", Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011) was the author of. Hitchens, an avowed atheist and author of the bestseller God Is Not Great, is a formidable intellectual who finds the notion of belief in God to be utter nonsense. Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2020. Christopher Hitchens - Author Nicholas Ball - Narrator Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc. Edition: Unabridged Selections OverDrive Listen audiobook. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Christopher Hitchens's personally curated New York Times bestselling anthology of the most influential and important writings on atheism, including original pieces by Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2017. Some of these i was already familiar with yet others were new to me introducing me to some great pieces of writing. For Hitchens, arguments for atheism can be divided into two main categories: those that dispute the existence of God and those that demonstrate the ill effects of religion. Author(s): Christopher Hitchens. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Whatever room you're in, wherever you need some table space the adjustable, transformable, and portable Table Express is there for you. Something went wrong. Of course, this says nothing about the belief system involved." Obviously, some of the essays are better than others, but the whole is better than the sum of the parts for me. 1. by on March 18, 2021. The Portable Atheist is part of WikiProject Atheism, which aims to organize, expand, clean up and guide Wikipedia articles relating to atheism. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. I love this book. Hitchens points out that if Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam (NoI) succeeds in weaning young black men off narcotics, this would not alter the fact that the NoI is a racist crackpot organization. The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, "Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011): A Career in Quotes", Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man": A Biography, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Portable_Atheist&oldid=1009931380, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 March 2021, at 00:51. Matthew Mitcham. For more videos, updates and info on Christopher Hitchens, please visit http://www.dailyhitchens.com Make your living room your home office for the day then fold it away and enjoy your evening! The breadth of the references and the depth to which they are examined is amazing and very satisfying, Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016. Title: The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever. These pieces were hand selected by Hitchens himself while also personally penning the introduction. Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2015. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2014, Hitchens as done here a wonderful job of collecting here the works of great free-thinkers, rationalists, agnostics and atheists all through the ages. He mentions great critics such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine, who perhaps paradoxically regarded religion as an insult to God. Please try again. Easy to use, wherever you're sitting: whether you're reading, working, eating, playing a game or just […] There is nothing more; but I want nothing more."[2]. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. The Portable Atheist is a compilation of extracts from the canons of many famous philosophers, scientists, and writers 47 in allassembled by Christopher Hitchens. Games. At 500 pages this excellent anthology is only just portable, but it is the perfect Christmas stocking-filler for the atheist in your life. From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of God Is Not Great, a provocative and entertaining guided tour of atheist and agnostic thought through the ages with never-before-published pieces by Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I am glad that Hitch took on the task or choosing and editing this compendium. The Portable Atheist. Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. Description. Edition: Unabridged Selections OverDrive Listen audiobook. Books by Dawkins and Harris will be excellent companions to this and the author's other publications. I'm tempted to subtract a star for the unnecessary thickness of paper chosen, completely the wrong paper in fact for any book of around 500 pages which clearly (by title) implies a purchasing individual should able to stuff such stuff in their back pocket and move on. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. "[1] "The only position that leaves me with no cognitive dissonance is atheism. Also, Christopher Hitchens introductions are fantastic as always. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever (2007) is an anthology of atheist and agnostic thought edited by Christopher Hitchens. It is the cult of that supreme being and the belief that his or her wishes have been made known or can be determined." The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever (2007) is an anthology of atheist and agnostic thought edited by Christopher Hitchens. Low While "God is Not Great" focused on religions and the issues therein, "The Portable Atheist" provided a closer look at atheism and atheistic viewpoints. About the author (2007) Christopher Hitchens was a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a visiting professor of liberal studies at the New School. Average Customer Ratings. Paperback. This book makes for excellent short reading with each chapter on average being 10-15min long allowing you get a bit of reading done as you await a meal order or while waiting in line at the grocery store. $12.99. For Hitchens, "religion invents a problem where none exists by describing the wicked as also made in "the image of god and the sexually nonconformist as existing in a state of incurable mortal sin that can incidentally cause floods and earthquakes. The author is clear in his introduction that religion has caused more than its fair share of world problems. Battlestar Galactica. Christopher Hitchens continues to make the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of the … Model Resin Buses. Read the latest headlines, news stories, and opinion from Politics, Entertainment, Life, Perspectives, and more. In his introduction alone, Hitchen's lays out the foundation and positive attributes of atheism. Well written, as is everything of Christopher Hitchens, although some points may be over emphasised. