The Four Horsemen

The Conversation That Sparked an Atheist Revolution

By: Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Stephen Fry - foreword

Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Daniel C. Dennett, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Stephen Fry

Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

In 2007, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett filmed a landmark discussion about modern atheism. The video went viral. Now in audiobook for the first time, the transcript of their conversation is illuminated by new essays from three of the original participants and an introduction by Stephen Fry.

At the dawn of the new atheist movement, the thinkers who became known as “the four horsemen”, the heralds of religion's unraveling - Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett - sat down together over cocktails. What followed was a rigorous, pathbreaking, and enthralling exchange that has been viewed millions of times since it was first posted on YouTube. This is intellectual inquiry at its best: exhilarating, funny, and unpredictable, sincere and probing, reminding us just how varied and colorful the threads of modern atheism are.

Here is the transcript of that conversation, in audiobook for the first time, augmented by material from the living participants: Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett. These new essays, introduced by Stephen Fry, mark the evolution of their thinking and highlight particularly resonant aspects of this epic exchange. Each man contends with the most fundamental questions of human existence while challenging the others to articulate their own stance on God and religion, cultural criticism, spirituality, debate with people of faith, and the components of a truly ethical life.

Read by Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel C. Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, and Stephen Fry.

Advance praise for The Four Horsemen:

“The full, electrifying transcript of the one and only conversation between the quartet of luminaries dubbed the ‘four horsemen’ of the New Atheism, which took place in Washington, D.C., in 2007. Among the vast range of ideas and questions they discuss: Is it ever possible to win a war of ideas? Is spirituality the preserve of the religious? And, are there any truths you would rather not know?” (The Bookseller, UK)

“If thinking were a sport, these four would be national superstars - and reading The Four Horsemen feels like having a front-row seat at the all-star game. This is more than a book about atheism and religion - it’s a lesson in how to use our intellect to cut through the haze of delusion and misconception inherent in any human society.” (Tim Urban, writer of Wait but Why?)

©2019 Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“If thinking were a sport, these four would be national superstars - and reading The Four Horsemen feels like having a front-row seat at the all-star game. This is more than a book about atheism and religion - it’s a lesson in how to use our intellect to cut through the haze of delusion and misconception inherent in any human society.” (Tim Urban, writer of Wait But Why?)

“We are slowly losing the hard-won right, gained by brave heroes of the enlightenment such as Voltaire and Hume, to be free to criticize religion without persecution and prosecution; the crime of blasphemy is creeping back. The words of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett are needed more than ever. These are the heirs to Voltaire.” (Matt Ridley, author of The Evolution of Everything)

“These four are the kinds of thinkers we don’t get enough of anymore: unapologetic, uncompromising, and deeply generous with one another as well as with anyone who happens to be listening in. You needn’t be an atheist or a horseman to relish every word of this delightful book. You just need to be hungry for genuine intellectual inquiry and open debate. And, let’s face it, you’re probably starving.” (Meghan Daum, author of The Unspeakable)

This.

This is the conversation that we need to be having. The convergence of these 4 men and their minds is a gift. Brilliant.

Vulnerable and honest

I enjoyed listening to the honest perspectives of the participants. While their differences of opinion or slate, you can hear how voicing these differences helps these intelligent philosophers hone their message for public address. While no one articulates a call to action, Sam Harris expresses an interest in capturing how we can practically improve our world based on the philosophies and critiques they develop.

Great Stuff!

These 4 are personal heroes and can not recommend their content enough. Stephen Fry is awesome too!

This world me especially really misses Hitchens a voice of reason in a dogmatic world!!

Also always a pleasure to hear anything Steven Frye narrates one of this day’s most memorable intelligent and charismatic people. To any free thinker an absolute must read or listen

Awesome

So refreshing to hear these free thinkers in a world full of zombie sheep. Great listen!

wonderfully articulate

A wonderful exchange of ideas between four brilliant men. Definitely recommend the book to anyone that loves challenging topics

nice! but I wish there was more

Excellent get together, even though they tried to prove witchcraft is just as prevelant now

Thought-provoking with subpar audio

Thoughtful discussion from these individuals as usual. Unsurprisingly more toe-dipping than comprehensive. The audio quality is pretty poor at times; unfortunately doesn't sound like it was recorded well, but it's mostly fine.

Truth = War

Sign up. Enlist everyone you know. What the opposition has in mind for you is not pretty.

Short

The discussion is only 2 hours. My only complaint is that it’s the same price as a book. That aside, this is a seminal conversation, and fans of any of these imminent authors would be doing themselves a great disservice to miss hearing the discussion that conceived the works the authors penned afterward.