Letters to a young contrarian
by Christopher Hitchens · first published 2001
73% recommend27% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short, personal essays on independent thinking and dissent; readers say it inspires them to question received opinion and argue positions on their merits. Suits young readers and anyone who thinks for themselves.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"In the book that he quite possibly was born to write, provocateur and bestselling author Christopher Hitchens inspires future generations of radicals, gadflies, mavericks, rebels, angry young (wo)men and dissidents. Who better to speak to that person pitched at an angle of passionate disagreement against the lazy consensus than Hitchens, who has made a career of disagreeing in profound and entertaining ways?" "This book explores the entire range of "contrary positions," invoking mentors such as Emile Zola, Rosa Parks and Vaclav Havel. What they have in common is a commitment to living and thi
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…your ideas analyzed by a critical crowd. Being a contrarian is not a bad thing. If you haven't already done so, I suggest you read "What You Can't Say" by pg (http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html) and Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens.
on “Underappreciated Female Video Game Pioneers” ↗The late Christopher Hitchens was a drink sodden ex-Trotskyist popinjay, of course. But one we needed. His 'Letters to a Young Contrarian'(2001), though filled with himself[0], remains a heartfelt read for anyone going about the world in their own way. If you can get a used copy, preferably filled with marginalia, treasure it, add your…
on “How to Think for Yourself” ↗I admire Hitchens. His "Letters to a Young Contrarian" gave me no small measure of actualization. I hope he survives this so he can continue writing and getting everybody's backs up.
on “Christopher Hitchens on the Topic of Cancer” ↗"Arguably Essays" by Christopher Hitchens "Letters to a Young Contrarian" by the same. and "Unpopular Essays" by Bertrand Russell.
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗…have a different understanding, it's not resistance for resistance sake, it's the willingness to dissent when you disagree. The first thing that pop to my mind is a book by Christopher Hitchens called "Letters to a Young Contrarian". While he enjoyed arguments he did not argue for argument sake for a position he did not hold.
on “Employers Find ‘Soft Skills’ Like Critical Thinking in Short Supply” ↗Both of these are slightly over 100 but; Letters to a Young Contrarian - Christopher Hitchens The Old Man and the Sea - Hemmingway Both gave me an appreciation of the writers that led me to read more of their work which ultimately made changes in my life. With Hitchens…
on “Ask HN: Book under 100 pages that changed your life the most?” ↗Speaking of Hitchens, I highly recommend his “Letters to a Young Contrarian”. Or any writing of his, to be honest.
on “Christopher Hitchens and the Necessity of Universalism” ↗Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens
on “Ask HN: What is your comfort book?” ↗Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy and Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitches. Both terrific writers.
on “Ask HN: Please suggest some good books you have read recently” ↗Hitchens talks in "Letters to a Young Contrarian" about being a young communist, and actually working with some of those forming the government in Cuba. They said, "our revolution will be different, our people will be free. We will even allow satire,…
on “Claims on contested holdings in Cuba” ↗Here's Christopher Hitchens in his 2001 book, Letters to a Young Contrarian: >Beware of Identity politics. I'll rephrase that: have nothing to do with identity politics. I remember very well the first time I heard the saying "The Personal Is Political". It began as a sort of…
on “Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing” ↗“The noble title of "dissident" must be earned rather than claimed; it connotes sacrifice and risk rather than mere disagreement.” ― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian
on “How to Think for Yourself” ↗…'discrimination.' The ability to discriminate is a precious faculty; by judging all members on one 'race' to be the same, the racist precisely shows himself incapable of discrimination.” ― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian But sometimes the strongest turns-of-phrase in English can be the simplest. We were recently chatting about the Portuguese "Cansas-me a beleza". In English, if you said to someone: "You tire my beauty"…
on “What Is Anglish?” ↗He saw identity politics/woke coming for decades. In his 2001 book, “Letters to a Young Contrarian”, Christopher Hitchens wrote the following as a warning: PS: Since this often seems to come up in discussions of the radical style, I’ll mention one other gleaning from my voyages. Beware of identity…
on “Why must a socialist also be woke?” ↗