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merilyn_ohtla's review
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"Mortality" by Christopher Hitchens presents a departure from conventional discussions on impending death by rejecting religious solace in favour of unvarnished truth. Hitchens bravely confronts his oesophagal cancer diagnosis with his characteristic blend of courage and intellect, inviting readers into the deeply personal journey he undertakes.
What distinguishes "Mortality" is Hitchens' steadfast refusal to embrace simplistic explanations or artificial comforts. Instead, he navigates the complexities of his illness with exceptional clarity, uncovering moments of beauty and significance amid the pain and uncertainty.
In a society often saturated with religious interpretations of death, Hitchens offers a refreshing perspective. He urges readers to confront mortality with bravery and sincerity, emphasizing that our reaction to death is a deeply personal choice.
voodoo_dexter's review against another edition
4.0
I am amazed how the dark concept of death was described with such wit and curiosity. The author did what he did when living. This is the first book I read by him, but surely curious enough to search for other titles. I have earlier read another book based on a similar scenario, by Randy Pausch, titled "The Last Lecture". Even though a quick read, this book dives deep into your questioning and healthy contemplation.
alyshadeshae's review against another edition
5.0
I knew this book would be about death, but I didn't realize that this was about his death. That was an oversight on my part because I literally said "oh, this one from Hitchens is short-ish and I can easily read it this morning before work since I can't sleep" and didn't read the blurb. I was crying for parts of this for him. He's a brilliant writer and this was a powerful insight into his last years.
kevin_shepherd's review
5.0
"Dying is an art, like everything else." ~Sylvia Plath
Christopher Hitchens had a much longer book in mind when he started writing Mortality. His chronicle of living, and dying, with stage four esophageal cancer is a testament to his tenacity, and it seems fitting that he died as he lived: brilliant, irreverent and completely cognizant of inevitability.
"...the thing about stage four is that there is no stage five"
Christopher Hitchens had a much longer book in mind when he started writing Mortality. His chronicle of living, and dying, with stage four esophageal cancer is a testament to his tenacity, and it seems fitting that he died as he lived: brilliant, irreverent and completely cognizant of inevitability.
"...the thing about stage four is that there is no stage five"