Short Breaks in Mordor: Dawns and Departures of a Scribbler's Life

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

As a longtime reader of Mr. Hitchens's blog in the Mail on Sunday, I was pleased that he published this collection. Those who read it will understand why he was awarded the Orwell Prize for foreign journalism. This is not a travelogue but rather a glimpse into places and cultures that many of us have not experienced firsthand. These are thoughtful essays, meant to be read carefully, not rushed through. Set aside some quiet time and enjoy the work of a good writer!

Peter Hitchens writes a thumping good story, this collection left me wanting more. Here's hoping he writes more on Russia.

An informative and well-written collection of dispatches from some of the world's bleakest regions, with some conclusions that the bien-pensants of the West might find surprising (to say the least). If you like your iconoclasm well-argued and stylishly written, rather than incoherent and riddled with ideology, this collection should please.

Sharp insights into the recent past and imminent future of most of the countries of Europe and all the -stan countries bordering the steps of Asia. I tried to buy a hard copy, because I wanted it in my library, but apparently there is none. I really couldn't find anything to disagree with in all his political analysis. The only thing I didn't like was a snide reference to President Obama. If I ever do get a hard copy, I'll redact it with a magic marker. So there, English! But, to give Hitchens his due respect, he's amazing sometimes. Widely traveled, he's not afraid to state his opinions even in foreign places where it probably was risky. Good show, old boy!

An excellent read and a provocative one. It may surprise some who only know Hitchens by his reputation and columns how much empathy he has for those he writes about (Blair excepted) even when he had profound disagreements with them. (He also has a subtle and kind sense of humor.) But the real focus here is not current politics but landscape and history. He conveys very well what makes each place unique--both the beautiful and tragic. Fans of Tony Horowitz (Blue Latitudes, Confederates in the Attic) and Robert D. Kaplan's (Balkan Ghosts, Eastward to Tartary) travel writing will enjoy this immensely. Readers may very well find themselves devouring more of Hitchens' work after this ... I certainly have.

Insightful and articulate writer, brilliant insights.

A fantastic read. Highly recommended.

Travels, howeve interesting, undertaken 10 or 15 years ago seem strangely outdated because of the rapid changes to world events. If you are a fast reader and have some time to spare, it might be worth your while to read this book especially in cases of 'I told you so' developments.

Excellent..

Fascinating insights into strange places.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Peter Hitchens provides a thoughtful, sympathetic, and unflinching look at various peoples and places around the world. From booming Shanghai to dieing Detroit, two very different Moscows (the one in Russia and the one in Idaho), the communist paradise of the Great Leader, and the wierd state with the Undead Leader, there is something here for everyone. In each location Peter has tried his best to talk to ordinary people and relay what they actually think. This book will show you that things are much more complex than the simplistic pap we are fed on a daily basis.

Having contended with a lifelong bout of wanderlust, I heartily recommend Short Breaks in Mordor: Dawns and Departures of a Scribbler's Life. This book, (sadly, but maybe appropriately, only available in Kindle format) is the next best thing for those of us who may lack the opportunity to venture to far-flung, often life-threatening, frontiers. Peter has the remarkable gift of being an eloquent, yet plain-spoken "scribbler", who can effectively transport the reader to the places he's been, and articulate his experiences with skill and insight. This work is an immensely satisfying read for those of us who have an adventurer's spirit, yet who aren't readily able to journey very far from home, or have access to the destinations Peter has had. And, at its current price, this book is a more meaningful and longer lasting value than any single day at the cinema. ;-)

I've been reading Mr. Hitchen's columns for a few years, and enjoyed reading of some of the experiences that have shaped his viewpoints. I disagree with some of his positions but find him to be a capable exponent of a limited state and cohesive society. His book makes a good argument for preserving our better Western institutions.

Peter Hitchens writes with authority and with interest about places I am very unlikely to visit. I would love to hear this series in his own voice.

