Letters to a Young Contrarian

by Christopher Hitchens

Copyright 2001 by Christopher Hitchens All Rights Reserved.

Categories:  Contemporary  Philosophy  Politics

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Description

In the book that he was born to write, provocateur and best—selling author Christopher Hitchens inspires future generations of radicals, gadflies, mavericks, rebels, angry young (wo)men, and dissidents. Who better to speak to that person who finds him or herself in a contrarian position than Hitchens, who has made a career of disagreeing in profound and entertaining ways. This book explores the entire range of "contrary positions"—from noble dissident to gratuitous pain in the butt. In an age of overly polite debate bending over backward to reach a happy consensus within an increasingly centrist political dialogue, Hitchens pointedly pitches himself in contrast. He bemoans the loss of the skills of dialectical thinking evident in contemporary society. He understands the importance of disagreement—to personal integrity, to informed discussion, to true progress—heck, to democracy itself. Epigrammatic, spunky, witty, in your face, timeless and timely, this book is everything you would expect from a mentoring contrarian.

Reviews

"Hitchens is expanding his influence, showing the next generation how to 'think independently'."
— USA Today

Extended Copyright Information

Copyright 2001 by Christopher Hitchens

Hardcover edition first published in 2001 by Basic Books,
A Member of the Perseus Books Group
Paperback edition first published in 2005 by Basic Books.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover designed by Rick Pracher.

Opening Lines (Experimental)

The ensuing pages represent my tentative acceptance of a challenge that was made to me in the early months of the year 2000. Could I offer any advice to the young and the restless; any counsel that would help them avoid disillusionment? Among my students at the New School in New York, and in the ...

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