Christopher Hitchens

Popular Music, Postmodernism, and the Poetics of Place

Dangerous Crossroads

Shameera Nair Lin

In "Mortality", Hitchens likens his writing style to his usual manner of speech -- a captivating quality seen throughout "The Missionary Position". This book deserves five stars for being stylistically witty and accurate -- two desirable traits in non-fiction. Hitchens wastes no time in providing concrete evidence and a thought-provoking analysis of Mother Theresa's actions, casting a shadow of doubt over her motivations from the get-go (pointing out her ties with Michèle Duvalier, "Greater Albania" and dubious figures). It's a thoroughly enjoyable and concise read.

Donald

Short and sweet. Before reading this I was pretty certain that Mother Theresa was a hack; this book confirmed that idea and gave me a few more damning examples of the callous opportunism of religious fanatics (as if I needed more).

This is less than 100 pages long, so it's more of an extended essay than a whole book. Hilariously, the library copy has a sticker on the front that makes the title read "OTHER THERESA".

How/why is anyone still Catholic?

Kieran Wood

Eye opening for sure, it's crazy how much of this stuff still isn't common knowledge.

Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, feted by politicians, the Church and the world's media, Mother Teresa of Calcutta appears to be on the fast track to sainthood. But what makes Mother Teresa so divine? In this frank and damning exposé of the Teresa cult, Hitchens details the nature and limits of one woman's mission to help the world's poor. He probes the source of the heroic status bestowed upon an Albanian nun whose only declared wish was to serve God. He asks whether Mother Teresa's good works answered any higher purpose than the need of the world's privileged to see someone, somewhere, doing something for the Third World. He unmasks pseudo-miracles, questions Mother Teresa's fitness to adjudicate on matters of sex and reproduction, and reports on a version of saintly ubiquity which affords genial relations with dictators, corrupt tycoons and convicted frauds. Is Mother Teresa merely an essential salve to the conscience of the rich West, or an expert PR machine for the Catholic Church? In its caustic iconoclasm and unsparing wit, The Missionary Position showcases the devastating effect of Hitchens' writing at its polemical best. A dirty job but someone had to do it. By the end of this elegantly written, brilliantly argued piece of polemic, it is not looking good for Mother Teresa. - Sunday Times

Dangerous Crossroads Popular Music, Postmodernism, and the Poetics of Place

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