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Official CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS Appreciation Thread

This is a thread for anyone interested in Hitch, to discuss his books and his life. Please don't use the thread to have a general debate about God or any other controvercial issue; keep it Hitch-related please :smile:

My favourite of his debates, Hitch vs Blair

The best of the Hitch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geaSw8QQvNI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wkZ7pjNZNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogak5ZVxLyM

Finally, a couple of tributes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt9aFgTpAvc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-kTFIO3wkA

so if anyone has read his books or got a you tube video of a debate we would love to know :smile:
Also, please feel free to join our society to show your support :smile: thanks.
(edited 10 years ago)

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Reply 1
Christopher Hitchens is currently undergoing experimental treatments and bravely soldiering on, writing and speaking when he can. n the most recent issue of Vanity Fair magazine, he reports his distress about losing that notable, rotund voice of his. Once so prominent in debate, it sounded as if it had been preserved in oak, or in that fine scotch he used to drink, cut with the vapours of cigarette smoke.

The cancer, originally in his esophagus, is now attacking his vocal cords and the man who could out-talk almost anyone β€” and yell for cabs blocks away β€” now must marshal his strength to speak, ever so softly, to his friends.

I, myself, am currently making my way through 'God is not great', 'No one left to lie to' and 'The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa'....all of which are beautiful written.
Reply 2
Original post by andykeen
Christopher Hitchens is currently undergoing experimental treatments and bravely soldiering on, writing and speaking when he can. n the most recent issue of Vanity Fair magazine, he reports his distress about losing that notable, rotund voice of his. Once so prominent in debate, it sounded as if it had been preserved in oak, or in that fine scotch he used to drink, cut with the vapours of cigarette smoke.

The cancer, originally in his esophagus, is now attacking his vocal cords and the man who could out-talk almost anyone β€” and yell for cabs blocks away β€” now must marshal his strength to speak, ever so softly, to his friends.

I, myself, am currently making my way through 'God is not great', 'No one left to lie to' and 'The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa'....all of which are beautiful written.


It is such a shame that he has lost his voice :frown: I myself haven't read any of his books, only watched his debates (just finished watching this one- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5cxwq6QK7o). I still think his death would be a great loss and found the tribute I posted, moving, I know however that his works will live on and I am looking forward to reading 'God is not Great' in the near future (how did you find this book?)
Reply 3
'God is not great' is a fantastic read which trumps 'god delusion'. Hitchen writes with intellect and humour that only he can pull off. Here is a small chapter from the book which proves just that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LoWVkSyC0o&feature=related

You can find it on amazon for around Β£4.... its a must have!

In 'Non one left to lie to', Hitchens demonstrates how the concept has been employed by Bill Clinton to define an elusive median between infidelity and harassment, democracy and oligarchy, and truth and lies.

He is sooo witty and rarely lost for words!
(edited 12 years ago)
I have several of his books too. He is pretty cool sharp intellectual with a gift for public-speaking, but I sometimes feel - for some reason - slightly over-rated. But great, nonetheless.

My favourite of his books is "A long short war: The postponed liberation of Iraq"
Reply 5
A brilliant man. Even forgetting his writings on religion (the best if you ask me), his views on politics and conflicts are well thought out, honest and occasionally controversial (the Iraq war in particular, to which I agreed with long before I'd heared of Hitch).

When he dies, the world will have lost one of its greatest and most influencial thinkers and writers.
I love the Hitch. I bought the portable atheist the other week after having watched loads of his debates on youtube. i think my favourite of which would be the one with al sharpton, or perhaps ac grayling. I'll definitely be picking up more of his books when i can afford it, and i really hope his health will improve if its possible. It would be such a loss if he were to die.
A 'sainted' man. :biggrin:
Reply 8
Hitchens is pretty awesome, but his love for George Bush was kind of annoying and he could be a little too arrogant in some of his debates.
(edited 12 years ago)
Why an appreciation thread? Does that mean only those who appreciate him can discuss his works? That will be a weak discussion, if one at all.
Reply 10
Original post by ChessMister
Why an appreciation thread? Does that mean only those who appreciate him can discuss his works? That will be a weak discussion, if one at all.


