Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring) - Hardcover

9780465030323: Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring)
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
"Art of Mentoring" seriesIn 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.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:
"Do justice, and let the skies fall." Christopher Hitchens borrows from Roman antiquity this touchstone for a career of confrontation, argument, and troublemaking. Part of the Art of Mentoring series, Letters to a Young Contrarian is a trim volume of about two dozen letters to an imaginary student of controversy. The letters are wonderfully engaging--Hitchens is an exceptional prose stylist--and from the outset they strike a self-reflective note. What Hitchens lionizes and illuminates in this book is not any particular disagreement, but a way of being perpetually at odds with the mainstream. "Humanity is very much in debt to such people," he argues.

Hitchens's style is incendiary and sometimes flamboyant. He relishes the role of provocateur and fancies himself a gadfly to the drowsy American republic. One of his main strengths is his erudition, allowing him to range over vast landscapes of the humanities and politics in a single breath. But he is also sometimes glib and self-satisfied, and his penchant for referencing everything in sight can be distracting. Nonetheless, his arguments are forceful and morally important--and if the reader feels otherwise, there are few more fitting compliments to a professional dissident than dissent. --Eric de Place

About the Author:
Christopher Hitchens is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair. His numerous books include Letters to a Young Contrarian and Why Orwell Matters.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherBasic Books
  • Publication date2001
  • ISBN 10 0465030327
  • ISBN 13 9780465030323
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages160
  • Rating

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780465030330: Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring (Paperback))

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780465030330
Publisher: Basic Books, 2005
Softcover

9781903985069: Letters To A Young Contrarian (Letters to a Young... S.)

Basic ..., 2001
Hardcover

9780965421218: Letters to a Young Contrarian

Basic ..., 2001
Softcover

9781903985526: Letters to a Young Contrarian

The Pe..., 2003
Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldBooks
(Austin, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 34.23
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.25
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Front Cover Books
(Denver, CO, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 54.07
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.30
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
BennettBooksLtd
(LOS ANGELES, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 0.55. Seller Inventory # Q-0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 62.35
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.13
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 2
Seller:
Save With Sam
(North Miami, FL, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Brand New!. Seller Inventory # VIB0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 72.90
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenWavesOfBooks
(Fayetteville, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 101.57
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Hafa Adai Books
(Moncks Corner, SC, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # Hafa_fresh_0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 103.43
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.95
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Wizard Books
(Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 105.67
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.50
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Big Bill's Books
(Wimberley, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Brand New Copy. Seller Inventory # BBB_new0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 106.20
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Hitchens, Christopher
Published by Basic Books (2001)
ISBN 10: 0465030327 ISBN 13: 9780465030323
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
LibraryMercantile
(Humble, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # newMercantile_0465030327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 106.68
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds