Winner of the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.
As the author of many classic works on science and philosophy, Richard Dawkins has always asserted the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm it has inflicted on society. He now focuses his fierce intellect exclusively on this subject, denouncing its faulty logic and the suffering it causes.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Pompous
- By Christopher Beachy on 18-03-2020
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The Blind Watchmaker
- Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design
- By: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 144
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 128
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 127
The Blind Watchmaker, knowledgably narrated by author Richard Dawkins, is as prescient and timely a book as ever. The watchmaker belongs to the 18th-century theologian William Paley, who argued that just as a watch is too complicated and functional to have sprung into existence by accident, so too must all living things, with their far greater complexity, be purposefully designed. Charles Darwin's brilliant discovery challenged the creationist arguments; but only Richard Dawkins could have written this elegant riposte.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Heavy, heavy going
- By Steven on 27-04-2016
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The Demon-Haunted World
- Science as a Candle in the Dark
- By: Carl Sagan
- Narrated by: Cary Elwes, Seth MacFarlane
- Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 222
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 193
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Story5 out of 5 stars 189
How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don’t understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing book
- By Toby on 28-06-2018
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Unweaving the Rainbow
- Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder
- By: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 34
Keats accused Newton of destroying the poetry of the rainbow by explaining the origin of its colours. In this illuminating and provocative book, Richard Dawkins argues that Keats could not have been more mistaken and shows how an understanding of science enhances our wonder of the world. He argues that mysteries do not lose their poetry because they are solved: the solution is often more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering even deeper mysteries.
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5 out of 5 stars
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another illuminating listen
- By Joshua R. on 10-11-2022
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Letter to a Christian Nation
- By: Sam Harris
- Narrated by: Jordan Bridges
- Length: 1 hr and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 142
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 118
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Story5 out of 5 stars 118
"Forty-four percent of the American population is convinced that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead sometime in the next 50 years," writes Sam Harris. "Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the U.S. government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this...should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency."
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4 out of 5 stars
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Too short
- By Nick Clutterbuck on 13-05-2020
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A Room of One's Own
- By: Virginia Woolf
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 34
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 30
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 30
A Room of One's Own, based on a lecture given at Girton College Cambridge, is one of the great feminist polemics. Woolf's blazing polemic on female creativity, the role of the writer, and the silent fate of Shakespeare's imaginary sister remains a powerful reminder of a woman's need for financial independence and intellectual freedom.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Woman before her time - Brilliant
- By Anonymous User on 30-09-2019
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Cosmos
- A Personal Voyage
- By: Carl Sagan
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton, Seth MacFarlane, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 572
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 501
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Story5 out of 5 stars 500
Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. In clear-eyed prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space.
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3 out of 5 stars
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incredible book doesn't translate well into audio
- By Anonymous User on 24-08-2018
Publisher's Summary
In this long-awaited and candid memoir, Hitchens re-traces the footsteps of his life to date, from his childhood in Portsmouth, with his adoring, tragic mother and reserved Naval officer father; to his life in Washington DC, the base from which from he would launch fierce attacks on tyranny of all kinds. Along the way, he recalls the girls, boys and booze; the friendships and the feuds; the grand struggles and lost causes; and the mistakes and misgivings that have characterised his life.
Hitch-22 is, by turns, moving and funny, charming and infuriating, enraging and inspiring. It is an indispensable companion to the life and thought of our pre-eminent political writer.
Narrated by Christopher Hitchens himself shortly before his untimely death, this is a poignant listening experience.
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What listeners say about Hitch-22
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- W. Stokeley
- 27-02-2018
Tour De Force but rebalance your speakers
Firstly I want to say an objective analysis of this book for me is impossible. I came to Hitchens through YouTube I think and vía Dawkins and Carl Sagan. I had been an agnostic before - but he hooked me on the atheist bent. When I finished god is not great, hitch 22 was the next step for me.
I owe hitch a great personal debt. In 2017 he revolutionised my life, leading me away from the self improvement tomes which were pretty much the only books I was reading - into a new world of critical thought, philosophy (though I had dabbled with this before), literature, politics and poetry.
I am now a WH Auden fan. I listen to classical music, and Gilbert and Sullivan. I have read David Hume, Lucretius, Marx and more. My to read list is populated by Hitch’s suggestions. Partially due to his influence, and the influence of others in my life i went back to university and started studying my masters degree. I met my girlfriend there. My politics started shifting from the traditional conservative area that I had associated with to more to the left, although I suspect that in his later years hitch would have not made too much of this. Crucially hitch has taught me to rediscover my critical faculties which have laid dormant for over 10 years and my love of the written word. He taught me the dialectic, the didactic and critical tenacity I owe him everything for my own personal renaissance.
If he can do that for me, imagine what he can do for you. This book tells you about the events, the politics and crucially the books that moulded him. Grasp the lessons that you can. It merits a second go, though I’m likely to do it with the hard copy next time to actually grasp more of the lessons to be squeezed out of it.
This is the only book I’ve ever awarded five stars. It should be part of your library.
One caveat - hitch’s baritone is so lovely, but it is so bassy the reverberations made it a difficult listen on a set of Bose speakers. I think the producers could’ve done a slightly better job with the balancing of the audio in what is otherwise a fantastic book.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- ST
- 13-08-2019
A bit of a slog, even for a fan
OK I like Hitchens but getting through this was a struggle.
There's occasional brilliant moments, like his hilarious description of bartering with a ruthless streetwalker and the sexual escapades of his youth (swinging both ways).
However these great moments are outweighed by many tedious accounts of interactions with various leftists or political players who were relevant in the 70s or 80s in the UK and the US. Unless you have a particular interest in the politics and journalism of many decades past, you'll probably find large tracts of this book dull.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matthew
- 07-04-2015
The cup overflows
If only he'd narrated more before he left the party..
Ten words remaining whoever thought there should be a minimum word count??
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-02-2018
An utterly audible treat.
Candid, unyieldingly honest, raw, moving, peppered with hilarity. I loved Hitch-22. Hitch's presence in this world is sorely missed today...
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bati
- 11-11-2022
Finally finished it!
I bought this book and found it hard to read and never finished it, then I bought the audio book and thought it might be easier to listen to but found that to be not much easier to follow.
Love Hitchens but unfortunately his reading is not very clear and the sound is very low and I had to put the volume on maximum in my car to be able to understand what he was saying.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Elizabeth C
- 11-05-2022
Great book but not as audio
Unfortunately I have had to give up this book, not because it wasn’t any good but because of the audio. The intonations and fluctuations in volume make it just too hard a listen. Not wanting to miss a word (everything he says is valuable) I was constantly rewinding and adjusting the volume. I will read the hardcover.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jason Bromell
- 30-09-2023
A moving memoir
To be able to hear the man himself talk about episodes in his life is such a pleasure. So intelligent and thoughtful.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 14-01-2023
Love Hitchens
This was a typical Hitchens book, it was great to hear his voice and have some insights to the great man.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 29-11-2022
An excellent account of a brilliant man
Great to hear his voice and the account if his life was one of curiosity and truth seeking
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mary Benton
- 24-10-2022
Hitchens in top form
A memoir containing all the brilliance, wit, and grace we expect from Christopher Hitchens. A must read for all who enjoy his writing,
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ross
- 29-03-2012
MASTERFUL & REVEALING
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, yes, yes. It is a fabulous example of the value of a deep education, an insight into a brilliant mind and an honest walk in the shoes of a less than perfect but incredibly timely, talents, fortunate and authentic individual.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Hitch-22?
There are numerous memorable moments but I would choose Hitch's narrative of the funeral of Mark Daily as one that has securely implanted itself in my mind.
Which scene was your favorite?
His vivid description of the approach to Malta with his mother as a child.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Hitch22 - erudite, eloquent and honest - the powerful life of an idealist.
