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)

Excellent book, audio quality was poor

As a hitchens fan I loved the book, although some of the chapters about hitchens friends were a bit dull. I especially found the chapters about his time as a socialist revolutionary at oxford, his trip to cuba, and his later disillusionment with socialism to be fascinating.

I’ve listened to many hitchens interviews and speeches and never have a heard him so mumbling and with the audio quality so low. Even at maximum volume for my AirPods, I had trouble hearing and understanding what he was saying. Make sure you get a sample and listen in your usual environment before buying.

If you like any of Hitchen's other work, listen!

Loved it. Amaze ballz. Mind Blown. Brain Explosion. Ballz to the Wallz. OMG, is this not 15 words yet?!

Extraordinary Narration and Autobiography — Bravo!

Christopher Hitchens’ narration of his phenomenal work of autobiography ‘Hitch-22’ brings forth his written words, as none other could—regardless of talent. The ‘Audible’ description of the book’s duration seemed long, yet, steadily flew past, as do large formations of migrating geese, across the autumn sky. Hitchens’ voice is truly mesmerizing and when it suddenly passes, you know you will never hear it quite the same again.

The book is a flowing story, to a destinations known and unknown, yet each of the stops is explored, in lucid enough detail that one feels that one is there with him—looking at events unfurling through his eyes. There is only one exception, to this observation — noted as follows.

Hitchens’ life was well-lived. His ‘end’ was ‘sudden’, as only a cancer sufferer can understand. A person diagnosed with cancer lives an extraordinary trinity of choice:
1) fight the beast, yet as Hitchens observes, it is not really a fight.
2) Simply succumb, after a period of living, as well, as one can afford.
3) Howl like a lunatic at the moon, in a state of rage, never again: one.

His confrontation, with the omnipresent beast that assailed him is exceptionally well described, yet not in enough detail, for this ‘comrade in cancer’. He, as myself knows, knew that there is much more to be said, on this topic. If you are interested, in Hitchens’ deeper thoughts, regarding life with cancer, then I refer you to his posthumous work ‘Mortality’—a quite-moving selection of his writings, about being a cancer-sufferer.

Hitchens clearly was trying to survive. This lack of observational detail is a minor wrinkle that perhaps, by the publication date of ‘Hitch-22’, when he was still in the relative early phases of wrestling, with his own life; he used humor and disassociation, as truly the most powerful tools of survival. Most readers will be satisfied, with his narrative of cancer’s dominion over one’s forever-lost-body. Hitchens’, also and perhaps did not have the time required, before his death to experience the complete disassociation of mind and spirit, with the physical form that comes much later, in the process.

This book is a masterpiece of autobiography. Hitchens was also a masterpiece, of a human being. He is a model of the human being, as a tour-de-force for positive change. Herein, he also openly explores human frailties, in an elegant and masterful manner. His commitment and power for changing the human condition, for the better continues to inspire generations, as he will it, for a very long time. I will reread this book, as soon as I listen to ‘God is Not Great’.

Another page turner from the Hitch!

Hitchens shows us again why he's considered as one of the best minds of modern times. He takes us through an intimate journey through his incredibly rich life. An absolute pleasure to listen to narrated by the man himself!

the best

hitchens is the fucking best! period! the world is a lesser place because he is not here! I truly wonder what his opinions would be on current issues.

Grieving for the loss of his voice

Listening to the superb eloquence of the final minutes of this memoir, I found myself torn by a wrenching grief over the too-soon loss of this incomparable voice, which I have only just discovered.

Hitchen's own narration is a big bonus

The only thing I knew about Hitch, as close friends tend to call him, is that he is a master of the written English word. I came to admire his essays on the American political scene during the 2008 elections and found that his scalpel-sharp wit and keen twist of phrase made otherwise mundane subjects exciting. I don't even agree with many of his political or anti-religious views, but his self-effacing intellectual analysis is worth a listen. In this Audible book, Hitchens narrates his own tome, and it adds to the experience. He delivers his written words with deadpan sincerity, as if he were recounting his life over a scotch and some cigs. It is a credit to his writing that he could read his own text and still have it sound almost like a conversation. For American readers, his memoir is also an interesting peek inside the European perspective on the Boomer generation, the Cold War, and the 1960s.

Essential Hitchens Reading

I’ve been a fan of Hitchens for over 10 years. I have read this book before, but thought I could try the audio version.

I’ve always enjoyed Hitchens’ talks, there’s something so engaging about them; naturally I thought I would like the experience of listening to him read his own work. I did. I believe his narration of his writing made this a tremendous listen for me.

I can understand those who had a hard time understanding him at times. I don’t feel as though he mumbled, but I can see how some listeners might have had some trouble discerning what was being said. I did have to rewind a few times to make sure I understood.

If you’re a fan of Hitchens, I strongly recommend this book. The writing is impeccable, the stories are as varied as they are interesting. He was an individual who had a unique perspective on a wide array of issues, to see where he came to these beliefs is fascinating.

Hitch telling the Hitch story

Excellent book, excellent experience, everything I expected and more. The interview at the end of the book is the cherry on top. Could not have picked a better piece for my very first audio book!

Fascinating and superb

If you're a fan of the Hitch, then this book will not disappoint, particularly if you get the audiobook as he himself narrates it. I had known he was a leftist when he was young but had no idea of the extent of his activities and it was fascinating to hear of his exploits and eventual transition to a more libertarian view. He certainly had an interesting life and even though this is a memoir there are plenty of take away facts for a raft of historical events he was involved in / witnessed. Highly recommended.