I didn't think anyone not interested would be on the thread :tongue:
This is a thread for the Hitchens Appreciation Society where people interested in his exploits can discuss his books and debates :smile: On this subject, I am also thinking of getting his memoir 'Hitch-22', has anyone read it, and if so, is it any good?

EDIT: Thanks Alpharius :smile:
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 11
I love Hitch
Reply 12
Thanks for the Hitch vs Blair debate! I hadn't seen it.

I'm only a partial fan of Hitchens myself though. I fully support his battle against religion, but in his clashes with Noam Chomsky, I've tended to side with Chomsky. At any rate, he's a witty guy and always amazes me with his comebacks.
Reply 13
I like Hitchens' goes at religion and the fact that he has the balls to attack the likes of Mother Teresa when alot of people would shy away from it. I prefer him to Dawkins when they're going against religious people as I feel that Dawkins is sometimes too much of a gentleman (for example see his interview with Rowan Williams), I believe Dawkins said something like 'I was the 'bad cop' until Christopher Hitchens came along'. I also liked his defences of heavy drinking/smoking. Don't agree with his politics though, specifically his socialist/Marxist leanings.
(edited 12 years ago)
I really liked his article "Why women aren't funny" in Vanity Fair:
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/01/hitchens200701
Because of the counter-reaction to the reaction it received. I think what some people didn't understand is that he was saying that it was an biological need for men to make women laugh, because (as he says himself) men aren't as physically attractive as women, and although there are funny women in the world, (and he gives some examples), we don't NEED to be.

I just thought it was interesting to really study something that might be, on first sight, perceived as sexist, when it's not.
Reply 15
Original post by Marinated_in_Joy
I really liked his article "Why women aren't funny" in Vanity Fair:
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/01/hitchens200701
Because of the counter-reaction to the reaction it received. I think what some people didn't understand is that he was saying that it was an biological need for men to make women laugh, because (as he says himself) men aren't as physically attractive as women, and although there are funny women in the world, (and he gives some examples), we don't NEED to be.

I just thought it was interesting to really study something that might be, on first sight, perceived as sexist, when it's not.


He definitely isn't deterred even if a topic is seen as controversial :smile: this can also be seen in his attacks at religion
Reply 16
Original post by Lord Hysteria
I have several of his books too. He is pretty cool sharp intellectual with a gift for public-speaking, but I sometimes feel - for some reason - slightly over-rated. But great, nonetheless.

That's a pretty good summary, and exactly how I feel.

I love the way he chips in with witty comments when speaking. And part way through one of his books as I am, it's clear that he can do the same when writing.
Reply 17
Just found the ultimate Hitch video :biggrin:



Enjoy :wink:
I have a question for you Hitchens fans and would be grateful if you could answer it. I've heard Mr Hitchens, on numerous occasions in debates on the existence of God, ask what moral action can a religious person do that an irreligious person cannot do. Now it's a nice piece of rhetoric which traps the other person I'm sure, but do any Hitchens fans really think that's a substantive argument against God's existence? And if they do think it's an argument that has anything to do with God's existence could you then please explain how it's relevant.
Reply 19
Original post by adamrules247
I have a question for you Hitchens fans and would be grateful if you could answer it. I've heard Mr Hitchens, on numerous occasions in debates on the existence of God, ask what moral action can a religious person do that an irreligious person cannot do. Now it's a nice piece of rhetoric which traps the other person I'm sure, but do any Hitchens fans really think that's a substantive argument against God's existence? And if they do think it's an argument that has anything to do with God's existence could you then please explain how it's relevant.


It is not a proof in its self, rather it acts to refute the theist argument that by being theist, they are more moral.

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