Any additional comments?
In writing this review I am concerned that my feeble abilities may reflect poorly upon the subject. Hitch 22 is worth 'reading' even if the person or topic does not interest you purely for the quality of the writing. I normally listen to books on 2 or 3 times normal speed, Hitch packs so much content and meaning into each sentence that I had to listen to this, at least the first time, at normal speed and replay sections just to hear it again for deep effect. Hitch narrated with presence and sincerity. By listening to this book as opposed to reading it I feel I gained another dimension of or connection to who he was. This is a unique method of leaving your mark on the world and mark well worth the leaving. Well lived Hitch.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mahoneko
- 12-07-2014
Essential: The memoir of super-literate dissident
What did you love best about Hitch-22?
The way he takes us through the last 60 odd years cutting away the nonsense, smoke and mirrors and infighting hidden truths, conspiracy and corruption.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Obviously Hitchens himself.
Have you listened to any of Christopher Hitchens’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Actually his performance on his God is Great book is a little better, but obviously he was ill when he narrated this memoir, it is still a delight to hear him narrate it himself, he was one of the best public speakers.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
A very British American Dissident.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ian
- 06-09-2012
Hitchens history, Hitchens words, read by Hitchens
I know there should be apostrophes in the "Hitchens"es in the title. But Audible wouldn't give me space and I couldn't bring myself to call him Hitch. Because I don't know him well enough and very sadly I now never will. So I chose bad punctuation over disrespect.
If you love Hitchen's writing, which I do. And love his speaking, which I do. Then you will love this work. The biography of a clever, witty and educated man spoken by himself is always going to be an interesting read and this is. The only downside is that I had to keep stopping it because it made me sad to realise that the supply of thought from this man has been cut short.
If you don't like Hitchens ideas or the way he expresses them then quite frankly you will hate this book with a passion. Good. Real thought is not meant to be easy and real ideas require work. The problem is that the people who will hate this work the most will do so without ever reading it.
Starting from his childhood and dealing openly with his schoolboy experiences , his family and the beginning of his political thinking, Hitchens reveals himself to be a very human set of contradictions. He speaks warmly of favoured authors and people who he touches along the way. There is enough soul searching to be interesting and enough lack of cod psychology to be refreshing. He tells it the way he sees it and explains why he sees it that way.
There is some slightly boring stuff about the literary circle he moved in and literary people he meets. Its interesting enough in small doses but there are sections where it goes on a bit and has a quality of "You probably needed to be there" about it. But at the end of the day that is the man. He is literary to his boots except when he is political.
And the politics is interesting. Always leftist (whatever that means) he shows that his actual politic compass was always pointed at attacking totalitarianism in any of its many forms and that sometimes meant that the lesser of two evils still looked evil from the outside. The passages dealing with his road to US citizenship are fascinating.
There is relatively little about Hitchens high profile contribution to the rationalist atheist movement. If you want to hear Hitchens on religion then buy a copy of "God is not Great". (No - I mean it - buy a copy - he reads that too and its marvellous).
All in all this is a work that I will listen to again and again. As much because it feels just a tiny bit like it gives me the privilege of spending a little time with a careful thinker who I shall never meet.
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- jammer
- 14-05-2015
The amazing Christopher Hitchens
Just get it. You will learn stuff. The mans life and knowledge is very compelling as one of the worlds best orators and thinkers. Highly recommended.
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- Roger Morris
- 27-01-2015
Fantastic!
Any additional comments?
A fascinating and highly entertaining memoir of a extremely interesting and multifaceted public intellectual. Hitchens is a fine and inspiring example of the value of a broad education in literature and the humanities, as well as an excellent advertisement for being well and broadly read in both the classics and contemporary literature. Highly recommended!
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- Felix Del Barrio
- 12-04-2013
A masterful memoir
If you could sum up Hitch-22 in three words, what would they be?
