or, autobiographical sketches presenting christopher hitchens' interesting ideas and sharp wit to the reader.

it's based, presumably, on a series of correspondences hitchens had with a young friend who was pounding his personal philosophy out and entering the world of politics and criticism. the letters are one-sided, but thread through hitchens' views on what it means to be at odds with general opinion.

hitchens has led a life of curious adventure and incident, all the while developing a world view based on being a contrarian. regardless of your take on hitchens and his views, letters is a worthwhile read. it reminds us of the fire and strong-mindedness of youth, and makes us feel painfully complacent in our everyday lives.

while recent events (hitchens' support of the invasion of iraq) show that he is making the age old left to right slide as he gets on in years, he is still insightful, well-written, and up to his armpits in debate. we can all learn a thing or two from a guy like hitchens.