Before I start, a word about Peter Hitchens. There is perhaps no journalist alive today that has been more crudely misrepresented than Mr Hitchens. He is not the right wing bogeyman that so many assume him to be. Far from it: Hitchens is a moralist, a man concerned about the future of humankind and earnest in his convictions that not all that is modern is good. I suspect that many would find they have much more in common with him than they might choose to believe. Now, to the book. Having enjoyed many of Mr Hitchens' recent columns in the Mail On Sunday (not to be confused with the Daily Mail) I thought it was time I tried one of his books. Sadly the 'Abolition of Britain' is not available in ebook format, so I decided to go with 'Short Breaks in Mordor'; and what a book it is. I had up to now been unaware of the extent of Hitchens' travels around the world. Little did I realise that when he has spoken, in the past, about other countries, he has spoken from a position of first hand experience. He lived in Moscow for several years up to the end of the Cold War; he has since been back years after the fall of the USSR. In addition, he has visited North Korea, Iran, India, Iraq, Israel, Zambia, Venezuela, Cuba, South Africa, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan and many other places besides. This book is a collection of his travelogues from his time in these various, diverse places. I have learnt so much about parts of the world, most (with the exception of China) of which I have never visited - and many of which I doubt I ever will. Through Hitchens' eyes I have walked the ghostly streets of Pyongyang, followed mullahs on their way to holy cities, been attacked by angry, poverty-stricken miners, witnessed the bizarro-world of Belarussian society and encountered people from all walks of life from all over the world. The way Hitchens writes is so very approachable. His prose is serious and urgent, but rarely ever judgmental. Such opinions as he does express are never couched in terms of what a country ought to do; rather, he takes lessons from the experiences of other countries and ponders their significance for his own. His deep sense of compassion is evident on almost every page. He even admitted in the prologue that the one word he had to edit out (due to its over-use) was 'heartbreaking'; and you can tell that that is exactly how he must have felt witnessing so many of the things that he has done over the past decade. I am grateful to him for sharing these wide, varied - and often dangerous - experiences. Like truly great travel writing, it takes you to a place you have never been and makes you feel like you have. I hope that more of his works will be transferred to ebook form soon.

Hitchens makes me alternately nod in agreement, and shout out expletives. This book depresses me with how awful some parts of the world are. The sad thing is that there are many people hard at work trying to make the UK as bad.

Having been captivated by Peter Hitchens's awesome writing when devouring his recent "Phoney Victory", I decided to give this one a try, and was not disappointed. This collection of short (5-6 page) impressions from his travels to a variety of interesting places (Burma, Bombay, Iran, Zambia, Byelorussia, to name just a few) is incredibly well written and packed with eye-opening insights - if you look at the dates of publishing, you will marvel at how far ahead of the pack he often was (and of course still is). My wholehearted agreement with Mr Hitchens's thoughtful, truly conservative views may have made this read even more enjoyable than it would otherwise have been, but I am sure there is a lot of great interest to readers with different outlooks. I really hope that a lot of others - be it fake conservatives who naively believe in the blessings of an unhinged capitalism, or naively idealistic open-border oikophobes - will read this book and be thoroughly enlightened by it.

From Detroit to North Korea, Peter Hitchens has travelled to some of the most interesting, dangerous and bizarre places on earth. His experiences, most notably living in Soviet Moscow and seeing first hand the collapse of communism, have clearly shaped his political opinions over the course of his life. This book puts his others in context and gives the reader a deeper understanding of the author. As well as that, it is a fabulous collection of stories about real, ordinary people living in places the average Briton would find as alien as Neptune. I highly recommend this book to anyone who takes an interest in politics or wants to know more about the world in which we live.

This is one of the best collections of travel writing I've read in a long time. These are all reports from troubled lands. They are troubled by the impending doom of their way of life [e.g. Bhutan] or they are in the throes of war [e.g. Iraq]; they are troubled by dictatorships [e.g. North Korea], or by collapsed economies [e.g. Detroit]. Mr Hitchens describes these places with a great deal of compassion for those who must endue such a troubled existence, but never flinches in describing the horrific nature of oppression, war, and poverty. My only quibble would be [as he admits in the preface] that sometimes he covers the same ground twice, using the same observations to make a different point. I felt the initial impact of his observations were robbed of their force when I read them twice in a row. But that really is my only issue with this book. The locations are weird, the writing is wonderful. I am surprised it is published through Amazon, but glad that it has been published at all. Recommended.

There is no better time to consider Peter Hitchens' writings and his unique understanding of the world around us. This outstanding book gets to the heart of many of the issues of the day, both then and now, and challenges orthodox opinion. The author's writing is informed and authoritative and his judgement and analysis are unfailingly sound. His wider body of work should be essential reading at this unparalleled time in our history.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Pete Hitchens gives us a tour of planet Earth in the first decades of the 21st century.He gives it from the perspective of a conservative with a small c and of a realist He knows what he is talking about and keeps his eyes and ears open in the countries he visits, talking and engaging with the people there..Naturally this will make what he has to say anathema to much of the educated public in the West.He is one of Kipling's Gods Of The Copy Book Headings limping up to explain it once more to us.Naturally most people will prefer to listen to The Gods Of The Market Place who tell us that wishes are horses and that pigs have wings.No matter .The minority who will read this book will be enlightened by it and their world will have become somewhat larger if not necessarily sunnier.Sometimes his predictions are spot on like his comments on the future of Crimea when the current crisis in Ukraine was only a cloud smaller than a mans hand.He is also particularly good on the rise of China which is treated in a variety of different forms of denial by Western media.

