Mortality Reprint edition by Hitchens - Christopher (2014) Paperback

Christopher Hitchens will be missed. His intellectual curiosity and more importantly his intellectual honesty made him stand out. I believe in God, but I love listening to his arguments as an atheist. I agree with his arguments against organized religion but do not think that's the same thing as believing or not believing in God. How anyone could look up on a man and mind such as Christopher Hitchens possessed and think it's the result of random mutations over ages is not an argument that even Christopher Hitchens could make persuasive.

I have never read Hitchens before this book, but had heard a lot about him. I saw an article about "Mortality" in The New Yorker and decided to read it. After losing my father to esophageal cancer only about a month ago, it sparked my interest and I was looking for something philosophical to help ease my pain. Although I wouldn't say the book eased my pain, I do feel better knowing that my father wasn't the only one who, when dealing with such a disgusting disease, reacted the way he did. This book gave me an insight into the battle with cancer that my father couldn't give me. Well worth reading.

Love him or hate him, Hitchens was a talented man. He was an amazing person. He was one of my favorite writers and personalitites, along with Gore Vidal. With the loss of both men, the world is less humorous. I followed Hitchens final days on earth via his Vanity Fair articles, which is the book Mortality. I admired his courage and fight in his battle against cancer, and will miss him. In the book he never rages against his misfortune. He fully intended to continue his fight, even though the medical procedures he went through were horrendous. He was a unique human being.

This fierce and brave description of the discovery of --- and living with --- an advanced and inoperable esophageal cancer by one of my favorite writers only reinforced for me the devotion I have to his ideas and his ability to express them. He never becomes self pitying, nor does he shy away from describing the physical horrors which he endured. We are left with sadness for what he had to go through and for our loss of a great writer and humanist.

There are wonderful reviews here, beautifully expressing their admiration for the brilliance of Christopher Hitchens. I can add nothing to the sentiment that he has left us too soon, and with a great empty place on the stage.

Mr Hitchens, I am hardly worthy of writing a review.

In a word, moving. This poignant narrative is written while the man is dying of cancer, the context brings additional humor, and wit to one of our most beloved contrarians. The final sequence with his wife brought me to tears. Caution, not an uplifting story with a happy ending, but worth the read for anyone who can appreciate the human condition alliterated in a brilliant and insightful fashion. A worthy end to the Hitch's career. Cheers.

A thoughtful little book with a sad ending. I get the feeling of knowing a writer personally when they express themselves with the honesty Christopher does. So it saddened me to read of his sickness and decline. Gets me thinking of my own inevitable descent. I enjoyed the range of unsentimental reflections and contemplations by this intellectual human. Makes me more determined to enjoy the brief time we spend alive.

I was heading into some brain surgeries and read a review of this book and decided to buy it. As I read it, a Jewish friend started to share things with me that made me feel like it was perhaps in my spiritual best interest not to finish this book for now. I feel a lot of the things Hitchens says in the pages I DID read and it's gotten enough good/great reviews that it's a good purchase to make. I will return to it sometime.

A powerful examination of this writer's process of treatment and deterioration as he considers the inevitable death from terminal esphogeal cancer. Moving, sensitive and effective discussion of the impact of loosing the vitality that was a key element of his writing.

This audio recording of Christopher Hitchens' cancer diary, written for Vanity Fair, is excellent. It's also very, very tough to hear. Reading what Hitch wrote at my own pace, in monthly doses so to speak, as it was published originally, was relatively easy - sad content written brilliantly. Hearing an actor's presentation kicks things up a notch, driving harder. If you have a loved one undergoing treatment for cancer, this will both expand your understanding of the situation and break your heart.

HITCHENS ACCEPTED HIS CONDITION WITH SINCERITY AND HONESTY. IF YOU HAVE NOT VIEWED VIDEOS WITH CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND TRULY INSIGHTFUL MAN. YOUTUBE.COM IS THE SITE TO VIEW THESE STIMULATING VIDEOS. WE ALL WISH WE COULD BE SO WITTY AND HONEST.

I had heard of Christopher Hitchens before reading this little book, but had not read any of his works. Hitchens was about 12 years younger than me when he was diagnosed with cancer, yet many of the dilemmas he confronted are those I'm facing on a slower timeline: my body's inability to stand up to the rigors I used to take for granted; feeling really good some days and other days not have the energy to do much of anything; aches and pains that don't always respond to medications, etc. These were not issues I had to contend with when I was in my early 60's. My impression from Hitchen's writing is a speeding up of the final developmental issues we all must face if we live long enough and have, or take, the time to contemplate our own death. He lived in tumorville. Many of us end up in some kind of "ville" before we die. And, each in our own way, attempt to come to terms with the stark reality that we are not getting out of this alive. And, like the final section of the book, we leave a lot of things unfinished and in mid-sentence.

