---
product_id: 53704047
title: "Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring (Paperback))"
price: "8593 Ft"
currency: HUF
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.hu/products/53704047-letters-to-a-young-contrarian-art-of-mentoring-paperback
store_origin: HU
region: Hungary
---

# 4.6/5 average rating 204 rank in Religious Studies 145,630+ readers engaged Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring (Paperback))

**Price:** 8593 Ft
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## Summary

> 📚 Challenge the status quo — read like a contrarian, think like a leader.

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- **What is this?** Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring (Paperback))
- **How much does it cost?** 8593 Ft with free shipping
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## Key Features

- • **Curated Reading List Included:** Expand your mind with recommended works that fuel critical thinking and debate.
- • **Elevate Your Critical Thinking:** Master the art of opposition with elegant, logical advice on moral courage and skepticism.
- • **Timeless Intellectual Mentorship:** Gain wisdom from Christopher Hitchens’ uncompromising voice on dissent and principle.
- • **Universal Appeal Beyond Politics:** Benefit from insights that transcend agreement, perfect for any contrarian mindset.
- • **Join a Cult Following of Thought Leaders:** Be part of a community that values fearless questioning and intellectual independence.

## Overview

Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens is a highly rated paperback that offers a masterclass in intellectual dissent and principled opposition. Ranked in the top 200 in Religious Studies and Philosophy, this book combines sharp reasoning, a curated reading list, and timeless advice to inspire readers to embrace skepticism and moral courage. Perfect for professionals seeking to sharpen their critical thinking and join a community of fearless thinkers.

## Description

Buy Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring (Paperback)) by Hitchens, Christopher (ISBN: 9780465030330) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Review: You should read this book, especially if you don't want to. - I have to admit, and not without some degree of shame, that prior to picking up this book I had shunned the author for the most part as someone whose views diverged too sharply from my own to be of any interest to me. It remains true that I do not share many of his specific views, or at least approaches to them, but that does not take away from the fact that Christopher Hitchens was a remarkable and highly intelligent man who stood by his convictions and contributed more than most to some of the the great debates of his generation. In this short work the author takes up the subject of what it means to devote oneself to a life of opposition to the status quo by responding to many of the questions he has received on the subject throughout the years. It is not so much a treatise on any one subject – although his controversial opinion on things like religion and politics inevitably come up – as a dissertation on the very mindset a person should adopt if he or she is to successfully assume the role of the outspoken critic, and the various pitfalls of doing so. As such, the book lends itself well to anyone in such a position, be they a supporter of his views or not. I was particularly taken by the self-reflective and often humble tone of the book, as well as the beautiful simplicity and inescapable logic of the advice Hitchens offers on the subject of moral compromise and the temptation to “go along to get along”. Again, one does not have to agree with the author’s politics to make sense of his motives. In fact I would go so far as to say that a refusal to read this book on personal grounds is as much a vindication of what it has to say as it is an objection to it. Aside from the advice on offer, the book also contains a good deal of recommended reading, some with which I was already familiar, but much that I was unaware of and look forward to reading. I would conclude by reiterating that this is one of those books that, ironically, might prove as valuable to the opponents of the writer as his supporters. I am neither – or perhaps both – and yet this fact seems almost irrelevant when you consider that unlike much of Hitchens’ other publications, this one is, for the most part, neutral. Which is to say, you can ignore those things you do not agree with and still benefit greatly from the more general reflections of a mind that is nothing if not uncompromising and devoted to personal freedom above all else.
Review: At once indignant and intellectual in Hitchens' now inimitable style. - In this book Hitchens writes on themes of dissent, skepticism, stoicism, revolution, reason and principle. To support the importance and relevance of these themes he packs the book to the gunwales with literary and commentary references which themselves stimulate an appetite for further reading. One might not agree with all of his views but for the most part the book embodies the feeling implied in its title of a wise old sage trying to impart some of life's most important lessons on an uninitiated, naive but eager and vital neophyte. The book combines wonderfully reasoned arguments for the author's position on numerous topics but there are also many simple but elegant one-line take-aways such as his "Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity". At once indignant and intellectual in Hitchens' now inimitable style he winds up his advice beautifully by quoting the Hungarian dissident, George Konrad, "Have a lived life instead of a career. Put yourself in the safekeeping of good taste. Lived freedom will compensate you for a few losses....If you don't like the style of others, cultivate your own. Get to know the tricks of reproduction, be a self-publisher even in conversation, and then the joy of working can fill your days." An excellent book.

