| |
|
The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever 41 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Da Capo Press, 2007
Not So Portable Yet Extraordinary
This book is a nice collection of essays, letters and excerpts from other writings from a number of different non-believing and freethinking authors throughout history.
The introduction by Hitchens does a nice (and poignant as always) job at framing the chronologically arranged collection of pieces. Along with contemporary writers such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennet and Salman ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist 141 reviews
Victor J. Stenger
Prometheus Books, 2008
Proves the case!
Most reviewers of Stenger's "God: The Failed Hypothesis" fail to recognize the unique contribution he has made to the logic of the debate. The methodology he uses is different from most of the arguments against God, and it is important to understand this, because his book is a major step forward on this topic. Stenger basically sets out to prove a negative. Although many light-thinking ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Animal Farm and 1984 24 reviews
George Orwell
Harcourt, 2003
Worthy literature that transcends the genre of political fable
This is a handsome republication of Orwell's two most renowned works, Animal Farm and 1984. Even if you're just looking for 1984, this edition is to be commended; it comes with a fine introduction by today's leading Orwell enthusiast, Christopher Hitchens, and the reward of including Animal Farm requires very little in the way of additional effort or expense on your part. At 80-odd pages, you ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis10 reviews
Kingsley Amis
Bloomsbury USA, 2008
Drinking as an Englishman Should
I was delighted with Amis's book on drink,the effects of drink and the types of drink;his underdstudied wit combined with practical alchohol knowledge made for an enjoyable and useful read. Would highly recommend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Our Man in Havana (Penguin Classics)63 reviews
Graham Greene
Penguin Classics, 2007
An Entertaining Footnote to History
Graham Greene, a major, well-known 20th century British author, had a very long life, most of the century, and a very long and prolific writing career. He may be best known for "The Third Man," "The End of the Affair," and "The Power and the Glory," but his books were greatly honored, highly-praised by the critics, generally best sellers, and often made into movies. As was "Our Man in Havana," ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Left Hooks, Right Crosses: A Decade of Political Writing 2 reviews
Nation Books, 2002
Something for everyone...
...but not enough for anyone. Welcome to this collection of journalism from the right and left of the American political spectrum. For the left, is (or was) Christopher Hitchens, vigorous atheist and internationalist but also unmitigated and uncompromising hater of the Clintons! For the right, Christopher Caldwell, consistent supporter of the Republican Party but critical of its attacks on ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Penguin Classics) 50 reviews
Rebecca West
Penguin Classics, 2007
For All That
Yes "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon" is wonderful for all the reasons stated in these reviews, but for all that it must be said that the dominant theme of Ms West's masterpiece is the eternal human condition. She sees with the eyes of a woman and the eyes of a genius. She has seen humanity's troubled soul, and gently brought it to the surface in the fabric of her marvelous linguistic tapestry. "Black ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited17 reviews
Aldous Huxley
Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2005
Mood controlling pills and uniformity
As I watch the commercials for Zoloft and other psychiatric drugs that are frequently encouraged to the general public today thanks to advertising, I can't help but smell the essence of the stew descibed by Huxley in this wonderful book simmering in our own modern kitchen.
It is controversal to advertise tobacco but it is perfectly suitable to make the drugs once used to control the mentally ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything792 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Emblem Editions, 2008
Great book
Author shows his dislike for religion in an intelligent and informative manner. I would recommend people involved in religions to read and assess their views afterwards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Is Christianity Good for the World?
Christopher Hitchens, Douglas Wilson
Canon Press, 2008
The gloves come off in this electric exchange, originally hosted by Christianity Today , as leading atheist Christopher Hitchens (author of God Is Not Great ) and Christian apologist Douglas Wilson (author of Letter from a Christian Citizen ) go head-to-head on this divisive question. The result is entertaining and provocative—a glimpse into the ongoing debate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-199524 reviews
Joe Sacco, Christopher Hitchens
Fantagraphics Books, 2002
The genocide of Muslims by Christians in the 1990s
I just finished reading this brilliant work. I was in Eastern Europe in 1991-1993 and saw the refugees coming out of Bosnia. I followed the story as close as I could, even visting a refugee camp. But Sacco's illustrations put me on the ground in the supposed safe zones. The brutality of the supposedly Christian Serbs to Muslim Bosnians is so overwheliming it makes any beheadings in Iraq look like ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Christopher Hitchens and His Critics: Terror, Iraq, and the Left3 reviews
Thomas Cushman, Simon Cottee, ...
