Christopher Hitchens Books

Showing 1-50 of 251
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (Hardcover)
by (shelved 47 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.96 — 111,567 ratings — published 2007
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Mortality Mortality (Hardcover)
by (shelved 33 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.12 — 29,207 ratings — published 2012
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Hitch 22: A Memoir Hitch 22: A Memoir (Hardcover)
by (shelved 31 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.02 — 22,331 ratings — published 2010
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Arguably: Selected Essays Arguably: Selected Essays (Hardcover)
by (shelved 28 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.20 — 9,871 ratings — published 2011
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The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice (Paperback)
by (shelved 23 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.06 — 11,641 ratings — published 1995
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Letters to a Young Contrarian Letters to a Young Contrarian (Paperback)
by (shelved 21 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.13 — 12,710 ratings — published 2001
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The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever (Paperback)
by (shelved 19 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.03 — 18,871 ratings — published 2007
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Thomas Jefferson: Author of America Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Hardcover)
by (shelved 18 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.94 — 3,858 ratings — published 2005
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Why Orwell Matters Why Orwell Matters (Paperback)
by (shelved 16 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.95 — 4,142 ratings — published 2002
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The Trial of Henry Kissinger The Trial of Henry Kissinger (Paperback)
by (shelved 16 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.96 — 4,517 ratings — published 2001
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No One Left To Lie To: The Values of the Worst Family No One Left To Lie To: The Values of the Worst Family (Paperback)
by (shelved 15 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.89 — 2,848 ratings — published 1999
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Thomas Paine's Rights of Man: A Biography (Books That Changed the World) Thomas Paine's Rights of Man: A Biography (Books That Changed the World)
by (shelved 14 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.99 — 2,897 ratings — published 2006
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And Yet ... And Yet ... (Hardcover)
by (shelved 9 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.96 — 1,816 ratings — published 2013
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Blood, Class and Empire: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship (Nation Books) Blood, Class and Empire: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship (Nation Books)
by (shelved 9 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.74 — 420 ratings — published 1990
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Hitchens vs. Blair: Be It Resolved Religion Is a Force for Good in the World (Munk Debates) Hitchens vs. Blair: Be It Resolved Religion Is a Force for Good in the World (Munk Debates)
by (shelved 9 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.80 — 481 ratings — published 2011
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Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.11 — 1,956 ratings — published 2004
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The Enemy The Enemy (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 8 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.89 — 1,174 ratings — published 2011
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A Long Short War: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq A Long Short War: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.73 — 440 ratings — published 2003
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Is Christianity Good for the World? Is Christianity Good for the World? (Hardcover)
by (shelved 7 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.84 — 885 ratings — published 2008
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The Quotable Hitchens from Alcohol to Zionism: The Very Best of Christopher Hitchens The Quotable Hitchens from Alcohol to Zionism: The Very Best of Christopher Hitchens (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.12 — 1,061 ratings — published 2011
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The Monarchy: A Critique of Britain's Favourite Fetish (Counterblasts #10) The Monarchy: A Critique of Britain's Favourite Fetish (Counterblasts #10)
by (shelved 7 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.86 — 988 ratings — published 1990
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For the Sake of Argument: Essays and Minority Reports For the Sake of Argument: Essays and Minority Reports (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.10 — 341 ratings — published 1993
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Imperial Spoils: The Curious Case of the Elgin Marbles Imperial Spoils: The Curious Case of the Elgin Marbles (Hardcover)
by (shelved 7 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.90 — 246 ratings — published 1987
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Christopher Hitchens and His Critics: Terror, Iraq, and the Left Christopher Hitchens and His Critics: Terror, Iraq, and the Left (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.97 — 189 ratings — published 2008
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Prepared for the Worst: Selected Essays and Minority Reports Prepared for the Worst: Selected Essays and Minority Reports (Hardcover)
by (shelved 6 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.98 — 213 ratings — published 1988
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Unacknowledged Legislation: Writers in the Public Sphere Unacknowledged Legislation: Writers in the Public Sphere (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.02 — 279 ratings — published 2000
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Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger (Paperback)
by (shelved 5 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.97 — 183 ratings — published 1984
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The Satanic Verses The Satanic Verses (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.71 — 70,834 ratings — published 1988
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The Plague The Plague (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.02 — 305,059 ratings — published 1947
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Christopher Hitchens in Conversation with Salman Rushdie Christopher Hitchens in Conversation with Salman Rushdie (Audible Audio)
by (shelved 3 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.28 — 72 ratings — published 2011
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When the Borders Bleed: The Struggle of the Kurds When the Borders Bleed: The Struggle of the Kurds (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.96 — 28 ratings — published 1994
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Left Hooks, Right Crosses: A Decade of Political Writing Left Hooks, Right Crosses: A Decade of Political Writing (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.49 — 39 ratings — published 2002
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Inequalities in Zimbabwe Inequalities in Zimbabwe (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.00 — 11 ratings — published 1981
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Money Money (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.70 — 25,258 ratings — published 1984
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Blaming the Victims: Spurious Scholarship and the Palestinian Question Blaming the Victims: Spurious Scholarship and the Palestinian Question (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.11 — 318 ratings — published
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The Four Horsemen: The Conversation That Sparked an Atheist Revolution The Four Horsemen: The Conversation That Sparked an Atheist Revolution (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.97 — 4,630 ratings — published 2019
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Crime and Punishment Crime and Punishment (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.28 — 1,042,104 ratings — published 1866
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Animal Farm / 1984 Animal Farm / 1984 (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.30 — 212,818 ratings — published 1949
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A Collection of Essays A Collection of Essays (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.30 — 8,013 ratings — published 1941
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David Copperfield David Copperfield (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.04 — 255,104 ratings — published 1850
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My Man Jeeves (Jeeves, #1) My Man Jeeves (Jeeves, #1)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.05 — 45,977 ratings — published 1919
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How Green Was My Valley How Green Was My Valley (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.21 — 18,584 ratings — published 1939
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40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania 40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.93 — 415 ratings — published 2007
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Lucky Jim Lucky Jim (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.75 — 31,685 ratings — published 1954
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The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.76 — 2,747 ratings — published 2002
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Black Lamb and Grey Falcon Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.22 — 2,639 ratings — published 1941
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The Atheist Manifesto: A Declaration for Personal Liberty The Atheist Manifesto: A Declaration for Personal Liberty (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 4.11 — 175 ratings — published 2016
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The Best American Essays 2010 The Best American Essays 2010 (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.76 — 435 ratings — published 2010
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George Orwell Diaries George Orwell Diaries (Hardcover)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.80 — 597 ratings — published 2009
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The Rachel Papers The Rachel Papers (Paperback)
by (shelved 2 times as christopher-hitchens)
avg rating 3.57 — 11,248 ratings — published 1973
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Christopher Hitchens
“Let's say that the consensus is that our species, being the higher primates, Homo Sapiens, has been on the planet for at least 100,000 years, maybe more. Francis Collins says maybe 100,000. Richard Dawkins thinks maybe a quarter-of-a-million. I'll take 100,000. In order to be a Christian, you have to believe that for 98,000 years, our species suffered and died, most of its children dying in childbirth, most other people having a life expectancy of about 25 years, dying of their teeth. Famine, struggle, bitterness, war, suffering, misery, all of that for 98,000 years.

