"I have decided to take whatever my disease can throw at me, and to stay combative even while taking the measure of my inevitable decline. I repeat, this is no more than what a healthy person has to do in slower motion. It is our common fate."
An amazing book from Hitchens, well written and easily read, impossible to forget. It's a short book, yet it benefits from a slow reading. There is plenty of food for thought on the process of dying, I'd strongly recommend this book. Carol, his wife, closes out the book with an incredibly sad final chapter.
Hitchens died before the end.
Don't we all, I suppose.
"Death has this much to be said for it:
You don't have to get out of bed for it.
Wherever you happen to be
They bring it to you - free."
- Kinglsey Amis
Reviews and Comments
"Why, yes, I am still upset that the Library of Alexandria burnt down"
This link opens in a pop-up window
Murf reviewed Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
Review of 'Mortality' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Murf reviewed Fatherland by Robert Harris

Truckers by Terry Pratchett, Mark Beech
Under the floorboards of the Store is a world of four-inch-tall nomes that humans never see. It is commonly known …
Murf reviewed The Wages of Destruction by Adam Tooze
Review of 'The Wages of Destruction' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
An absolutely fascinating history of the economics of Nazi Germany's war effort. Highly readable, it makes an excellent case which explains the rationale behind some of the decisions taken by Hitler and the basic economic issues that constrained the Nazi war effort and fed into such horrors as the Holocaust and the Hunger Plan. Fascinating and highly recommended.
Murf reviewed Anatomy of Aircraft by Gunston
Review of 'Anatomy of Aircraft' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Reasonable potted history of aircraft, with some interesting little details about each design. Best bit is the lovely cutaway diagrams, which are sadly lacking any list of components. This leaves identifying what each part is for up to educated guessing.
Murf rated The Complete Robot: 5 stars

The Complete Robot by Isaac Asimov
The Complete Robot (1982) is a collection of 31 of the 37 science fiction short stories about robots by American …
Murf reviewed Crimea : the last crusade by Orlando Figes
Review of 'Crimea : the last crusade' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Fascinating and absorbing read, detailing the background and buildup to the war and the social and political changes thereafter. It's impact on the collective memory of each nation involved is shown, and the Russian signposts to the recent Crimean crisis are now all too obvious in hindsight.
Murf reviewed German Infantryman by David Westwood
Review of 'German Infantryman' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Good short overview of the average landser's life on the eastern front during the years of constant retreat for the German Army. The descriptions of the small scale tactical actions in the varied terrain of the Eastern Front are very interesting, and show how much planning, effort, manpower and logistics go into even the smallest of unit actions.
Review of 'Death on the streets: Cars and the mythology of road safety' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
An absolutely fascinating look at the source of road danger, and how the general approach to road safety is misguided. A must read for anyone interested in the areas of walkable cities, cycling and benign modes of transport. Written in 1993 and sadly still very relevant. Out of print, but available second hand or in PDF form from rdrf.org.uk/death-on-the-streets-cars-and-the-mythology-of-road-safety/
Murf rated The Fourth Protocol: 4 stars
Murf reviewed Charley's War by Pat Mills
Murf reviewed Designated Targets: World War 2.2 by John Birmingham
Review of 'Designated Targets: World War 2.2' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A fun and entertaining future alternative history fantasy. Plenty of action, ending on a cliffhanger for part three. Very enjoyable, even though there are parts that jar with what we actually know of historical personalities, but it is a novel so roll with it!