Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens

By: Christopher Hitchens

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 28 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

The first new collection of essays by Christopher Hitchens since 2004, Arguably offers an indispensable key to understanding the passionate and skeptical spirit of one of our most dazzling writers, widely admired for the clarity of his style, a result of his disciplined and candid thinking. Topics range from ruminations on why Charles Dickens was among the best of writers and the worst of men to the haunting science fiction of J.G. Ballard; from the enduring legacies of Thomas Jefferson and George Orwell to the persistent agonies of anti-Semitism and jihad.

Hitchens even looks at the recent financial crisis and argues for the enduring relevance of Karl Marx. The book forms a bridge between the two parallel enterprises of culture and politics. It reveals how politics justifies itself by culture, and how the latter prompts the former. In this fashion, Arguably burnishes Christopher Hitchens' credentials as - to quote Christopher Buckley - our "greatest living essayist in the English language."

©2011 Christopher Hitchens (P)2011 Hachette Audio

Great Prose Well Read

Would you consider the audio edition of Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens to be better than the print version?

With the exceptions of some oddly stunted emotional outbursts about Muslims and women, Hitchens can be counted on to clear-headedly cut straight to the center of whatever topic he is discussing. Most of these start with an idiosyncratic personal observation before expanding in to an informal, even conversational, tour of CH's thoughts on the topic. The effect is a great combination of classroom lecture and barstool chat.

What other book might you compare Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens to and why?

Not enough essay anthologies in audible form to draw a good comparison here.

Theres so much content and its somehow not boring

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is really a great book/collection. So many arguments that I may not agree on all of them, but the explanation, and the wording is beyond intellectual.

If you could give Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens a new subtitle, what would it be?

I win all the god damn arguments.

Snippets of history

Definitely not what I expected. I was looking for argumentative pieces on the theoretical vein.

Phenomenal

I am a Christopher Hitchens fan and this collection of writings are all interesting and informative.

Hitch is sorely missed!

Hitch is irreplaceable. I only wish I could hear him read these wonderful essays. Many of his warnings are more relevant than ever.

Grab it

These essays are extremely varied in subject matter and tone and make a worthy addition to the last Hitchens works recorded for audio (usually by the author but, given his current medical condition, this seems not really feasible right now even if Hitch is, far and away, his own best reader). There are lots of political essays, but a whole lot of his extended literary essays (many from The Atlantic and Vanity Fair), which are often an extraordinary pleasure, as well as being exceedingly well-judged. I am a lunatic for books like this, and this is now one of my favorite Audible offerings (this past year or so, others along the same lines include Tony Judt's Reappraisals and Simon Callow's A Life in Pieces, which you need to check out if you go for responsible left wing politics and theatre history, which are two preoccupations of mine.). The four stars ratings are only because Simon Prebble is wonderful, but isn't Hitch and because I would have chosen a few different essays. Otherwise, this is a true five-star, highly recommended selection. The price is also great, considering how much you get.
Keep this sort of thing up, please.

I miss Christopher Hitchens

I miss Hitchens. One can only imagine what he would have to say about Trump's presidency.

Such a brilliant mind and a spectacular gift of language.

Simon Prebble is on my ’top three’ list of great narrators.

Terrific book.

Gloomy book

The author’s negative outlook and his seemingly endless joy at correcting everyone. The author definitely would be canceled in today’s society.

I learned so much!

This book covers a wide selection of Christopher’s work. It left me researching topics I had previously little to no knowledge of. A thought-provoking and wide ranging collection of work.

Great for your ADHD

Excellent collection of essays. Wish there more to listen to. Organized very well. I’ll keep this review terse so as not to trespass on your time.