The Missionary Position

By: Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Mallon (foreword)

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 2 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

"A religious fundamentalist, a political operative, a primitive sermonizer, and an accomplice of worldly secular powers. Her mission has always been of this kind. The irony is that she has never been able to induce anybody to believe her. It is past time that she was duly honored and taken at her word." Among his many books, perhaps none have sparked more outrage than The Missionary Position, Christopher Hitchens's meticulous study of the life and deeds of Mother Teresa.

A Nobel Peace Prize recipient beatified by the Catholic Church in 2003, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was celebrated by heads of state and adored by millions for her work on behalf of the poor. In his measured critique, Hitchens asks only that Mother Teresa's reputation be judged by her actions-not the other way around.

With characteristic élan and rhetorical dexterity, Hitchens eviscerates the fawning cult of Teresa, recasting the Albanian missionary as a spurious, despotic, and megalomaniacal operative of the wealthy who long opposed measures to end poverty, and fraternized, for financial gain, with tyrants and white-collar criminals throughout the world.

©1995 Christopher Hitchens (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Interesting but could have gone deeper

Any additional comments?

A contrarian view of who Mother Teresa was and what her legacy might really be. While I enjoyed the book I felt it could have gone a little deeper. It encourages the reader to go deeper on their own into her past however advocates for Mother Teresa might just view the book as character assassination. It will certainly spark debate among people which is worth it alone. It also raises the question of motivation among some religious people in relation to charity.

Succinct and amazing.

Good narration of a book that blew my exCatholic mind. I was indoctrinated with the Mother Theresa cult as a kid, wish I had of known all this then.

It's Hitch

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

evidence drawn from multiple resources.

Any additional comments?

Well researched and written. Reading was fine. Hitch, I miss you.

Well, it's Hitchens, you can expect sharp wit

If you could sum up The Missionary Position in three words, what would they be?

THE
MISSIONARY
POSITION

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

If you can't get Christopher Hitchens to narrate his own books (like he did with his memoir "Hitch-22"), then the next best option is Simon Prebble. The style just matches perfectly, and this coming from someone who is not used to listening to British ascents.

If you could give The Missionary Position a new subtitle, what would it be?

Didn't Hitchens consider naming this book "Sacred Cow"?

Any additional comments?

Eloquent and biting; great polemic to accompany Hitchen's more-overall critiques of mass religion ("The Portable Atheist", "god is not Great"). Do consider watching the online videos of Hitchens debating (or destroying?) religious supporters.

Also, this format of critiquing a public figure is similar to his other short polemics: "The Trial of Henry Kissinger" and "No One Left to Lie To" (on those neocon Clintons). While I find his Iraq positions more debatable, these 3 polemics offer little room for debate but plenty of room for enjoyment.

Welcome to reality

I would implore anyone who at all wonders or questions to investigate the world of Mother Teresa. Just as Gandhi put his wife's life into the lap of the gods but took quinine himself when six weeks later he got malaria.
Once you open this door then further investigation will reveal much more of her belief in pain and suffering
at a 1981 press conference in which she was asked: "Do you teach the poor to endure their lot?" She replied: "I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of Christ. I think the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people"

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

The Missionary Position

Brilliantly written. Hichens deals with a shameful issue with pith and real humour. I was appalled at the observations and to learn the truth about Mother Teresa. This needed to be said.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Very interesting book

Everyone who is interested in Mother Teresa should read this book. A lot of daylight information on her work.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Who'd have thought it?

I've always been slightly nauseated by the media 'deification' of Mother Teresa. Now I know why!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Informative and thought provoking

Based on facts and written clearly. It sheds light on things in a common sense and unsentimental manner.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A real Revelation

Hitch again delivers a stunningly eye opening myth busting assassination of an agent of the Catholic Church who is just slightly farther away from Godliness than the Morningstar.

Listen and be astounded by the hypocrisy.

Great stuff

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Illuminating (with a not so saintly light)

A brilliant revelation of a bizarre life, and the even more odd strivings of the Catholic church and the deluded to make her a saint, despite all evidence.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Government regulations required that an elevator

be installed for the use of the disabled. Mother would not allow an elevator. The city offered to pay for the elevator. Its offer was refused. After all the negotiations and plans, the project for the poor was abandoned because an elevator for the handicapped was unacceptable.”
― Christopher Hitchens, The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice



Not a saint or demon but a misguided human being venerated by the rich to do the work they are unwilling to do, exalted by a church that uses money to exercise its power over millions.

The poor came to her expecting help on their dying days and were given minimal comfort or care for the glorification of the suffering of christ and the pleasure of mother Teresa religious aesthetics and the glorification of her order and her path to sainthood.

A study of how blind the world is to the true work of the church and religions in general, those that live every moment as a preparation for death and venerate martyrdom as elevating do not understand compassion for the pain of life because they are only preparing for eternal death and the kingdom they will have there.

An exposition of all that is deplorable an unjust in the canonization of a woman that was more concerned with her path to glory than giving true relief to the poor and needy in life.

Read it and weep, read it and unmask one more lie one more putrefaction hidden under the skirts of the church; even if you only do it for yourself.

10 of 14 people found this review helpful

Slow down!

Good book, but read by narrator like a thriller. Slow down please, there is no rush

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Brilliant book with terrible audio editing.

Brilliant book with terrible audio editing. Completely uneven patchwork of sentences. The guy also reads too fast or doesn't pause long enough on commas or the end of sentences. That's a shame to ruin work of Hitch with so bad audio.