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How Hitchens Can Save the Left: Rediscovering Fearless Liberalism in an Age of Counter-Enlightenment Paperback – February 14, 2023

by Matt Johnson (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 34 ratings
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Christopher Hitchens was for many years considered one of the fiercest and most eloquent left-wing polemicists in the world. But on much of today’s left, he’s remembered as a defector, a warmonger, and a sellout—a supporter of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who traded his left-wing principles for neoconservatism after the September 11 attacks.

In How Hitchens Can Save the Left, Matt Johnson argues that this easy narrative gets Hitchens exactly wrong. Hitchens was a lifelong champion of free inquiry, humanism, and universal liberal values. He was an internationalist who believed all people should have the liberty to speak and write openly, to be free of authoritarian domination, and to escape the arbitrary constraints of tribe, faith, and nation. He was a figure of the Enlightenment and a man of the left until the very end, and his example has never been more important.

Over the past several years, the liberal foundations of democratic societies have been showing signs of structural decay. On the right, nationalism and authoritarianism have been revived on both sides of the Atlantic. On the left, many activists and intellectuals have become obsessed with a reductive and censorious brand of identity politics, as well as the conviction that their own liberal democratic societies are institutionally racist, exploitative, and imperialistic. Across the democratic world, free speech, individual rights, and other basic liberal values are losing their power to inspire.

Hitchens’s case for universal Enlightenment principles won’t just help genuine liberals mount a resistance to the emerging illiberal orthodoxies on the left and the right. It will also remind us how to think and speak fearlessly in defense of those principles.
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  1. Print length
    424 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pitchstone Publishing
  4. Publication date
    February 14, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1634312341
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1634312349
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"How Hitchens Can Save the Left demonstrates how genuine liberals can resist authoritarianism on the right by refusing to tolerate illiberalism on the left. It's a beautifully written reminder that we still have plenty to learn from Hitchens today." —Iona Italia, editor-in-chief, Areo Magazine

“Not a day goes by that I don’t ask myself, ‘what would Christopher say about this?’ Matthew Johnson’s brilliant reappraisal of the Hitchens corpus illuminates how Hitchens can save not just the left, but our entire, impoverished political discourse.” —James Kirchick, New York Times best-selling author of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington and The End of Europe: Dictators, Demagogues, and the Coming Dark Age

About the Author

Matt Johnson writes for Haaretz, Quillette, The Bulwark, Areo, Arc Digital, and many other publications.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pitchstone Publishing (February 14, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 424 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1634312341
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1634312349
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

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Matt Johnson

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4.6 out of 5 stars
34 global ratings

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Customers find the book insightful, excellent, and timely. They also describe the writing quality as well-written, refreshing to read, and perfect.

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5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, excellent, and timely. They say it eloquently encapsulates his political progression and is convincing and deeply informed.

"...His worldview seems very fairly represented by the author." Read more

"...proponent of liberal values and this book eloquently encapsulates his political progression as one of the most important intellectuals of our time." Read more

"...It’s a convincing and deeply informed argument that he represents a political tradition that should be revived." Read more

"...It restores depth to Hitchens the political writer and takes his principles seriously, while not letting him off with the mistakes he made." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book very well-written, incisive, and talented. They also say it's refreshing to read.

"...This book was refreshing to read for so many reasons...." Read more

"...actually heard when presented through clear thinking, this is the perfect book." Read more

"...I found How Hitchens Can Save the Left to be a very well written book by Matt Johnson who deeply understands and similarly appreciates his subject." Read more