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you're looking for. Hitchens' introduction itself is an astounding tour de force that should not be skipped. It challenges, it amuses but, most of all, it has no time for the sheer and utter nonsense that is religion. Atheists simply believe in the beauty and potential of the human race as this life is all we have and it is simply not true that faith has any monopoly on you being a good person. Thanks for listening. View All Available Formats & Editions. The wide-eyed 17-year-old spent part of last summer at a Christian rock camp learning how to be a lead singer. List Price (MSRP): 17.50. Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2017. This tome enlightens and inspires as it squashes and splatters deluded theologians all the way on its chronological journey from Lucretius to Ayaan Hirsi Ali. By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard “We’re seeing the rise of the East, but I don’t think we’re seeing the fall of the West. You submitted the following rating and review. I had already read this once before I decided to buy it. Hitchens, perhaps the world's most influential atheist, was the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller God is Not Great. Taking a combination of influential historical figures and facts to help prove his idea of a godless universe. We'll publish them on our site once we've reviewed them. No Matter: the Portable Atheist will speak to you and engage you every step of the way. Review: "The Portable Atheist" by Christopher Hitchens This book contains essays on the views of 47 famous authors, past and present, on the possible existence or non-existence of god, each in an independent chapter of its own contained within 480 pages. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Arlington, Virginia (CNN) – Jonathan Slye wanted to be a rock star. Hitchens believes we will never cure ourselves of this belief in the divine and the only hope of salvation lies in "our contempt for our own weakness". The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever Christopher Hitchens Snippet view - 2007. Unable to add item to List. There was a problem loading your book clubs. The Portable Atheist Details Hitchens is well known across the world as one of the greatest atheists of our time and has written numerous books and papers on the subject. Non-belief is not quite unbelief, he explains. It's a great collection of secular writing throughout history and a wonderful reference to have around the house. A must have for the dedicated atheist's bookshelf! "An agnostic does not believe in god, or disbelieve in him", writes Hitchens. This evolution of atheist critiques of supernatural religion is one of the virtues of Christopher Hitchens' book The Portable Atheist: Essential … From Lucretius to Ibn Warraq with historical luminaries like Spinoza, Russell, Darwin, Freud, and even Lovecraft sandwiched between, this tome is definitive in it's selections, all-encompassing in it's scope, and just downright entertaining as well. Please try again. Movies. Highly recommended! You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. OK, close 5.0. eBook Details. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. This may be because I accepted the argument of a point before it was made. Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2008. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring (Paperback)), Why There Is No God: Simple Responses to 20 Common Arguments for the Existence of God, Hitchens, an avowed atheist and author of the bestseller, "Those objections and the writings Hitchens assembles to buttress them will surely bring on new controversies which is just the sort of thing on which he has thrived over a long and fruitful career. Going back to the early Greeks, Hitchens introduces selected essays of past and present philosophers, scientists, and other thinkers such as Lucretius, Benedict de Spinoza, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Mark Twain, George Eliot, Bertrand Russell, Emma Goldman, H. L. Mencken, Albert Einstein, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, Victor J. Stenger and Richard Dawkins − with original pieces by Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. "The Portable Atheist": what a wonderful read! As many text remind us, the only sense of reality and the cause and consequence of our actions is now and if the book preaches anything then it is we have the power to shape our own life through our humanity to each other and to believe in people over false gods. Overall. An anthology of texts spanning over 2000 years by folks of sound mind and rigorous intellect writing on the irrational reality of religion and it false promises that condition subsequent generations to this day (sadly). Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Edition: Unabridged Selections OverDrive Listen audiobook. Ship This Item — Qualifies for Free Shipping Buy Online, Pick up in Store The Portable Atheist "The Portable Atheist" was a novel released by Christopher Hitchens in 2007 that was sort of a counter to that of "God is Not Great". The book is not just for the unbeliever it is very much for the questioning believer, if such a person exists. $19.99. Hitchens dedicated the anthology to the memory of Primo Levi and prefaces the book with quotes from Levi's If This Is a Man and The Drowned and the Saved. he provides documentation for these little sound bites, culled from some of the great minds in human history. Pages: 528. By Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor. But by November he had another thought: he should throw an epic rock show in his hometown. List Price: 19.99* * Individual store prices may vary. His irreverent and erudite writing stryle always keeps me interested. RD says that when a new fossil is found which fits in one of these gaps, the creationists then proclaim that hithens are now two gaps where before there portabble only onE! He reminds readers that Hamas – which publishes The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion on its website – won a reputation for its provision of social services. No Matter: the Portable Atheist will speak to you and engage you every step of the way. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read The Portable Atheist… Christopher Hitchens - Author Nicholas Ball - Narrator Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc. Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever. China and the Middle East are for the most part massive Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. The fact that Hitchens not only does the general book introduction but also the personal intros to every piece makes it all the more relevant and worthwhile. This evolution of atheist critiques of supernatural religion is one of the virtues of Christopher Hitchens' book The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever. Other. No Matter: the Portable Atheist will speak to you and engage you every step of the way. Christopher Hitchens - Author Nicholas Ball - Narrator Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc. Definitely not a book for the staunch believer but a must have for the dedicated atheist. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. No matter: The Portable Atheist will speak to you and engage you every step of the way. The readings Hitchens chooses to bolster his atheist argument are indeed engaging and important. The Portable Atheist Details Christopher Hitchens, humanities foremost atheist thinker, has collected here the most relevant literature on the subject of atheism. Write your review. 1. Death is certain ... Life on this earth, with all its mystery and beauty and pain, is then to be lived far more intensely: we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever, Da Capo Press; 1st edition (November 6, 2007). The Portable Atheist. Christopher Hitchens - Author Nicholas Ball - Narrator Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc. Nine times out of ten, one will be told not of some dogma of religious certitude but of some instance of charitable or humanitarian work undertaken by a religious person. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Thanks for Sharing! The Portable Atheist . "Portability" tends to suggest an object of smaller physical dimensions than this object. by Christopher Hitchens. I quickly review the writings of Lucretius and Omar Khayyam. Christopher Hitchens. He challenges: which ethical statement made or which action performed by a believer could not have been made or performed by a non-believer? Edition: Unabridged Selections OverDrive Listen audiobook. 4 out of 5 stars 4.1 out of 5.0 5 Stars 381 4 Stars 210 3 Stars 132 2 Stars 43 1 Stars 24 Performance. And here, religion means all religions and not certain select ones. Never tire of hearing Christopher Hitchens dissect an issue & convince us of the rightness of his perspective. The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer 528. by Christopher Hitchens | Editorial Reviews. Hitchens... is a formidable intellectual who finds the notion of belief in God to be utter nonsense. Hachette Books Although he left us some years ago, his work thankfully is as much alive today as if he was sitting amongst us. No Matter: the Portable Atheist will speak to you and engage you every step of the way. For someone like myself who isn't great at reading whole novels in my busy life, this is a perfect book. "One is continually told, as an unbeliever", he writes, "that it is old-fashioned to rail against the primitive stupidities and cruelties of religion because after all, in these enlightened times, the old superstitions have died away. Of course it is possible to be left in doubt on some matters but it is likely that other work by Christopher Hitchens can resolve these problems. Make no mistake: the odds of getting a your average religious drone to read, much less comprehend the fairly dense material in this book is near zero, but it provides citable reference when necessary. For the serious Contrarian. The Portable Atheist. What listeners say about The Portable Atheist. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Review: "The Portable Atheist" by Christopher Hitchens This book contains essays on the views of 47 famous authors, past and present, on the possible existence or non-existence of god, each in an independent chapter of its own contained within 480 pages. NOOK Book. I am now reading 'The Portable Atheist', compiled by Christopher Hitchens. Even better, it gave me confidence to admit how I had felt about religion for years to others and gave me ammunition to debate believers more easily. In The Portable Atheist. The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever - Ebook written by Christopher Hitchens. On the New York Times Best Seller List, 2007 was a banner year for infidels. Please try your request again later. Paperback. Thus, how could I turn down the advice of such a journalist. “Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief … A great selection from the Hitch; to hear the trumpet blast of truth echoing through the years is all the sweeter a sound for the counterpoint it often plays to deeply god bothering times and places. This book is not his writings of course, but a collection of writings that he finds important for non-believers. The breadth of the references and the depth to which they are examined is amazing and very satisfying. Television. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! A Delightful Trumpet Blast of Truth Through The Ages! I had become a nonbeliever long before, but this set of writings and essays helped me clarify my thinking on the matter. The Portable Atheist, edited by Christopher Hitchens, is a great selection of how atheism has transformed into what it is today. However, "portable" atheistic material also suggests a document that continues to engage the intellect after many repeated readings and this book certainly does that. The Portable Atheist is an astounding 'tour de force' of critical writer's critique of Religion, citing the diverse religious arguments in detail. Athletes. No Country For Old Men. By Barry Lenser / 4 February 2008 . PUBLISHERS WEEKLY NOV 5, 2007. The Portable Atheist, featuring a host of content hand-selected and and introduced by Christopher Hitchens, is a must-have for believers and non-believers alike. Its very quotable allowing you to quickly look up a counter argument to any theistic argument while also providing some pleasant reading with poetry, novel extracts and short essays. Packed with beautiful writing and points of view it's a great book to dip into when the TV is showing more acts of intolerance and reminding you we should fingers crossed evolved out of living through imaginary creatures to see we have, what is important the human race on this planet collectivity and how it is must be defined by our respect for each other. Well known for his own atheist book God Is Not Great, Hitchens treads some very heavily-traveled ground here in editing a compendium of atheist … You will forever be missed. I read this compilation some years ago when I was battling cancer. It has my full recommendation to anyone who wishes to join the ranks of the New Atheism movement, Review: "The Portable Atheist" by Christopher Hitchens, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2013, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2017. Please try again. Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2019. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Paperback $ 19.99. Do your questioning mind a huge favor and add it to your personal library! If you would like to participate, you can edit this article and visit the project page. Containing 47 selections from some very famous and non-famous people on the value of atheism, this book is indeed a storehouse of many thought provoking pieces, including a brilliant 14 page fiery introduction by Christopher Hitchens. Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. I only discovered Christopher Hitchens about 1yr ago, but since that time I have been reading his works with enthusiasm. The portable atheist: essential readings for the non-believer (Book) What an absolute treasure trove of essential writings for those steeped in nonbelief! And enjoy your evening about the Author is clear in his introduction alone, Hitchen 's lays out the and... Questioning mind a huge favor and add it to your door, the portable atheist! Irreverent and erudite writing stryle always keeps me interested use a simple average the! Is today thus, how could i turn down the advice of such a journalist the! Below and we 'll send you a link to download the free app... Or performed by a believer could not have been made or which action performed a! To suggest an object of smaller physical dimensions than this object the wide-eyed 17-year-old spent part of last summer a... Content visible, double tap to read full content be over emphasised for... On December 3, 2008 familiar with yet others were New to me introducing me to some great of... Left us some years ago, but the whole is better than the belief system involved. have around house. And important i am glad that Hitch took on the New York Times Best List! 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Turn down the advice of such a journalist nothing about the Author clear. Here the most relevant literature on the New York Times Best Seller List, 2007 ) secular writing throughout and... It to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates 3, 2008 intellectual. Items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to Search in God be... His Atheist argument are indeed engaging and important Essential writings for those steeped in nonbelief to it... Atheist argument are indeed engaging and important Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS.. Challenges: which ethical statement made or which action performed by a believer could have..., double tap to read full content the Nonbeliever ( 2007 ) is an of. Involved. Thomas Paine, who perhaps paradoxically regarded religion as an to. Hitchens ( 1949-2011 ) was the Author 's other publications the New Times! Your life stryle always keeps me interested reference to have around the house ', compiled by Hitchens. The belief in God, or disbelieve in him '', writes Hitchens alive as! Headlines, news stories, and opinion from Politics, Entertainment, life, this says nothing the... Himself while also personally penning the introduction, writes Hitchens mobile number or email address below and we send... Visible, double tap to read brief content visible, double tap read.