This is an excellent read for anyone facing, or close to someone facing the one huge reality of life.....which is that it ends. Wonderful, uninhibited Hitchens. Not much of what CH wrote here will be too surprising to anyone who is a fan of his. I was left with a feeling of intimacy for the man and a better understanding of my own mortality.

HITCHENS ACCEPTED HIS CONDITION WITH SINCERITY AND HONESTY. IF YOU HAVE NOT VIEWED VIDEOS WITH CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND TRULY INSIGHTFUL MAN. YOUTUBE.COM IS THE SITE TO VIEW THESE STIMULATING VIDEOS. WE ALL WISH WE COULD BE SO WITTY AND HONEST.

I had heard of Christopher Hitchens before reading this little book, but had not read any of his works. Hitchens was about 12 years younger than me when he was diagnosed with cancer, yet many of the dilemmas he confronted are those I'm facing on a slower timeline: my body's inability to stand up to the rigors I used to take for granted; feeling really good some days and other days not have the energy to do much of anything; aches and pains that don't always respond to medications, etc. These were not issues I had to contend with when I was in my early 60's. My impression from Hitchen's writing is a speeding up of the final developmental issues we all must face if we live long enough and have, or take, the time to contemplate our own death. He lived in tumorville. Many of us end up in some kind of "ville" before we die. And, each in our own way, attempt to come to terms with the stark reality that we are not getting out of this alive. And, like the final section of the book, we leave a lot of things unfinished and in mid-sentence.

This is an excellent read for anyone facing, or close to someone facing the one huge reality of life.....which is that it ends. Wonderful, uninhibited Hitchens. Not much of what CH wrote here will be too surprising to anyone who is a fan of his. I was left with a feeling of intimacy for the man and a better understanding of my own mortality.

Great philosopher realized he is dying and tell us how we all should face it. He is very honest, courageous and calm and faced death with a smile on his face. I will keep this book to read it again when I feel the approach of the end.

Hitchens was one of the greatest minds of our age and his works continue to inspire. Morality is relentless display of his unwavering favor of intellect over faith. Even on his death bed, his critical faculties seem to shine more than ever in his distain for hypocrisy, religion and the cancer that would take his life.

A quick read, Morality is a glimpse at the final days of an amazing thinker. One the greatest authors that ever lived.

Absolutely love Hitch's writing and speaking style. Makes this a quick read. I enjoyed reading Hitch's brilliant analysis about the circumstances that arise while facing a terminal illness. On to more of his written masterpieces.

Christopher Hichens is a wonderful writer even though sometimes I find it hard to get into some of his thinking. I have to read some then go off to something lighter and then come back to him. Like him or not, he made you think. He was dying at the time of writing this and makes you remember your own mortality.

I just LOVE Christopher Hitchens, and soooo wish that he was still around to amuse and educate us.Read this small book where he tells of his cancer diagnosis and treatment. GOSH - I wish he was a survivor - but I am soooo glad he left us this little gem of a book. Thanks. Melody Haskins

This is a rather small book that is a compilation of articles written in the last bit of his life. Very happy with my purchase and recommend this book to anyone interested in Christopher Hitchens and or atheism during a terminal illness.

I can listen to these last writing of Hitchens over and over again. sad poignant brave intelligent and much more.
Gosh I miss him. His brilliant intellect, extensive vocabulary and that amazing recall of information.
yea this should be a must read for young and old. it will make both happy and sad.

A poignant and sensitive last book by Christopher Hitchens as his health declined. He was suffering from esophogeal cancer. In this very well done work he continued writing to his final days. It is an emotionally difficult work to read.

After reading this book, I wished I could have been a part of his circle of life. How intellectually stimulating to have been a regular at the dinner parties that lasted for hours. What a loss to a terrible disease.

The book, like Hitchens's life, was too short but given that books like this one, an account of the mind's experience of the body dying, are altogether too rare,so every page was a bonus. One thing we all have in common is our mortality. He faced it head on and shared. It helped me focus on some of my own priorities.

Christopher Hitchens was one of the increasingly rare breed, the public intellectual. During his terminal illness he wrote about his experience of his own mortality and his pen had lost none of its wit, vigor, and sharpness. He was a very public atheist for many years and deals with well-meaning religious of various stripes who are intent on "saving his soul" before his demise. He maintains his humor throughout his ordeal and documents the grisly struggle with the medical industry while dying of esophageal cancer. He says kind things about MD Anderson cancer center in Houston, Texas. Last fall, I had the privilege of hearing Hitchens speak in one of his last public appearances at the American Atheist Alliance in Houston. He was dead by mid-December of 2011.

Read the book. It is insightful, witty, and --oddly-- hopeful.

With his typical straight-forwardness and lack of sentimentality (but, at the same time, real gentleness and humanity), Hitchens illuminates his experience approaching death. And it was oddly right and reinforcing that the book was incomplete upon his death and that loose ends and remnants made up the last bits.