"...and timely reinterpretation of Hitchens by an incisive and talented writer...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Jonah Dickstein
5.0 out of 5 stars Hitchens speaks to the issues of today
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023
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Like a latter-day Oscar Wilde, Christopher Hitchens was perhaps the premier public intellectual of his time—that time being within our own living memory. A genuine polymath, with razor wit that belied real depth of intellect and character, Hitchens worked hard (and drank and smoked hard)—burning the candle at both ends (only because the candle had but two ends). Hitchens’ public life spanned the 1960’s to his abrupt death by cancer in late 2011. Now, a decade on, the issues which seemed pressing to Hitchens himself clearly are, for us, intensely felt all the more so now. In his new reflection on Hitchens’ oeuvre, author Matt Johnson draws deeply from all facets of Christopher Hitchens’ voluminous output to give us Hitchens’ thoughts not only on Hitchens’ signature cause, Free Speech—but also Identity Politics, Radicalism, and Military Adventurism. Hitchens’ many notable friends and opponents are also cited, giving even more reveal on the thinking of this important, albeit recent historical figure.
5 people found this helpful
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zuluwhiskey
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly great
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2023
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Like many, I became acquainted with Hitch through YouTube during my undergrad, and have read most of his books. I now disagree with many of his positions but still respect him immensely. I've been fairly disgusted by how he's been mischaracterized and misrepresented. This book was refreshing to read for so many reasons. In particular, it does well at allowing us to see "what Hitch would say about x" today, or at least imagine. His worldview seems very fairly represented by the author.
2 people found this helpful
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Doug Iliff
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful review of a truly interesting character and his evolving philosophy
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2023
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Lord Asquith once described Winston Churchill as having a “zigzag streak of lightning in his brain.” Such people have always fascinated me, from Churchill to Chesterton to Muggeridge to Orwell— to cite just the Brits. So here’s another, with whom I was wholly unfamiliar aside from a vague impression that he flogged my choice of religion pretty severely. Johnson has done a masterful job of weaving the evolution of his political philosophy until Hitchens’ untimely— but, given his habits, not surprising— death from esophageal cancer. For political philosophy nerds, this book is engaging from beginning to end. To get the whole picture of this character, perhaps Johnson will one day flesh out his personal life, as Manchester did for Churchill. It would be worth the wait.
5 people found this helpful
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Andrew Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars A clear argument for the return to liberal values
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2023
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As the political landscape has shifted, the left has begun to diverge from traditional liberal values. In a time when foundational elements of liberal ideology have faded in the rhetoric of some of the most outspoken leftists, this book serves as a reminder of what it means to be a pragmatic, progress oriented liberal. Hitchens was an outspoken, passionate proponent of liberal values and this book eloquently encapsulates his political progression as one of the most important intellectuals of our time.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and timely book for the heterodox thinker
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2023
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This book couldn't have come at a more perfect time - and those of us committed to classic liberalism have certainly been waiting for it! While I may not be 100% aligned on all of Hitchens views, Johnson's writing and his painstaking detail to illuminate one of the most fascinating thinkers in modern history is truly extraordinary. If you're a curious human who wants to learn how reasonable arguments can be actually heard when presented through clear thinking, this is the perfect book.
3 people found this helpful
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Susan
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview and a compelling argument
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023
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This book takes a close look at Hitchens’ politics over the decades, with a particular emphasis on his consistent commitment to liberal ideals (as well as how that commitment became more direct in his later years). It’s a convincing and deeply informed argument that he represents a political tradition that should be revived.
2 people found this helpful
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John M
5.0 out of 5 stars Simulating read for the Hitchens fan
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023
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I was never as voracious a reader as when I was working through Hitchens' books during undergrad. I've missed his voice in the decade since his passing, and was very interested when I saw this book come out. I found How Hitchens Can Save the Left to be a very well written book by Matt Johnson who deeply understands and similarly appreciates his subject.
3 people found this helpful
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Daniel Sharp
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and timely reinterpretation of Hitchens by an incisive and talented writer.
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2023
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An excellent and timely reinterpretation of Hitchens by an incisive and talented writer.

The first decent book about Hitchens to be published since his death. It restores depth to Hitchens the political writer and takes his principles seriously, while not letting him off with the mistakes he made.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Carlos Paiva Raposo
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love Christopher Hitchens you will love this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2023
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Christopher Hitchens didn’t live to see Putin’s annexation of Crimea - and everything that has happened in Ukraine ever since - nor did he witness the rise of nationalist-populist movements in Europe and in the US that would eventually lead to Britain’s withdrawal from the EU and the election of Donald Trump. Among countless other illiberal threats that have been plaguing the world over the past decade.

This truly incredible and inspiring book brings the Hitch back to life after a decade where the Free World has sorely missed his wisdom and correctly interprets and speculates what, in my opinion, Hitchens would surely have had to say on the illiberal threats that have been raging in the West in the years following his death.

This book is also an incredibly passionate defence of liberal, internationalist and enlightenment values that Christopher Hitchens believed in so passionately.

A masterpiece!
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cameron glass
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing - very cogent and useful
Reviewed in Australia on October 11, 2023
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Given all the equivocations from left and right since the Hamas terrorist attacks I strongly suggest you should buy this for you and for friends and family who are confused and prevaricating in understanding the principles that support a free society.
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