Unlocking Christopher Hitchens’ Secrets to Writing Outstanding Book Reviews
Do you want to learn the techniques and insider tips used by legendary author Christopher Hitchens to write stellar book reviews? As a highly prolific writer with a wide range of interests, Hitchens had a knack for making distinctions and could weave together a vivid and memorable review from evidence and anecdotes. In an era before the internet, he managed to assemble reference material by calling up old friends for their input. Learn what made Hitchens’ book reviews stand out with a look into the authoritative reviews he wrote.

The Different Approach and Style of Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens was not your typical book reviewer. While many reviews focus on heaping praise or casting blame, Hitchens instead drew attention to the details and made distinctions between ideas. His use of evidence and references made for fascinating reviews that readers could sink their teeth into. In addition, Hitchens didn’t need to mention the book being reviewed directly, instead regarding it as a base for his thoughts and ideas. As Nicholson Baker once said “It’s a book review, not a bouillon cube.”

Broadening Readers’ Horizons with Expansive References

Hitchens offered a unique perspective to book reviews that kept his readers engaged. His use of references broadened readers’ horizons, making them feel as if their intellectual capabilities were being rotated like tires. Despite the lack of internet at the time, Hitchens managed to stay current and connect to his readers by reaching out to old friends and referencing relevant people and popular culture.

Getting Out and About to Dig Deeper

An example of this was shown in Pauline Kael’s review of Sidney Lumet’s “Serpico” in The New Yorker. Kael may have gone a step further than Hitchens by actually taking the person involved (Frank Serpico) out for a cup of coffee, but Hitchens also call upon his connections and interacted with the people he was reviewing. This allowed for a deeper understanding of the book being reviewed and a more insightful review.

The Blistering Wisdom of Seeming to Know Everyone

One of the main traits Hitchens possessed, and which made his book reviews stand out from the rest was his seeming omniscience. He ‘seemed’ to know everyone, the right sort of people, and where to look for the answers. Furthermore, he was careful not to blindly praise or blame, instead choosing to write intellectual reviews that explored the topic at hand. Such wisdom can seen in his review of a biography of J. Edgar Hoover, a known hypocrite. HITchens ponders on how such a person’s name can still grace the headquarters of the FBI, and speaks to modern-day newspaper reporters and electronic moralists.

Conclusion
Christopher Hitchens had a remarkable ability to write thought-provoking book reviews, showcasing terminology and references to keep his readers interested. By going “out of the book” and exploring beyond what was within it, he was able to create reviews that were not merely generic praise or disapproval. His seemingly omniscient approach and ability to pull of anecdotes from his contacts and references made Hitchens a famed prolific reviewer.