2014 Book Goal: 52 (mostly non-fiction)
2014 Books Read: 18 (76% non-fiction)

The book, God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens is officially listed as non-fiction but it is hard to count it as such after reading it. I have never seen such a blatant slam piece on religion (or any subject.)

Hitchens refers to himself as a journalist and educator but this book betrays the integrity of both professions. He rehashes old arguments and brings nothing new to this age old debate. Hitchens’ examples are only the most hyperbolic and designed to elicit shock rather than any real discussion.

As journalism, it is yellow at best. The statements and premises throughout read more like National Enquirer than any true journalistic effort. As education, it is just as sophomoric.

The underlying theme seems to be a hatred for the Catholic Church and Islam, but using only the worst examples of the behavior of associated men. Hitchens then paints this picture of religion with the widest of all possible brushes, lumping all religions and all practitioners together and painting them the same hated color. Very weak juju.

Christopher Hutchins has a history of being controversial to sell books and earn television appearances. If he were writing a review of himself using the same technique/rules, he would say, “Because at some time in history, someone wrote something that was not honestly researched and misleading, then everything ever written by anyone is dishonest and misleading .”

Chris Doelle