Hitch-22

A Memoir

By: Christopher Hitchens

Narrated by: Christopher Hitchens

Length: 17 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Over the course of his 60 years, Christopher Hitchens has been a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom. He has been both a socialist opposed to the war in Vietnam and a supporter of the U.S. war against Islamic extremism in Iraq.

He has been both a foreign correspondent in some of the world's most dangerous places and a legendary bon vivant with an unquenchable thirst for alcohol and literature. He is a fervent atheist, raised as a Christian, by a mother whose Jewish heritage was not revealed to him until her suicide.

In other words, Christopher Hitchens contains multitudes. He sees all sides of an argument. And he believes the personal is political. This is the story of his life, lived large.

©2010 Christopher Hitchens (P)2010 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Hitchens also proves to be more than a capable reader; his wit, erudition, and passionate unbelief could not have been conveyed as compellingly by a surrogate. Highly recommended for all general collections." (Library Journal on God Is Not Great)

"As narrator, he contributes a pleasantly moderated voice and a listener-friendly British accent." (AudioFile Magazine on God Is Not Great)

A Life Divided

Spoiler Alerts.

I truly enjoyed hearing about the Hitch, a nickname I discovered was once his father's nickname as well. If you want a look at the secret life someone suggests, aludes to, and "perhaps" later even hides (denies?) to have existed in his adult years, you may find the fabric of this tapestry intricately delights you. Or you may wish he'd be more direct- but you'll find out why that was not so.

There is much more of the book dedicated to his political activism and political thinking across much of his life time. Including appreciations of, contentions with, and defining ironies of the Jews.

Add to this some word games and you get a thorough appreciation of his intelligence across many expressions. If you just want the word games get one of the Live at the 92nd Street Y interviews with him and Salman Rush die -most of them are there.

Wonderful, funny, gripping memoir

Hitchens’ command of English and knowledge of literature is spectacular, his wit is acerbic, his perspectives on politics incisive, and his valence is unfailingly that of an Enlightenment thinker. His spoken / reading voice is wonderful. I loved the audiobook so much, I also bought a hard copy version.

A walk through the life & diversions of Hitch

1st I am a big fan of Mr. Hitchens I have read most of his books and many of his articles and essays.
However I remember in my 1st encounter with him many years ago, I thought, here is a man with a rapier wit, I surmised a thirst for scotch and a heavy smoker....and also imagines perhaps low self esteem and even a self destructive bent!. In his memoir he validates all of these issues. And with the knowledge of him mothers suicide, I can only (or perhaps not) imagine his demons.
So I am very biased towards applauding him. However it must be noted, many times it is better to see you mentors from afar as getting to close make all of the "blemishes” highlighted.
Much like sausage and laws, many times so it the man, you are better off experience the result and not hot it has been made. But based on all of this, he has a life well lived, he has added much to the world and to society at large. I have always thought that we would soon hear of a heart attack, cancer or perhaps even suicide or death as a result of his travels and or lifestyle.
I was deeply saddened to hear of his cancer and treatment, as I fear we will lose a bright light of reason and clarity in a world full of so much noise.
This is not so much a memoir as it is a chronology of his life and then branches off to the numerous people he has known and the some of the influential thought and reflections of the time. While we learn much of his early life and family and some diversions into bi-sexuality, we learn nothing about his marriages and relationships with his children, nor do we learn of any epiphanies along the way or his general learning experiences. It is much more like a 2 way mirror into the observations he has had at the time. While it is always a delight to hear him read and to speak his mind, I was hoping for some greater insight and revelations of his life, passions love and yes even demons.
Regardless of this, Mr. Hitchens is always worth listening to. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Reading " Hitch 22 : A Memoir " for the 3rd time!

What made the experience of listening to Hitch-22 the most enjoyable?

Note:This review is written by Jackie, Paul"s wife.

What a pleasurable experience it is to listen to Christopher as narrator. I feel as though he is talking directly to me - the mark of a great communicator. I agree with Christopher when he advises the reader to sit down quietly and listen very attentively as the author tells his story.
I enchance the great joy of listening to Christopher by wearing my Bose QuietComfort 15 earphones which help deepen my concentration carrying me through difficult parts.

What other book might you compare Hitch-22 to and why?

I have the good fortune of being a member of Audible.com and am considered a serious listener these past 10 years. "Hitch 22; a Memoir " is simply nonpareil. I love this book so well that I want to buy a copy and read along as I listen to Hitch for the 4th time, lest I missed something.

What about Christopher Hitchens’s performance did you like?

Christopher captured my attention right from the start and carried me through the vicissitudes of his larger than life story with deep emotion and debth of knowledge. He is very expressive and genuine. He never flinches even while recounting intimate details. This is both an admirable and endearing performance.

Was there a moment in the book that particular moved you?

In the chapter about his beloved mother, Yvonne, Christopher suffers deep and profound anguish when he realizes that he missed Yvonne's telephone calls which he humbly states "might have made a difference. "

Any additional comments?

Christopher has inspired me to write my Memoir.
My children won"t sit still long enough to hear my story either.

My love and appreciation to Christopher for his courage to see this multi-media project through.
I regard this work as his chef-d'oeuvre.

May I look forward to yet another delectable audible feast?

Sincerely,
Jackie Guay

Interesting book, hard listen

I heard Christopher Hitchens interviewed on the radio dozens of times so I knew his voice and knew him as a brilliant, opinionated man. But the recording/mixing levels of this book are so uneven and Hitchens speaks so quickly --and sometimes almost mumbling-- that it's a very hard book to listen to, at least for me. If you've got any noise going on around you, it's not easy: lots of rolling back to hear what I missed - or try to hear what I missed.

That said, Christopher Hitchens was a very interesting man who lived a very interesting life and the content is fascinating. For me, it would be a better book to *read* than *hear*, but it is poignant to hear him reading his own life story.

Gives you an idea how Christopher Hitchens thinks

Would you listen to Hitch-22 again? Why?

Absolutely, Christopher Hitchens is a very good writer. His life is very entertaining and tells the story very well.

What did you like best about this story?

It gave me a brief insight into his values and how he perceived the world around him. He has an excellent vocabulary and is a great wordsmith.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Christopher Hitchens?

Yes. However Mr. Hitchens voices seems to fade a bit when he gets excited about the story he is relating to the listener.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed. His stories about his childhood and his trip to Cuba are quite good. If there is a sadness, it is that he is no longer around to write more.

A lovely window into some fascinating moments

Hitchens is always a pleasure to hear. his gentle voice and wonderful turns of phrase make for a delightful journey into the sixties seventies eighties and nineties.

A must read!

A required reading for anyone in this day and age. Brilliant writer and a valiant warrior for mankind.

To have this genius alive again!

So very, very alive in my mind. Thank, dear Christopher, for taking me on this grand tour of your vivid mind.

all about hitch

If you are curious about Christopher Hitchen's life, this is for you. A detailed account by the author about his life and motivations.