God Is Not Great: The Case Against Religion

This is one of my favorite purchases. I read the book when it was first released after hearing Hitchens on the Today program (radio 4) debating his irksome younger sibling (Peter). This listen is an excellent rebuke of all monotheistic religions by looking at the ridiculousness of the readings in the Bible (old and new), Torah and Koran along with other religious lifestyle books (Hadif). Hitchen's great command of language and story telling come to the fore and he throws in a few of his own stories which are funny. You will not regret this purchace.

This is an incredible book that will point the true learner chasing down references but it has disabused me of so many notions that I feel quite empty. At least with Dawkins I could draw some strength from Ghandi and the New Testament. I will have to start my beliefs all over again and so would not recommend this to anyone who holds their prejudices dear.

Excellent analysis of the histories of religions and there success in controlling our societies and individuals and of their consistently bad behavior when they find themselves in the majority. A breath of fresh air for those who wish to have an unshackled mind. Can't rate this work to highly.

Wonderful book, from a wonderful man, read in his own inimitable voice. I dutifully read 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins, and agree passionately with his thesis, but even the most ardent supporter of Mr Dawkins has to worry that he might sound just a teeny bit wooden and geeky to the average reader. Here is a humanities man walking confidently and smilingly towards science from his natural habitat in a literature or history department. He speaks with such heart about human duplicity and the urge for power that you feel he sees inside the heads of the (intelligent) priesthood, using and abusing their gullible flocks, Indeed, Hitch actually seems to be quite tempted, mildly envious of the evangelists who use silky words to get into the knickers of their flocks, which infuses the whole book with a human insight very different from scientists (such as, say, Sam Harris) treating the same subject. Further illustrations of this difference in approach are the delicate snatches of piano music between chapters, and the pithy historical quotations kicking off each new chapter. I know Hitch is really gone, and I know he knew he would truly be no more, and I know he might have despised me for thinking otherwise, but for me he is still a little bit alive in my ipod. Dear man.

This book is my favourite. I have read it four times now and it gets better each time. The writing is superb, the agrument uncontestable. The quotations of other great minds are brilliantly chosen. My great regret is that I did not meet Mr Hitchens in the flesh. Read this book.

Hitchens wit and wisdom beautifully lines up and slaughters every sacred cow of the religulous

This is a well researched and articulated presentation of the atheistic argument, given additional weight by Hitchens 'matter of fact' reading style. It totally demolishes the religous perspective, but goes further by undermining the whole concept of 'faith' as an alternative to the spirit of scientific enquiry.
We're I a person of any religious persuasion, I might feel utterly ashamed of myself after reading/hearing this book, such is the force of its argument.
That said, it is not without humour, Hitchens' derisive portrayal of the obvious absurdity of the religious mind set, rent many a snort of mirth from me.

Should be required reading.

Even if you regularly attend church you should read this book. It certainly makes you question some of the ' stories ' you have been told since you were a child.

After enjoying Dawkins' book on the same subject I was a bit disappointed by this one. I can't fault the accuracy of the contents, it certainly does what it says on the tin, but it comes across as ranting rather than educational. I appreciate books read by their authors but Hitchens' voice does get tedious after a while (sorry Chris). I found Dawkins book was far more enjoyable to listen to and more persuasive as a result.

A great listen but ultimately spoiled by a substandard narrator. The book read well off the page but doesn't really work with the author as narrator.