Hitchens' last tome treats his impending death and battle with cancer in a very straightforward, no-nonsense light. His experiences and thoughts are well-formed and without rancor or self-pity. Nor is there a lot of woe and 'alas alack' in tone or topic. Perhaps his most heartfelt and touching writing, this would be a great book for any cancer patient, survivor, or loved one.

It's rare to find this type of literature, because it's destined to be a classic of timeless value. It touches the deepest part of us, the stuff that we all pretend can never happen, at least not yet; our very personal deaths. Without restrictions, pity, or agenda, Hitchen's contribution will echo with anyone brave enough to read this and face the message. What an extraordinary human to be able to write as honestly as this. Buy this book and read it, or pretend you will live forever. Your call.

his writing is always superb. i cant get enough of hitchens and this book didn't disappoint. pretty easy read coming from christopher and pretty sad seeing as how we have lost one of the greatest contemporary minds of today. his quick, witty responses that are logical, to the point and without emotion will be missed.

This is a powerful read written by an intelligent atheist who is facing death. After learning he has terminal cancer he responds to his diagnosis by writing his thoughts, his reactions and responding to those around him praying for him and begging for him to embrace salvation. He writes up until the time of his death, his last writing just random thoughts. Short book, a quick read but leaves you thinking.

ANYTHING by Christopher Hitchens is worth the read. Go for it !

This site requires me to write at least 20 words ! I feel my first eleven were quite sufficient. So in keeping with the force of few words, that is....brevity.... here's a haiku:

For those in the know
I now further recommend
Hitchens at his best.

I hope the "period" at the end wasn't excessive !

Yours Truly.....Ted Harazda

There is so much talk about reading spiritual stuff and motivating yourself and finding inner peace and all that tripe. Mr. Hitchens left me gasping for breath with his honesty, sincerity and candidness of all his emotions and moods. Always, had the highest regard for him. After this book, I think, he truly was one of the finest thinkers of our time. Its tragic, that, he is no longer amongst us.

Hitchens is always an engaging read, but this really pulls you in as you read about the last bit of his life. Witty, funny, not a word of self pity. A really fine work that you will think about for awhile.

Simply great. Hitch's writings in this short book help you to not only realize your own mortality, but to accept it.

While this book can be a bit on the sad side (okay, maybe more than a bit), Hitch's unmatched wit and quaint humor sprinkled throughout are enough to keep it from being completely depressing. Overall, it's a very short read; it can easily be completed within a couple of hours. However, I'll definitely find myself rereading this over and over again, as it's an amazing insight into the final months of a great man's life. It can be thought of as a final chapter to Hitch-22: A Memoir.

The world lost a great thinker when Christopher Hitchens died. May his legacy live on for many generations to come.

Terminal disease and dying is rarely spoken of or discussed in our society.
A great, lost opportunity for families and friends alike to experience and share our common and certain end with the truth and humanity that is so obvious, it shocks.
Who better to raise our awareness and strip our collective false ceremony that surrounds these topics than Christopher Hitchens? A MUST read.

It's Christopher Hitchens, no review is needed. His ability to express through literature was unmatched. To say the least, superb!!! The world suffered a great loss with the death of Christoper Hitchens. He was a geniius. His writings superseded most. For me, it was tragic. As for the courage it took to write this book; once again he proved himself to be a man amongst men. Phenomenal!!! That was the "Hitch"!!!!!! Love, forever love!!! Amazing!!!!!

Excellent book. very well written, in line with what you would expect from this legend. It is so heartening to see how well this intellectual superman has handled his own death. I am impressed with his straightforwardness and matter of fact presentation of his disease and his childlike innocence has inspired me a lot. His legendary last words would remain for eternity.....

THIS IS MY FAVORITE AUTHOR. WHAT A LOSS. I RELIED ON HIM FOR SENSIBLE THOUGHTS ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERY THING. NOW, THAT HE IS GONE, I ASK MYSELF, WHAT WOULD CHRISTOPHER HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS? THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS. I LOVE THAT HE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO WRITE UNTIL THE BITTER END. HIS FINAL BOOK, ALAS. JOY WOOD

Hitchens speaks from the heart in his writing and he bears all in this extremely tiny but complex book relating to life. He focuses on his battle with cancer, the complications of treatment, some fears that result and his opinions of his critics and friends when faced with this dreadful disease. It's dark, it's real and it's Hitchens.

Great, Great Book!
One last look into a great mind - despite the dreadful, awful circumstances! I was hoping to get one last book from his pen and his mind and this is a great chance for that! His amazing skill at documenting his last ruminations during this time in his life - and his steadfast integrity in the face of death is a wonderful example of how humanism faces down the end of life without pie-in-the-sky! We will surely miss his mind, heart and integrity!
Thank you Christopher...!

Hitchens was faced with the choice: treat his cancer aggressively and suffer through the treatment, or not treat it and die somewhat more gracefully but more certainly and more quickly. It was an intimate, well-documented final days of a human death. It's a story that will influence my thinking if I am confronted with a similar choice down the road someday.