NYU Press, 2008
Well balanced and researched
This book is refreshingly frank and important. It brings together most of the key writing from the 'battle' which has been raging between Hitchens and his critics from the left since September 11th. The juxtaposition in views is prescient - oftentimes squaring off some of the greatest polemicists of our time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Hons and Rebels (New York Review Books Classics)16 reviews
Jessica Mitford
NYRB Classics, 2004
Honestly wonderful
I absolutely loved this book. I had just finished reading the very long and very good "The Sisters" http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Saga-Mitford-Family/dp/0393324141 about the Mitfords, and wanted more when I was finished. Jessica ("Decca") was the most fascinating of all -- the one who ran away to Spain and America and became widely known for her politics and her book, "The American Way of ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Thomas Paine's Rights of Man: A Biography (Books That Changed the World)8 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Atlantic Monthly Press, 2007
Hitchens seldom disappoints
...and he doesn't here. Aside from the erudition which always seems to flow from ol' Chris's pen, his subject in this instance is something of an 18th-century soul mate. Maybe this little examination of humanist Paine will go some ways toward raising the general awareness of the man and of his works-- long overdue, like some bit of acknowledgement in D.C.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives)38 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Eminent Lives, 2005
History is a tragedy, not a morality tale
If you need an extremely well-written, concise, sympathetic, balanced and reasonably complete introduction to Thomas Jefferson, Hitchens has produced just the thing. Hitchens does particularly well where Thomas Jefferson's views mesh with his own - namely on religion and the disestablishment thereof. Hitchens does not hide Jefferson's many flaws but rather emphasises that first and foremost ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Vanity Fair: The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images
Graydon Carter, David Friend
Abrams, 2008
Vanity Fair: The Portraits brings together 300 iconic portraits from Vanity Fair ’s 95-year history in a remarkable book that captures the image of modern fame—the magical thing that happens when individual talent and beauty (and sometimes genius) is caught in the spotlight of popular curiosity and passion. The photographers—from Edward Steichen and Cecil Beaton to Annie Leibovitz and Mario Testino—are a glittering and ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Trial of Henry Kissinger55 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Verso, 2002
Why Henry doesn't get around much anymore
If you wonder why Henry Kissinger can't jump on a plane to just any old where these days, this is the book for you. Hitchens carefully lays out an indictment for war crimes and other misbehavior that have led more than one country to ask the wily professor to appear in court. You always knew that someone who was THAT close to Johnson, Nixon and both Bushes couldn't be a goodun, but it's much ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Why Orwell Matters29 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Basic Books, 2003
one great political analyst on another
Gore Vidal, who has passed into political senilty with such views as that Bush may have orchestrated 9/11, at least had the good sense to 'designate' Hitchens as his literary successor. It's a great choice, as Hitchens is learned, knows everyone, and has a style equal to Vidal's in the old liberal's heyday. Moreover Hitchens can devote time to a booklength analysis of someone as important as ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring)39 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Basic Books, 2005
Timeless Advice - Not for the Fair Weather Patriot
This is a simple and elegant series of letters written to a hypothetical student. Only a cynical could fail to admire and value Christopher Hitchens' "Letters to a Young Contrarian". This short book contains all the advice a student of twenty first century society should want or need. We get a marvelously unadulterated dose of the author's hortative aesthetics. Every letter is marked with a ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice137 reviews
Christopher Hitchens
Verso, 1997
Not a fish in a barrel, but definitely a hypocrite in a habit
When I met Christopher Hitchens at a conference in '99 I had just read this book. He said that he was surprised that no one had written it before because the hypocrisy and sanctimonious false modesty of Mother Teresa was so obvious to demonstrate. She was so sanctimonious she didn't try very hard to cover her disingenuousness, but like anyone doing bad or hypocritical things in the name of the ...
|
|
|
|
|
|