## Features

- New Store Stock

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 145,630 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 12 in Agnosticism & Atheism 204 in Religious Studies (Books) 582 in Philosophy (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,463 Reviews |

## Images

![Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring (Paperback)) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71VtoWMqR+L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ You should read this book, especially if you don't want to.
*by N***S on 12 July 2014*

I have to admit, and not without some degree of shame, that prior to picking up this book I had shunned the author for the most part as someone whose views diverged too sharply from my own to be of any interest to me. It remains true that I do not share many of his specific views, or at least approaches to them, but that does not take away from the fact that Christopher Hitchens was a remarkable and highly intelligent man who stood by his convictions and contributed more than most to some of the the great debates of his generation. In this short work the author takes up the subject of what it means to devote oneself to a life of opposition to the status quo by responding to many of the questions he has received on the subject throughout the years. It is not so much a treatise on any one subject – although his controversial opinion on things like religion and politics inevitably come up – as a dissertation on the very mindset a person should adopt if he or she is to successfully assume the role of the outspoken critic, and the various pitfalls of doing so. As such, the book lends itself well to anyone in such a position, be they a supporter of his views or not. I was particularly taken by the self-reflective and often humble tone of the book, as well as the beautiful simplicity and inescapable logic of the advice Hitchens offers on the subject of moral compromise and the temptation to “go along to get along”. Again, one does not have to agree with the author’s politics to make sense of his motives. In fact I would go so far as to say that a refusal to read this book on personal grounds is as much a vindication of what it has to say as it is an objection to it. Aside from the advice on offer, the book also contains a good deal of recommended reading, some with which I was already familiar, but much that I was unaware of and look forward to reading. I would conclude by reiterating that this is one of those books that, ironically, might prove as valuable to the opponents of the writer as his supporters. I am neither – or perhaps both – and yet this fact seems almost irrelevant when you consider that unlike much of Hitchens’ other publications, this one is, for the most part, neutral. Which is to say, you can ignore those things you do not agree with and still benefit greatly from the more general reflections of a mind that is nothing if not uncompromising and devoted to personal freedom above all else.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ At once indignant and intellectual in Hitchens' now inimitable style.
*by N***L on 7 July 2012*

In this book Hitchens writes on themes of dissent, skepticism, stoicism, revolution, reason and principle. To support the importance and relevance of these themes he packs the book to the gunwales with literary and commentary references which themselves stimulate an appetite for further reading. One might not agree with all of his views but for the most part the book embodies the feeling implied in its title of a wise old sage trying to impart some of life's most important lessons on an uninitiated, naive but eager and vital neophyte. The book combines wonderfully reasoned arguments for the author's position on numerous topics but there are also many simple but elegant one-line take-aways such as his "Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity". At once indignant and intellectual in Hitchens' now inimitable style he winds up his advice beautifully by quoting the Hungarian dissident, George Konrad, "Have a lived life instead of a career. Put yourself in the safekeeping of good taste. Lived freedom will compensate you for a few losses....If you don't like the style of others, cultivate your own. Get to know the tricks of reproduction, be a self-publisher even in conversation, and then the joy of working can fill your days." An excellent book.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A very good synthesis of Hitchens
*by F***O on 9 January 2013*

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I am only recently acquainted with Hitchens' work, but I consider this to be a worthy starting point for anyone wishing to understand the essence of this most excellent specimen of man. "Letters" basically delivers a synthesis of the late Hitchens' view, the reasons for his stance on many varied topics and also his personal advice to anyone truly wishing to become a professional contrarian, or (more realistically) anyone who wishes to maintain an upright moral stance in the face of popular or personal complacency. I cannot say that I agree with all of the author's espoused views, but he doubtlessly anticipated some such differences of opinion. Therefore I suggest that this book is to be treated both as textbook and exercise book for developing an opinion on many controversial. From his advice one should learn how and why to take a stand in both the heat of argument or the chill of general complacency and then instantly apply the techniques of open criticism to his own views. In my humble opinion, that is what the man would've desired to see in a young contrarian (feel free to disagree with me though). I suppose my only criticism of it is that it is far too short to provide an even view of the examples described therein, but I repeat that this is a synthesis: it is not enough to make an informed decision on big issues, but enough to comprehend the author.

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*Last updated: 2026-01-29*