An interesting book which enabled me to catch up on Mr Hitchens' earlier articles which I had not seen having only become an aficionado of his writing quite recently. Whilst I disagree with some of his views e.g capital punishment, Ireland and education, his ability to see through MSM, State propaganda, call it what you will, is most refreshing in these days of manipulated opinion from above and crackpot memes floating around on both the right and the left "wings" of the internet. His recent journalism on the Ukraine debacle has helped clarify my own opinions on the EU where I have swung from firm support to extreme scepticism at best. I have only rated the book 4* as some of the articles contain a degree of repetition. Having said that I find it strange that no publisher could be found. I am not a believer in conspiracy theories but...

This is the book I've been seeking for the last year or so without knowing it existed! Hitchens collects his travel writings from over a decade of visiting from truly 'off the beaten path' places, from the Orwellian Pyongyang (capital of North Korea) to two Moscows - both the centre of the Russian federation and the 'not so centre' of Idaho. Narratively a page turner (rather page clicker with this, unfortunately, being a Kindle exclusive); Hitchens thrills, informs and ponders over places that speak volumes about where our global order is currently.. and where it seems to be going. The only negatives I can think of have been addressed by other reviews; it's a terrible shame that there's no paperback packed with some glossy pictures and of course, it's now given me an insatiable wander lust... A real must buy. You won't regret it for under a fiver!

A compendium of previously published essays so expect a little bit of duplication. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these accounts which made me realise how fortunate I am to have been born in the UK. Not having visited the places described, I'm rather glad that Mr Hitchens has done it for me.

This was a real eye-opener of a book for me. Peter Hitchens details his travels to the kind of places that many of us will never have been, and are probably unlikely to visit. It makes the excitement and dangers of being a journalist in places like Iran, North Korea or Iraq hit home. I always enjoy Mr Hitchens' analysis of world events, and in this volume, he speaks with the authority of somebody who actually lived and worked in those areas, when these days much of the commentary elsewhere often seems to have been passed on and shared, to be regurgitated second or third hand by people who have no genuine experience of the places involved or the customs of the peoples who live there. One theme stood out for me while reading this book, and (although Hitchens may well not thank me for it) it reminded me of a quotation from the libertarian philosopher Murray Rothbard: "The government is not US". All too often it seems, in places considered backward or dangerous or tyrranical, it is normally the governments there which are at fault - the ordinary people are genuine, and warm and welcoming, and wish only to enjoy their own lives as best they can. I highly recommend this book!

Some interesting articles about Hitchens' visits to the tyrannies and half-tyrannies around the world (of which there are many). Lots of insightful moments and well written descriptions of places you'd never think about, and which may as well not exist according to the western media. Also some good challenges to the erroneous status quo views which western media typically doles out. However, while many articles are still very relevant today, the ten year age of other articles makes them history rather than current journalism. Still, an interesting book from a good writer.

Liked: the individualistic eyewitness accounts. Disliked: the amount of repetition due to reprinting articles on the same subject published in different journals. I also thought the claim that Ukraine is a fictitious nationality was a bit overstated (though I do think the Ukrainian nationalist claim that there is no legitimate overlap between Russian and Ukrainian identity equally problematic). His example of Welsh signs in Devon and Cornwall is a bit odd, given that my understanding is that Welsh is much more distinct from English than Ukrainian from Russian.

