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A review by tristansreadingmania
Arguably: Selected Essays by Christopher Hitchens
4.0
Ever the contrarian, the late Hitchens was a member of that rare, dying breed of journalists/public intellectuals that managed to elicit some very strong reactions from all sides of the political spectrum. Especially in the later phases of his career, he regularly sought out - and indeed, relished - battle with whichever group that displeased him, liberals and conservatives alike. Everyone, or so it seemed, was at risk of being subjected to his savage criticisms at some point. Indeed many did, even esteemed friends, like Martin Amis.
His trademark combative style earned him the reputation as a fierce debater and brought with it an admiring, seemingly undying, fanbase (greatly expanded through his ubiquity on YouTube). Sadly, that public perception of Hitchens as the strident antitheist brings with it the risk that his other abilities and broad field of interests fade into the background.
This is an absolute shame, for in his essays Hitchens the man comes out in full force. His commendable humanism, his fondness of -and eclectic taste in- literature, his passion for historicity, and of course that ever present biting wit. Indeed, while sifting through this collection, one regularly asks oneself "how did he manage to read and write about all this?". Dedication is all I can think of. That certain spark inside, which few have. Hitchens had it, took responsibility and cultivated the hell out of it. We should all be grateful that he did, warts and all.
His trademark combative style earned him the reputation as a fierce debater and brought with it an admiring, seemingly undying, fanbase (greatly expanded through his ubiquity on YouTube). Sadly, that public perception of Hitchens as the strident antitheist brings with it the risk that his other abilities and broad field of interests fade into the background.
This is an absolute shame, for in his essays Hitchens the man comes out in full force. His commendable humanism, his fondness of -and eclectic taste in- literature, his passion for historicity, and of course that ever present biting wit. Indeed, while sifting through this collection, one regularly asks oneself "how did he manage to read and write about all this?". Dedication is all I can think of. That certain spark inside, which few have. Hitchens had it, took responsibility and cultivated the hell out of it. We should all be grateful that he did, warts and all.