Hitchens' God Is Not Great is a provocative critique of religion, praised for its sharp wit and thorough research. Critics laud its compelling argument and engaging prose, though some find it overly confrontational and biased. The book is both celebrated for its fearless critique of religious institutions and criticized for its lack of nuance in addressing believers' perspectives.

Readers who appreciate God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens typically enjoy books that challenge religious beliefs and promote secularism and critical thinking. Fans of Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion or Sam Harris' The End of Faith would find this incisive critique of religion equally engaging for its wit and intellectual rigor.

God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens argues that religion is a destructive force, using examples from various faiths to illustrate how it oppresses science, sexuality, and promotes violence. Hitchens critiques both Western and Eastern religions, drawing attention to their negative impacts on human well-being and society. This book contains references to traumatic and violent acts.

Informative / Challenging / Mysterious / Dark / Emotional

- God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens was published in 2007 and became a finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction.
- The book's subtitle, "How Religion Poisons Everything," succinctly encapsulates Hitchens' critical stance on religion, reflecting his reputation as one of the modern era's most outspoken atheists and public intellectuals.
- Christopher Hitchens embarked on a promotional tour for God Is Not Great which included debates with religious figures, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable debater and critic of religion.

**Christopher Hitchens**  
An outspoken writer and critic of religion who explores themes of atheism and anti-theism, using anecdotes and personal experiences to illustrate his arguments against organized religion.

**The Catholic Church**  
A major focus of Hitchens's critique, particularly regarding its history of sexual repression and institutional abuse, as well as its wealth and power throughout history.

**Islam**  
Discussed by Hitchens as part of the "major monotheisms," with a particular emphasis on fundamentalist and extremist interpretations that he argues are harmful and resist multicultural acceptance.

Christopher Hitchens

Adult

Book

Nonfiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore God Is Not Great reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read God Is Not Great | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore God Is Not Great and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

God Is Not Great Summary and Study Guide

Background

God Is Not Great Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

God Is Not Great Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 5-8

God Is Not Great Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 9-12

God Is Not Great Chapters 9-12 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 13-16

God Is Not Great Chapters 13-16 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 17-19

God Is Not Great Chapters 17-19 Summary & Analysis

keyFigure

Key Figures

God Is Not Great Key Figures

theme

Themes

God Is Not Great Themes

Index of Terms

God Is Not Great Index of Terms

quote

citation

character

Important Quotes

God Is Not Great Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

God Is Not Great Essay Topics

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

Before You Read

Super Short Summary

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read God Is Not Great?

Reading Age

Book Details