It is a mistake to write the author off as just a right wing hack. His observation of other cultures is brilliant. The book is however a little dated: most of the "short breaks" he describes were taken in the first ten years of this century

Lucky Mr Hitchens only takes short breaks in Mordor otherwise he would surely be consigned to the dungeons of Barad-dur, his travelling days over, there to remain under the unsleeping scrutiny of the Great Eye. Here, however, Mr Hitchens arraigns the wicked less than usual. There is a great deal of straightforward description and accounts of talks with local and involved people from every walk of life. It would be interesting to see photos but the strange and inaccessible worlds he visits are presented to us in lively images and word pictures: of 'brutal ballets', 'Castro's pyjamas', and 'the days before Andrex', etc. We see and are alarmed or amused or amazed. As well as impressions, encounters and political analyses he puts things into historical context. It is informative. There are worrying moments when we think, 'Yikes, I'm glad I'm not there'. Travel in these far-off worlds can be unpredictable to say the least. I think it is a book to dip into: observations, in the style of a modern Dickens, of Bhutan, Caracas, the railway to Mandalay, Shanghai, etc. I found the accounts of Central Asia and the various 'Stans' especially interesting but everyone will find something to fascinate. A real insight into the rather shocking and inscrutable world out there beyond the reach of normal short breaks.

Much of the content will be familiar to Hitchens obsessives such as myself as the ebook consists mostly of articles already published recently for magazines and the Mail on Sunday/his blog- so the ebook is more a 'best of' compilation really. Also I would have liked to read more foreign reporting from earlier in his career. Despite Mr Hitchens' complaints I think the reason it wasn't published as a hardback is probably more mundane, probably something to do with publishing rights. The content itself is very good but articles that had appeared in multiple publications (and so differed slightly in their accounts) are just duplicated in the ebook- in these cases he could have at the very least merged them together. Also, in my opinion he should have at least tried to connect his little accounts of disparate lands and add some comment in between to form some sort of narrative/timeline. Instead they appear jumbled together in no particular order.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

This really is an excellent book. I feel there is really no need to waffle on too much, because everything I would like to have said has already been said by many of the other reviewers. If you are interested in history, geography, travel and politics I highly recommend this book. An extremely educational and enthralling read. Furthermore, despite what people may think of Mr Hitchens he actually has a great sense of humour, and had me laughing out loud in many places. 5 Star book.

A fascinating series of accounts of a journalist's visits to a series of illiberal states. Whilst this is mostly travelogue, Hitchens also tries to make contact with many people in the society and sound out their views on a number of topics. Sometimes their views are surprising, particularly the views of individual Iranians, which go against the stereotype seen in the so-called "West". Peter Hitchens is an traditional small C conservative, which makes him a true free-thinker in this illiberal "liberal" age. I think that this probably makes him a far more thoughtful commentator than most, and most willing to try and understand the differences between countries, without going for well-tried cliches. My only criticism of this book is that it is a straight reprint of existing articles. In many cases, there are two versions of the same article. Couldn't the versions have been edited together to remove redundancy?

A fascinating book, great stories and analysis from Hitchens. The concept of the book sounds rather dry ("stories from my travels") but it does make for a great read. I am giving four out of five stars because of the formatting; the book is composed of what appear to be journals from the author's travels and the subsequent articles he wrote for his newspaper. So for each country visited there are effectively two chapters, both similar in content. I found this a bit lazy and thought the book would have flowed better had they both been merged or rewritten.

I'm someone who disagrees with Peter Hitchens on a whole host of issues. These range from the EU to just how wonderful Grammar Schools were/are, even to the view that the CofE is a Protestant Church. However, I can pay him an immense compliment I hope? He makes me think, challenges my preconceptions and occasionally changes my views on matters. This book is laden with thought provoking writing on many of the worlds most dangerous and hostile countries; however, it covers the rising of India as a major global power. To me the simplest point that arises from this book is that the most important thing in any free and prosperous society is the rule of law. Without that we don't get anywhere. If you can bother to throw off your political prejudices. Cope with the silliness of calling cities by different names you'll be taken on a fascinating journey.

I have not yet finished the book, but have gone far enough into it to be deeply impressed once again by Hitchens's writing and the mind it reveals. Not least among the attractive qualities of his descriptions is his humanity--his empathy and compassion in understanding and expounding the lot of people in these dark places. He makes them live as people, even though their countries, cities and circumstances seem so deeply 'other' in many ways, and this awareness of our common humanity seems to enable him to evoke in this reader's mind and heart a greater understanding of people. This is such a contrast with the propagandising reduction of people to un-human enemies, or even objects of pity. Hitchens respects their dignity, and helps us to do so. I highly recommend this book, and only wish it were available as a physical object with covers and pages.

Bought at Christmas as a gift to my son in law. He was well pleased.

Great read about out of mind places.