Heaven watches this with complete indifference. And then 2000 years ago, thinks 'That's enough of that. It's time to intervene,' and the best way to do this would be by condemning someone to a human sacrifice somewhere in the less literate parts of the Middle East. Don't lets appeal to the Chinese, for example, where people can read and study evidence and have a civilization. Let's go to the desert and have another revelation there. This is nonsense. It can't be believed by a thinking person.

Why am I glad this is the case? To get to the point of the wrongness of Christianity, because I think the teachings of Christianity are immoral. The central one is the most immoral of all, and that is the one of vicarious redemption. You can throw your sins onto somebody else, vulgarly known as scapegoating. In fact, originating as scapegoating in the same area, the same desert. I can pay your debt if I love you. I can serve your term in prison if I love you very much. I can volunteer to do that. I can't take your sins away, because I can't abolish your responsibility, and I shouldn't offer to do so. Your responsibility has to stay with you. There's no vicarious redemption. There very probably, in fact, is no redemption at all. It's just a part of wish-thinking, and I don't think wish-thinking is good for people either.

It even manages to pollute the central question, the word I just employed, the most important word of all: the word love, by making love compulsory, by saying you MUST love. You must love your neighbour as yourself, something you can't actually do. You'll always fall short, so you can always be found guilty. By saying you must love someone who you also must fear. That's to say a supreme being, an eternal father, someone of whom you must be afraid, but you must love him, too. If you fail in this duty, you're again a wretched sinner. This is not mentally or morally or intellectually healthy.

And that brings me to the final objection - I'll condense it, Dr. Orlafsky - which is, this is a totalitarian system. If there was a God who could do these things and demand these things of us, and he was eternal and unchanging, we'd be living under a dictatorship from which there is no appeal, and one that can never change and one that knows our thoughts and can convict us of thought crime, and condemn us to eternal punishment for actions that we are condemned in advance to be taking. All this in the round, and I could say more, it's an excellent thing that we have absolutely no reason to believe any of it to be true.”
Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens
“...to experience a furious disillusionment with ‘conventional’ politics, a bit young to be so cynical and so superior, you may think. My reply is that you should fucking well have been there, and felt it for yourself.”
Christopher Hitchens

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