The Horse's Mouth
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
An amazing recollection of the boy from Irvine who took Christopher's views to heart.
Any additional comments?
A great book
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- Dj Shelwell
- 07-08-2016
A must hear if you love Hitch
Can get quite obscure but to have his story & insights spoken by his own voice is fantastic
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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- J S FRANKLIN
- 20-10-2023
Did not enjoy
He reads this book so badly it was awful he starts off the sentence loud then his voice drops off not good
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- Steve Walker
- 03-12-2022
An amazing individual
Settle in to a deep mind swelling with information and analysis all delivered with his unmistakable style
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- robin
- 07-05-2021
Brilliant
One slight issue is that the audio istn't as clear and the other audio books I've listened too, but it's still good enough. Great story teller, I recommend it highly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Penny
- 18-06-2016
Honest but difficult listening
I was always engaged in the unfolding story of C.H. and his family - a very honest and revealing memoir of an interesting life. His was no ordinary life, living in a world where elitism is the norm, the world of private schools and Oxford, rubbing shoulders with influential people. However, you get the feeling that despite inhabiting the 'dreaming spires' he was a decent bloke at heart. I feel bad complaining about the narration of this audiobook as it is done by the author, and who could better that? But his voice rises and falls away over the course of phrases and sentences and I completely lost a lot of it - I found at times I was just about yelling at him to 'speak up'!! Sorry - I'm a fan and have great respect for his writings but C.H. is not a good narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- CCW
- 18-09-2012
Tour De Force
I lament the ending of this audio master-piece, made superbly personal by the voice of Hitch himself. What a wonderful man, and what a marvellous contribution to call for sanity in a mad and cruel world. Truly one of my hero's. So much better in audio format as well when read by the author. So very personal for the listener. I wish I had known this human being who's self deprecating honesty is a tonic to me, and a rare trait in one so gifted.
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- Sean Inglis
- 30-01-2014
Wide ranging, erudite and opinionated
Anyone looking for a biography / memoir of Christopher Hitchens probably has a decent idea what they're in for, so there's little point in dwelling on his opinions and analyses as such.
However the background describing how he came to be were he was is well told, entertaining and at least appears even-handed.
A fair bit of clever wordplay without being too clever for it's own good and, if you're anything like me, it'll have you entertained scuttling down various rabbit holes to follow up references.
The performance / recording is a bit more problematic.
In general terms, he has a great voice, and who better to understand how it should be stressed and delivered than the author?
However within that delivery there are issues; he has a tendency to start off a sentence in a booming and declarative way, but finish in the equivalent of an off-hand or conspiratorial whisper.
This means that in situations where there was any ambient noise - walking the dog for instance - it was impossible to achieve a comfortable volume and the experience degenerated into an exercise in constant swearing, rewinding, adjustment and replaying.
In the end, I gave up attempting to listen in anything other than ideal conditions, and that improved the experience by leaps and bounds. Maybe best listened to and reflected upon in that way anyway.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Chris
- 21-05-2012
I Really Miss Hitch
This excellent autobiography has now become too complete a work following Hitchens death in November 2011.
Written with wit and I think understated modesty this book shows a reflection of the man I hope existed. Not knowing him one can never be sure.
An excellent read, especially for a biography - a genre which I'm very selective with.
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- flying_fin
- 16-01-2016
AKA the death of a radical
If you could sum up Hitch-22 in three words, what would they be?
The life of a great raconteur, journalist and public intellectual as a backdrop for musing on every philosophical and political topic and major event of historical importance imaginable. He name-drops wildly, but not for effect: he really was best friends with Martin Amis, knew Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, Gore Vidal. Susan Sontag etc. etc. He charts his beginnings from public school communist to an eventual slide to the right and becoming a non-pacifist and supporter of the war in Iraq, without losing his sense of outrage at the worst aspects of neo-con policies, bigotry, inequality and despotism.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Hitch-22?
