The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

Written by Christopher Hitchens

Narrated by Nicholas Ball

Atheist? Believer? Uncertain? No matter: The Portable Atheist will engage you every step of the way. From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of God Is Not Great, comes this provocative and entertaining guided tour of atheist and agnostic thought through the ages with original pieces by Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Christopher Hitchens makes the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of influential voices—past and present—that have shaped his side of the raging God/no-god debate.

With erudie and witty Hitchens as guide, you'll be led through a wealth of philosophy, literature, and scientific inquiry, including generous portions of the words of Lucretius, Benedict de Spinoza, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Mark Twain, George Eliot, Bertrand Russell, Emma Goldman, H. L. Mencken, Albert Einstein, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and many others. They're all set in context and commented upon as only Christopher Hitchens—"political and literary journalist extraordinaire” (Los Angeles Times)—can.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9781597771337

Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens was born April 13, 1949, in England and graduated from Balliol College at Oxford University. The father of three children, he was the author of more than twenty books and pamphlets, including collections of essays, criticism, and reportage. His book God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything was a finalist for the 2007 National Book Award and an international bestseller. His bestselling memoir, Hitch-22, was a finalist for the 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography. The New York Times named his bestselling omnibus Arguably one of the ten best books of the year. A visiting professor of liberal studies at the New School in New York City, he was also the I.F. Stone professor at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. He was a columnist, literary critic, and contributing editor at Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Slate, The Times Literary Supplement, The Nation, New Statesman, World Affairs, and Free Inquiry, among other publications. Following his death, Yoko Ono awarded him the Lennon-Ono Grant for Peace.

Reviews for The Portable Atheist

[Gavin Baskett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I live in Bangkok which means I spend most of my life sitting in traffic Or forever weaving through it on my motorbike. So I listen to the audiobook version while doing so and read my books the old fashioned way when I get to my destination and/or pretending to work. That said, I’ve noticed some differences between the two.
The cover says “unabridged” but I’m more than halfway through the audiobook and see that it have skipped a couple writings/chapters. Good ones, too in my estimation.
Maybe the chapters are mixed up and will show up later. But I see that there’s still a lot of book left in the real version and not much time left in the digital version. It’s a great read otherwise. I will update this review once finished

UPDATE: Unfortunately, more than half of the writings are missing from this audiobook. Here’s a list of the missing authors:
Carl Van Doren, Orwell, Chapman Cohen, Philip Larkin, Martin Gardner, Sagan, Updike, JL Mackie, Michael Shermer, AJ Ayer, Dennett, Charles Templeton, Dawkins, Victor Stenger, Elizabeth Anderson, Penn Jillette,Ian McEwan, Steven Weinberg, Ibn Warraq, Sam Harris, AC Grayling, Ayana Hirsi Ali… There’s a lot of great pieces missing. I wonder if there’s a REAL Unabridged version out there?
Let me be clear, though: there chosen selections in this version are indispensable. If I hadn’t read the hard copy I would have given a 5 Star review without a second thought. However, I wouldn’t be reading these kinds of authors if I didn’t prefer to learn of the WHOLE story, right?
Just wanted to let you all know that there’s more out there and to appeal to any of you to inform me and the other readers/listeners of the existence of the GENUINE Unabridged version, should it exist.

[amcheri-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Meh. I agree with much of his politics and got a handful of chuckles out of it. This is pretty old so most of it is very much out of date - I thought this was the newer book when I borrowed it from the library. That'll teach me to pay closer attention. Very happy I borrowed it and didn't buy it.

Maher, much like Stephen Colbert in his I Am America, seems to equate all things gay with only men. As a lesbian, that gets pretty old. I didn't mark this down in stars because of that, it's a solid 2 star without that (and the ridiculous transvestite "rule") it's just not all that good.

[bergs47 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read a few books from comedians and talk show hosts lately. There are all really not very good. Perhaps they should stick to their day jobs, or rather night jobs

[foof2you · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

New rule, if you are going to charge $14.95 for a book it can not be recycled bits from your television show. About 59 pages with no writing on it and 43 pages where there is only a 1/2 page or less written on it. I mean come on Bill you got to give me a little more for what you are charging, and I'm a fan! You did get it on the New York Times Bestsellers list so shame on me. I just think there should have been a little more substance for the money.

[janersm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read The New New Rules: A Funny Look At How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass before I read this book. Honestly, I'm glad because this book, while funny, was not as enjoyable as its followup.This book consists mostly of the shorter New Rules, like you find in the segment of the same name that airs toward the end of Real Time with Bill Maher. There are also essays in this one. Both the essays and the shorter jokes would have probably been more appealing had I read them shortly after the book came up. Since it's been 8 years since the events that inspired the newest jokes in the book, those jokes weren't quite as funny. I'm sure that they would have probably had me rolling over with laughter at the time, though.Of course, the jokes are mainly about George W. Bush and his administration, but there are also jokes about people of more liberal leanings. And there are jokes that some might feel are inappropriate, but that might make them all-the-more necessary. Maher is unapologetic as he makes quips that most people wouldn't dare to make because he isn't afraid of making them. His brash sense of humor isn't for everyone, so if you don't like the guy and/or is his style going in, then this book probably isn't for you.

[satyridae · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Dated. Intermittently funny, though. And every now and then hilarious. Maher's not a guy to pull punches, he tells you exactly how he feels about every little thing, and makes no bones about thinking you are an idiot if you have the temerity to disagree with him on any point. Some of his humor was mean, and I always mark down for mean.

[jenneb_2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Clever for the first few pages, then just tiresome.

[gmmoney · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I have been souring on Bill Maher for awhile, particularly after his recent comments criticizing vaccination, but I think this book finally did it for me. He includes a blurb condemning breastfeeding in public, which I think is a low blow. I'm not political about it, but I breastfed my son and will breastfeed my daughter, and think that his outrage over breastfeeding in public is poor choice for his rage. You should probably stick to the political comedy, Bill, but I won't be watching anyway.

[mramos_710291 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Television humorist pokes fun at modern culture, politics, and fads. These are from his HBO TV series where he does a segment called "New Rules". Targets include advertising, cell phones, Starbucks, homeland security, and the movies. There is strong language in this book. It is funny, but is much better when he tells them live. He is not always right, he is cruel, but he is thoughtful in his rants. But if you cannot see him perform live, and can get past the lewd language, the rants are topical and humorist.

[meggo_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Maher is definitely polarizing, and I say this as a person who is politically on the same side. Although, after reading this book, I am a little confused as to what that side would be, exactly. Not for republicans. Or people in the flyover states. Or, possibly, Americans. Be prepared to be annoyed, regardless of your political bent.

[goedi_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Week after week, these are fun to read online, as I'm sure they're great to hear - if you have HBO.A whole collection of them, however, makes them seem quite repetitive.Which doesn't mean the jokes are bad, but the format gets old. Not to mention the titles.If I wanted a collection of blow-jobs and pot smoking anecdotes with silly titles, I'd date Sir Elton John. (See?)