God Is Not Great

How Religion Poisons Everything

By: Christopher Hitchens

Narrated by: Christopher Hitchens

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Bertrand Russell's Why I Am Not a Christian and Sam Harris' recent best-seller, The End of Faith, Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion. With a close and erudite reading of the major religious texts, he documents the ways in which religion is a man-made wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins in the cosmos. With eloquent clarity, Hitchens frames the argument for a more secular life based on science and reason, in which hell is replaced by the Hubble Telescope's view of the universe, and Moses and the burning bush give way to the beauty of the double helix.

©2007 Christopher Hitchens (P)2007 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The best of the recent rash of atheist manifestos." (Publishers Weekly)
"Effortlessly witty and entertaining as well as utterly rational." (Booklist)

Clarifies ones thinking

It's true, Hitchens may mumble and he speaks with a British accent. To allow this to obscure the important ideas that he explores is a mistake. If it's sound ideas you're after, God is Not Great has more than can be absorbed in a single reading. The book is more than worthy of the minor effort.

I'm persuaded by God is Not Great that any good that religion may accomplish can be better achieved without religion and, conversely, the worst evils will arise from religious belief, as they always have.

Hitchens strengthens my view of religious faith as a barrier to clear thinking. It was refreshing to see his clinical treatment of religion in America, something Americans can't seem to do. The Mormons are one of his examples. Few in the US either know enough or have the nerve to discuss Joseph Smith as the sexual predator and con man that history shows him to be, or analyze the timely "revelations" that have kept the Mormons clinging to the fringes of viability through the years. The Mormons are only one of the book's examples of how fast a religion can spring from a fertile mind and spread to infect millions. Hitchens makes a good case that we in America are uniquely susceptible to such charlatans (although England's new relationship with Islam would make equally fascinating reading).

Those who are religious merely out of habit or a failure of introspection may be the ones to embrace the rationale of 'God is Not Great' most easily. The grimly devout will probably respond to Hitchens' ideas with the usual vitriol. They may rightly sense the inherent threat that such rational treatment of the 3 main religions' histories poses.

I ended the book seeing that we're in a bit of a Dark Age and won't be free until the majority see religious thinking as the human invention that it is, and the devout minority are relegated to the same status as conspiracy theorists and UFO seekers.

manic marble chewing narration

I rated the book one star only because of its poor narration. The content itself is great. I guess.
I just can't make out more than one in every six words. Some chapters I've played over 4 times and still only grasp half the words. Next time I'll think twice before ordering a book which the author himself narrates.
I'm going to order up a hard copy of this book so I can really make the most of the content.

Mind blowing

If one needed convincing to become an atheist, this is the book. The facts are shocking and astonishing.

I thoroughly enjoyed most of this book. I found the last couple of chapters a bit too much but overall, a fascinating read or listen. There is a lot to take in so I also purchased a hard copy of the book and read it after listening to it.

Already a confirmed atheist, I now feel better armed to have spirited debates with any believer.

One downside is that Mr. Hitchens tends to drop the ends of some sentences so if trying to listen with any other noise or distractions, some of the narrative gets lost.

First Rate

The book is first rate, it is very well written and enjoyable. However as an audio book, I have to give it four starts instead of five. Christopher Hitchens is a great author, but not a good narrator. He was at times speaking so rushed, I found myself rewinding stretches of the book and straining to hear what he said. Or by context trying to understand what he meant.

This was my first Hitchens book, and have since explored other titles (in print) by this prolific journalist. I thank the author for writing a truthful book.

Beautiful

Hitchens states clearly what needs to be said, and dutifully connects causes and effects in a clear coherent manner. The information presented is factual, and the speculations are rational. I highly recommend this work to anyone with questions regarding faith or those infected by it.

Good

I like learning many views on this subject.

A blessing

I will keep this book as an inspiration in clarity, wit, and personal scholarship. A gem.

Preaching To The Choir

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

Being of the same religious convictions as Hitchens, I appreciate the overwhelming evidence of abuse, and the irrationality passed off as truth, by many proponents of organized religion. While not even handed in his approach, Hitchens is justified in the harsh portrayal of the faithful, as our

Who was your favorite character and why?

(This is not a character driven book)

What about Christopher Hitchens’s performance did you like?

His arguements are based on historical facts, and rational reasoning. It was nice that the narrator is the author as well, leaving nothing to misplaced emphasis.

If you could give God Is Not Great a new subtitle, what would it be?

The Atheist's Advocate

Any additional comments?

Personally, I prefer to criticise

Almost too eloquent

While I completely agree with Hitch's point of view at times his vocabulary is just too far above my own and at those times it is hard to stay engaged.
Some of the story telling, examples or references can be quite tedious. I appreciate work put into the book and will eventually listen again and likely come away with more than I did the first time as with many things.

Hitch Delivers!

What did you like about this audiobook?

Logical thinkers only.

Do you have any additional comments?

Hitchens' wealth of knowledge, life experiences and sheer genius put the stamp on any free thinker's instinctual mistrust of religion.