Christopher Hitchens Knihy

Práva člověka jsou od té doby, co vyšla, obdivována, kritizována, ostouzena a potlačována, ale polemik a komentátor Christopher Hitchens v této knize obdivuje prozíravost onoho díla a baví se jeho svárlivostí. Především pak Hitchens ukazuje, jak kniha Thomase Paina utváří filozofický základní kámen první demokratické republiky.

O tom, jak náboženství všechno ničí. V této polemice s věřícími předkládá základní argumenty proti náboženství (a ve prospěch sekulárnějšího přístupu k životu), a to formou podrobné a poučené interpretace stěžejních textů hlavních světových náboženství. Hitchens vypráví o vlastních nebezpečných zkušenostech s náboženstvím a popisuje svůj vývoj k sekulárnímu nazírání na svět, založenému na vědě a rozumu. Je to svět, ve kterém jsou „nebesa“ nahrazena záběry vesmíru získanými pomocí Hubbleova teleskopu, nad nimiž se nám tají dech, a Mojžíš s hořícím keřem ustupuje nádheře a symetrii dvojité šroubovice DNA. „Bůh nás nestvořil,“ píše autor. „To my jsme stvořili Boha.“ Náboženství, vysvětluje dále, nabízí zkreslenou představu o našem původu, o naší podstatě a o vesmíru. Tím, že je dětem vštěpujeme, jim škodíme – a ohrožujeme svůj vlastní svět. Vůbec nezáleží na tom, zda jste celý život věřící, nebo přesvědčení ateisté, či zda patříte k těm, kdo si o úloze náboženství v životě dosud neudělali jasno. Polemika předložená na stránkách knihy Bůh není veliký vás bezpochyby vyprovokuje k zamyšlení a možná i ke kritické revizi svých dosavadních životních hodnot.

This second volume of Christopher Isherwood's remarkable diaries begins on his fifty-sixth birthday, capturing the transition from the fifties to a decade of social and sexual revolution. Isherwood takes readers through the bohemian landscape of Southern California, the liberated atmosphere of London, the vibrant cosmopolitanism of New York, and the rugged Australian outback. He chronicles his spiritual quest guided by his Hindu guru and shares the emotional complexities of his relationship with American painter Don Bachardy, who is thirty years his junior and navigating his own artistic path. The diaries are filled with sharp gossip and psychological insights about cultural icons of the era, including Francis Bacon, Richard Burton, and Mick Jagger. However, they are most revealing about Isherwood himself—his literary works, film writing, college teaching, and romantic entanglements. He seamlessly connects diverse topics, from Beckett to Brando and the opening of "Cabaret" to a detailed analysis of Gide. The backdrop includes significant political and historical events: the Cold War anxieties, Gagarin's spaceflight, the Vietnam War, and the Summer of Love. Isherwood, known for his prophetic portrayals of a morally bankrupt Europe before World War II, offers an unparalleled chronicle of the decade that profoundly influences contemporary life.

"Courageous, insightful and candid thoughts on malady and mortality from one of our most celebrated writers"--Provided by the publisher.

'Vanity Fair Portraits' traces the cultural history of the 20th century and its leading personalities in the pages of a magazine that helped usher in the modern age and which has itself become a benchmark of modern achievement.

Ten years since the death of the world-renowned and controversial intellectual, this stylish edition is one of twelve commemorating Christopher Hitchens' most wry and provocative works.

Essayist Christopher Hitchens ruminates on why Charles Dickens was among the best of writers and the worst of men, the haunting science fiction of J.G. Ballard, the enduring legacies of Thomas Jefferson and George Orwell, the persistent agonies of anti-Semitism and jihad, the enduring relevance of Karl Marx, and how politics justifies itself by culture--and how the latter prompts the former.

"All first-rate criticism first defines what we are confronting," wrote jazz critic Whitney Balliett. By this measure, the essays of Christopher Hitchens rank among the best. For nearly four decades, Hitchens has articulated the core principles of reason, tolerance, and skepticism that underpin our civilization—principles that must be defended anew by each generation. Recognized as one of the greatest conversationalists, alongside figures like Sir Patrick Leigh-Fermor and Sir Tom Stoppard, Hitchens invites readers into a democratic dialogue, engaging and reasoning with them. His formidable knowledge, akin to an encyclopedic treasure, feels like a conversation where he follows the logic of his thoughts, unafraid to expose fraudulence, denounce injustice, and critique hypocrisy. Readers have come to admire his eloquence, wit, and readiness to confront adversaries. In this collection, Hitchens offers fresh insights on figures like Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, and George Orwell, enriched by his experiences from traveling and reporting in places like Iran and China. His directness, elegance, and humor applied to a wide range of subjects set a high standard for essayists. This volume presents an intellectual self-portrait of a writer dedicated to the pursuit of reason and justice, showcasing his profound love for the English language.

Features three sections: 'Love', 'Poverty', and 'War'. 'Love' celebrates the work of Joyce, Proust and Borges. 'Poverty' includes a series of assessments of Michael Moore and the cult of the Kennedys. This book's final section, 'War', contains reportage from North Korea, Pakistan and Iraq.

Ten years since the death of the world-renowned and controversial intellectual, this stylish edition is one of twelve commemorating Christopher Hitchens' most wry and provocative works.