Hitch-22: A Memoir

Hitch was a miracle of intelligence in his anti-religious and outspoken views on political people and events. Unfortuately, this book is merely a recital his early years, his rise in the journalistic world, and other biographical details. These are comparatively uninteresting since they do not tell us how the man became the voice of the oppoisition of religous bigotry, an apostle of secularism. I miss his voice raised in countless debates as he laid waste to his opponents; arguments. Neither do we learn why an man of ths stamp would give in to alcoholism and tabacco addiction. Well, it did kill him. There is no one to take his place.

After having only relatively recently been introduced to Hitchens, I'm so grateful that he left us with this memoir so that we might have more of an opportunity to really 'know the man' and how he came into his own brilliant being.

Most athiest, like Hitchens, are viewed by the average Christian as little better than the Devil himself. If they can just get to him before the Devil himself does, perhaps we can save him. This may make you wonder just who needs saving.

Loved it. Life is for living and the other humans you meet are what make it even better. Great to vicariously interact with such a range of interesting humans, good and bad, via this book. Honest and compelling brain food. Good bye to a friend I've never met.

This may well be Hitchens' finest and most timely work, sadly it is his last. In this book Christopher Hitchens gives an overview of the key events in his adventurous and extremely well-lived life which brought him to his final positions. More importantly, he ably defends those positions against confused criticisms from well-meaning former comrades in the political left. IMHO, his arguments are irrefutable and urgently need to be considered by those progressives who would cede the political initiative to the forces of totalitarianism in order to remain loyal to a disastrous misapprehension of the dubious benefits of multiculturalism.

Mr. Hitchens writes with style and humour but eventually the books leaves you with strong emotional feelings (eventhough I understand that the man may have considered this a little too "sugar-coated"). I ended the book saying to myself: "damn it, I miss that guy".

Hitch is an interesting and very intelligent guy. Knows everyone, has been everywhere, and has opinions about everything. If you've followed his career throughout the years and know all the ins and outs of political and philosophical movements and theories around the world, especially the ones he's been involved in,this is the book for you. If you haven't, and don't, it's not.

I viscerally miss Christopher Hitchens. I did not always agree with him but one could never say that his positions were lightly taken. Neither could one say that he had not thought things through thoroughly. This autobiography takes you inside his mind as he tells his personal story while watching the world, noting it's hypocrisies and ironies and as always commenting on important things. A fascinating book about a great mind of our times.

Interesting and insightful though gets bogged down in places.
The author loves using obscure words ( when a much simpler one would be just as good) but the dictionary embedded is a great tool.

If you are interested in a little bit of history then you may enjoy the book even though its taken me about 3 months to get through it.

A somewhat rambling anecdotal missive that manages to delight and entertain with the veracity of a spontaneously constructed poem. A feast of words and witticisms - reading this is like gorging on a rich, decadent cream-filled pastry whilst sipping a snifter of cognac.
Highly enjoyable.

This book will probably be remembered because as it was released, Hitchens found out he was a terminal cancer victim. The autobiography is approached in a conventional way for the early years but goes on a bender in the second half. Rather than biography it becomes a series of vignettes and essays based primarily on his famous friendships with Martin Amis and others. Conventional biographical facts such as marriages and children are only mentioned as an aside if at all. Nevertheless it is an important book by probably our most prominent public intellectual. Perhaps he rushed to the finish a bit, but every page if well worth reading. He does not entirely give a satisfactory answer to how he evolved from a typical Bolshie Oxfordian into an American patriot, but I am glad he did so nevertheless. I have been reading his work for a number of years now and he is a consummate stylist and invariably interesting. I must say I am extremely sorry that this will probably be his last book.

One of the best autobiographies ever written. Written by an author that knocks your socks off and thanks to his unabashed explanation of his life you can have an insight into why. I confess to reading the library copy of this but after doing so liked it so much had to have a copy for my library. I will quote out of this for my classes. It is a keeper. It is a shame we lost such a genius so early. It is also an excellent book in relation to his book Mortality.

Hitchens is totally blunt, irreverent, and brutally honest in his opinions. It is interesting to get an inside story on some of the major events in world history. The work is very well written, but from an unabashed liberal perspective. I encourage all Conservatives to read it and become enlightened!

I found Mr. Hitchens's memoir oddly moving, only partly because of recent news that he is suffering from esophegeal cancer. At turns combative and judgmental, affectionate and caring, passionate about life, freedom, injustice and those who cause it, but always, always entertaining and highly readable, one comes away from this feeling as if the writer is a friend and whole human as opposed to some sort of media provocateur. If you enjoyed god Is Not Great or any of his other work, you will certainly enjoy this one and will appreciate getting to know the person behind all the opinions.

Frankly, anything written by Christopher Hitchens is top notch ! Only his chronic, routine detractors would have the gall to disagree. But then, they occupy a world of their own imagination.....so let them wander in delusion if that's their preference.

Hitch 22 is full of rich, interesting material that walks the reader through his fascinating life's journey. The flow is slowed by Christopher's dense use of the English language but read is worth the time it takes to get through each chapter.

This reads like something you would write for your final paper in a class on journalism. It is too detailed in terms of references to everyone who ever wrote anything during his lifetime. He says he knew them all intimately and had sex with most of them (both genders). Not what I expected from the great debater.

In pure Hitchens style ... boorish, pedantic, sardonic, self-aggrandizing, self-indulgent & verbose. Yet, very slightly (a term he more than very slightly over employs) in some parts engaging & interesting. On the whole it's like reading a book made up of 'The New Yorker' articles. A slice or two can scratch the itch & be quite satisfying. The whole pie is rather far too much. Or to use a cartoon reference it can be akin to being trapped by Commander McBragg or Buzz Killington spinning yet another yarn (or more aptly, yawn).

Unless you are a Hitch sycophant (whereas I am rather neutral) or enjoy a preponderance of the overwrought & blusterous, I could not recommend as a must read. I have the wherewithal to complete the books I begin, though this tripe was often tough to plough thru.

How much you appreciate this memoir may depend on how much you love the man. The language sparkles, the wit delights, his mettle and sense of justice inspire and encourage. The book is revelatory and a lot of fun. May he live long and prosper.

I was pleasantly surprised that the book looked like new! Plus I received it fairly soon after I placed the order. Of course to tell about the book I need more time; however, I will say that the author is obviously an educated man. His writing is at once revealing of his life and it is well written. I of course prefer a memoir written with the purpose of revealing your life in the sense that it should show the emotional life and more of the intimacy of his life with his parents, etc. He touches his intimate life but in very little increments and it is mostly superficial. He's more about what he did when he was grown and the "contacts" he pursued in his life. He's a very talented writer but I expected more depth of character, inner emotional moments, etc.
All and all, it was informative, as it talks about other people;85% is about people he met.