In 2010, I was living in San Francisco when I saw there would be a book signing for Christopher Hitchens. He would appear in two weeks at the Union Square Barnes and Noble to promote his memoir—Hitch-22. I had already bought a copy of the book. I had read
I miss Christopher Hitchens. Every damn thing about the man. As you said Hitchens was a one of a kind. If you know of anyone today that has his intellect, humor( abrasive) , speaks with candor, can corner and absolutely render another persons position null and void, by using logic, something that seems to have disapeared in many a debate, or conversation on a variety of topics.
The world is a lesser place without Christopher Hitchens
There are other public intellectuals, but he was oozing with more charm than he knew what to do with. A rare blend of brilliance, moral courage, charm and humor. Always a rare combination to be sure, but in 2024 he feels more like a dinosaur or a unicorn, as moral cowardice is the status quo even in situations that would’ve knocked sense into most of us even 15 years ago. I’ve been comfort watching his old debates lately too. RIP CH and thanks for the post.
I heard him speaking just once, in Little Rock, on the God is not Great tour. He was scintillating--though I've since come to think that some of his arguments were not as sophisticated as I thought at the time. You probably know Martin Amis' novel The Pregnant Widow, which was inspired by him. It's pretty brilliant, a return to Amis at the top of his form, and gives an idea of what the man must have been like to know personally.
I miss Christopher Hitchens. Every damn thing about the man. As you said Hitchens was a one of a kind. If you know of anyone today that has his intellect, humor( abrasive) , speaks with candor, can corner and absolutely render another persons position null and void, by using logic, something that seems to have disapeared in many a debate, or conversation on a variety of topics.
The world is a lesser place without Christopher Hitchens
There are other public intellectuals, but he was oozing with more charm than he knew what to do with. A rare blend of brilliance, moral courage, charm and humor. Always a rare combination to be sure, but in 2024 he feels more like a dinosaur or a unicorn, as moral cowardice is the status quo even in situations that would’ve knocked sense into most of us even 15 years ago. I’ve been comfort watching his old debates lately too. RIP CH and thanks for the post.
I heard him speaking just once, in Little Rock, on the God is not Great tour. He was scintillating--though I've since come to think that some of his arguments were not as sophisticated as I thought at the time. You probably know Martin Amis' novel The Pregnant Widow, which was inspired by him. It's pretty brilliant, a return to Amis at the top of his form, and gives an idea of what the man must have been like to know personally.