His accounts of riotously funny lunches with Kingsley Amis, Clive James and Martin Amis et al. Also his stories of life at an English boarding school were an eyeopener. Too many great stories to recount here.
Any additional comments?
My only criticism of the book is that sometimes Hitchens sounds a bit bored with himself whilst reading his autobiography. His voice sometimes trails away and it was sometimes hard to hear what he was saying.
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- jayne gwilt
- 10-06-2018
dull
inaudible mumbling. monotone dull. may be an interesting story but.... ....Not for me thanks
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Mendo Shutaro
- 12-02-2012
A varied memoir on a varied life
I came to Hitch 22 only knowing the late Hitchens from his excellent book 'God is Not Great', and from having watching some of his famous public debates.
The book is neatly divided into two halves, the first deals with Hitch's first 20 years, and so includes his highly privileged school and university life, and his far left political beliefs. He was a Marxist and Troskyist, and even lived in Cuba for a while to help build Castro's new communist country. There's interesting stuff here for sure, and it's told with conviction and honesty. There's plenty of anti-American feeling too, all of it logically justified, which makes the second half of the book all the more confusing.
The second half deals with Hitch's love affair with America, and his shift in politics from the hard left, to the hard right. Following a trip to New York Hitch decides to emigrate to the US where upon he becomes a dreadful apologist and sycophant. It's hard to imagine how the Hitch from the first half of the book, could have transformed into the Hitch from the second half. He lives the high life, dining with the rich and famous, and moves his writing from political UK publications to a US celebrity magazine. To say this makes him appear a sell out, would be an understatement.
Then an even more bizarre change occurs, as Hitch decides to support the invasion of Iraq and so allies himself with George W Bush and Paul Wolfowitz. He defends these two vigorously, bizarrely believing that their invasion is a pure and just action designed solely to topple an evil dictator. Hitch does allow himself a moment of regret when he is confronted by the parents of a dead US soldier, but it doesn't last.
Hitch's parents get a fair chunk of time, and are interesting characters, but his religious Daily Mail columnist brother gets only a tiny mention. Sadly for one so fond of language Hitch's prose is littered with lazy Americanisms and slang, and is very poorly read by Hitch himself.
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- GUT1967
- 28-08-2020
Gone, but never forgotten.
I am that sad individual that has never grown out of the love of being read to. Now at the age of nearly 53 I do it a little different to most, I buy the audio book...and the physical book...WHY? because I can see it, and hear it. What is there that I can say about this audio book? for me the greatest thing is that it is Hitch, read by Hitch, nothing else needs to be said.
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- Akhmatova
- 28-07-2021
Misogynist with Martin Amis
I wish I could return this book & get my credit back. The early chapters on Hitchens’ mother and father were sad and beautiful and I was riveted up until the point he visits a brothel with Martin Amis and describes the prostitute charging him for her services a ‘bitch’. It seems rather peculiar that a Marxist wouldn’t see himself as the exploiter in that situation and display a good deal more human decency. I can’t imagine Hitchens’ hero Orwell either doing or saying anything of the sort. James Fenton sounds like a very bad poet - I’ve now listened to some of his work and such suspicions appear to have basis. Martin Amis and his father Kingsley sound utterly loathsome. Quite how the latter can dismiss Jane Austen when Emma invented the tradition he works in I don’t know but suspect this all comes from woman hating. Females barely feature (aside from his mother) and as a female I’m afraid I get as much pleasure out of all this as being called a ‘bitch’ myself which (luckily) hasn’t happened much.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- chris
- 13-12-2012
Life changing
This book should be a cold shower shock to most people who read it. The depiction of a life lived at full speed with a humbling thirst for truth and progressive thought is orated beautifully by the man himself. As this paragraph is meant to be a book review and not an opinion page about the mans politics as some below have cheaply used, I would advise that if you are intrigued by the beginnings and origins of one of the worlds greatest minds and writers, then this is simply unmissable. The combination of integrity and eloquence make this a book I was heartbroken to have reached the end of.
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