Letters to a Young Contrarian [First Edition]

Hitchens, Christopher

ISBN 10: 0465030327 / ISBN 13: 9780465030323

Published by Basic Books - Perseus Books Group, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2001

About this Item

Copyright 2001 by Christopher Hitchens. Full number-line beginning w/1. Grey and white marbled boards, grey textured spine wrap, silver spine titles, light shelf wear. Pages near fine. Marbled endpapers. Inscription at front endpaper: "To My Young Contrarian. Every person should own this because it matters!" Original pictorial dust wrapper, light shelf wear, crease; unclipped 22.00, protected in new clear sleeve. Scarce near fine first printing in same wrapper. In the book that he was born to write, provocateur and best-selling author Christopher Hitchens inspires future generations of gadflies, mavericks, and independent free thinkers. Who better to speak to the contrarian than Hitchens, who made a career of disagreeing in profound and entertaining ways. In an age of overly polite debate bending over backward to reach a bland consensus, Hitchens pointedly pitches himself in contrast. He bemoans the loss of critical thought evident in society. He understands the importance of disagreement - to personal integrity, to informed discussion, to true progress. Epigrammatic, witty, and timeless yet timely, presented here is a concise synopsis to independent thought in the midst of the pressured herd. 141 pages. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall. Seller Inventory # 021624

Bibliographic Details

Title: Letters to a Young Contrarian [First Edition]

Publisher: Basic Books - Perseus Books Group, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Publication Date: 2001

Binding: Hard Cover

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

Edition: First Edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

A witty, wise, biting, and completely individual meditation on what it means to think, live, and be to the contrary.. "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.

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.