I bought this for my son who has just completed his first year at university studying politics. Having seen Peter Hitchens on television a few times I wasn't quite so sure about this book as I'd rarely ever agree with him on anything. My son on the hand is a longtime admirer who's read all his other work and wouldn't let me sleep till I bought this for him and read it myself too. This book has raised my respect for Mr Hitchens by a 1000%. Like him or hate him, the wealth of knowledge and insight produced in this book is indisputable. Not to mention that his writing style makes you never want to put your kindle down. My son would have preferred a hard cover to go with his

It takes real courage to go to some of these places. And real wisdom to describe them so honestly. I find it puzzling Short breaks has not been released in physical form as I don’t normally read ebooks.

Peter Hitchens - love him or hate him, it's always worth reading his work.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Excellent insight of world events and situations giving a better understanding which goes against much of the main stream propaganda. Although some of the chapters are dated, they still have current relevance.

Brilliantly insightful, well researched and in many cases remarkably prescient. Mr Hitchens is a pre-eminent journalist of fearless honesty, content to fly in the face of public opinion. I was struck by the number of times pieces written over a decade ago and which were completely to the zeitgeist have now become the new orthodoxy.

Great !

Your guide, Mr. Hitchens, will lead you through strange landscapes of dreams and nightmares. This is slow journalism at its best, his prose plain yet beautiful.

Interesting, inspirational, intelligent, thought provoking, hey it put a smile on my face. Recomended in full.

A superb read, excellent writing, a collection of intriguing articles that give great insight to life in countries that differ in so many ways to Britain.

Without wanting to waffle on, this book is fantastic, it gives an excellent insight into some of the unreported mysteries of the world, shedding an unbiased yet critical eye on supposed despotisms such as Iran and Russia, and actual ones in the DRC and North Korea. From both a travel book and foreign commentary perspective, this is a 5-star book.

Hitchens on top form beautiful descriptive prose in conjunction with incisive informational content.

An excellent read, giving a new perspective on conditions in and prospects for many foreign countries.

Lots of people dislike Peter Hitchens, myself included in my lefty days. But his attention to the facts and bravery in the face of so much personal hostility and physical danger cannot be overstated. Great book to dip in and out of and learn facts usually unavailable.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

This is a great ebook of reports on the authors extensive travels through some of the places in the world I wouldn't want to set foot! Mr Hitchens's eloquent description of his travels almost makes you feel like your there with him.

This books reads like a captivating novel, rather than a non fiction book. It describes the political and cultural situation in many placed around the world. I have much respect to the writer for immersing himself in some of these perilous adventures!

Peter Hitchens book is a most unusual and interesting travelogue filled with wonderfully descriptive insight.

Simply excellent for all the good reasons given by fellow reviewers. Most impressive to me was how well the essays have stood the test of time - their prescience is exceptional. More power to your elbow, Mr Hitchens.

A delightful read. This book, while very interesting, brought home some of the darkerer realities of the world we live. I don't normally review books, but this is without doubt the best non-fiction book I've read this year.

Best political and social travelogue I have read. Mind you I have only read this one . Mr Hitchens seems to have witnessed many pivotal times in socio political history. A bit like Forest Gump of dodgy regime's

Superb travel writing with just enough political analysis to really engage the mind. Everyone with an opinion on left vs right, religion vs secularism and liberal interventions should read this. Brilliant book.

Hitchens offers a stimulating and thought-provoking insight into a world inaccessible to most. The accounts of Pyongyang, and of China, are particular highlights. Peter, please keep writing books...

brilliantly written and hugely enjoyable

Very refreshing as expected. Would love to have had a paper version, although having downloaded on my phone I find that I can have a look whenever. Hope for more soon.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Absolutely fantastic and deserving of a wider audience than it has received.

Excellent writing by Peter Hitchens gives you a window into layers of worlds beneath the headlines and stereotypes. Very enlightening!

An easy to read, honest and fascinatingly informative account of the author's travels around some of the world's darkest corners.

Really bring the places to life

A compassionate Virgil guiding us through the various levels of hell. A cracking read.

Brilliant and prophetic with excellent figurative writing. You think Paul Theroux, that veiled poet of the liberal Left, is a good cultural analyst? While he definitely has his moments, Peter Hitchens, speaking for the conservative Right, certainly matches and even surpasses Theroux in this collection of reports from the other side of the mirror. His report on the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of Vladimir Putin is worth the modest price of this verboten eBook alone. Self-published (heartening to learn), he nonetheless knows what he's talking about as he was a foreign correspondent in Moscow for two years and the majority of these 35 travel reports from "Mordor" (Tolkien's 'Evil Empire') were published between 2000 and 2012 in The Daily Mail and The American Conservative. Russia... China... North Korea... Japan... Burma, India, Pakistan (and the other "stans"), Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Israel... Africa...Bohemia... Venezuela, Cuba, and the good old USA -- Hitchens turns his ruthless third eye on both the virtues and follies of these lurching countries, some ruled by despots, some by democracies. For the most part it's real politik, and despite the often scathing cynicism, there's a refreshing sense of humour within the blunt observational narrative. Even though some of the political figures and their dramas have gone into the recent past, you can read any of these pieces for their relentless irony. And landscape poetry: 'On the nearby plains, scorched and poisoned by years of atmospheric testing, huge towers of solid concrete stood at alcoholic angles, knocked sideways by the unimaginable blast. In the dirt lay millions 'of shards of black glass, remnants of a great sheet of this material that had formed for hundreds of yards around, immediately after a nuclear fireball had melted the topsoil.' That's his view of the once secret nuclear city of Kurchatov. If that isn't good enough for you, stranger, then ride on.

This new book by prominent British journalist Peter Hitchens was superb. It is part travel memoir and part political commentary. It was a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and, at times, disturbing read. It was articulate, well-paced, and beautifully detailed. It was well written in such a manner that it made it feel like I was right there amongst the splendour and troubles of the places and people he visited. This book puts a far more broader, detailed reality to these places and people in stark contrast to the superficial, conventional view perpetrated by Western media.

He calls himself 'the hated Peter Hitchens', because of the bile directed at him from both sides of the political spectrum: From the left, for his perceived conservative views, such as his hard-line opposition to drugs, traditional Anglican Christianity and support for family and moral values; from the right, for his distaste for the faux-conservative party of David Cameron ('Useless Tories') and his refusal to hold the knee-jerk right-wing opinions they think he should have. But his latest book, Short Breaks in Mordor, causes me to wonder whether Hitchens-hatred could be more subtly driven by a subliminal aversion to his determination to puncture the complacency of Westerners and to deflate their delusions of permanent First World status. The 'Mordor' of the title refers of course to the evil empire of Sauron from 'Lord of the Rings'. 'Mordor' is one of those words, like 'Dickensian', which serves as a cultural cue; in utilising it, the author conveys in one word the awfulness (perceived or real) of the destinations he visits. Among these are Iran, North Korea, Ceuta, Venezuela, Burma, South Africa, Belarus, Russia, Shanghai, Bhutan, India, Baghdad, Cairo, Detroit, Turkey, Uzbekistan, China, Gaza, Cuba and Congo. They are places you probably do not want to visit, and Hitchens went so you don't have to. Some of these essays come as a surprise to those of us spoon-fed and lapping up the lazy and shallow perspectives of our media and governments. The Iran which Hitchens describes is not the dour, oppressive place it is generally portrayed to be. And you learn that pockets of poverty and desperation lurk in the most prosperous of locations. Stylistically, Hitchens is a master, and indeed this book is a masterclass in travel writing without the cliches, unerringly seeking out the offbeat and describing it evocatively. I particularly enjoyed his description of the Himalayas from Bhutan as 'massed on the horizon like a frozen storm'. One warning: The book is far from the 'we're in [insert destination] and having a good time' type of near-advertorial you see in the Sunday travel supplements. I submit that it could constitute a new genre: Political Travel Writing. And it is unrelenting. Not initially being able to download onto the desktop (problem solved later; book now being read again more slowly), I was obliged to get through it in one go. Maybe the book should carry a health warning: 'This publication may cause depression'. Certainly, the portrayals of the sorrows economic and political systems can perpetrate on humans depressed and distressed me all through the merciless read. But it also had me offering up my heartfelt thanks that I inhabit a (for now) tranquil and secure environment - the depths of rural Corfu. For some very odd reason Short Breaks in Mordor was turned down for publication as a printed book, and therefore it is available only (as yet) in the form of a Kindle from Amazon. If you don't have a Kindle device you can download it, as I did, on your Mac or PC via Kindle Reader (free download from Amazon). The ebook is incredibly affordable at just over nine dollars. In view of ongoing events in several of the locations described, it's a small price to pay for what is likely the most important book you'll read this year.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to read vivid and honest first hand descriptions and accounts of significant events and important places. The reader has the benefit of hindsight, which gives considerable weight and credibility to the author's insight/diagnostic ability/moral compass/worldy understanding (choose only one or two of those qualities please - best not to inflate a journo's ego and subvert any good qualities actually present). If you've usually experienced Mr Hitchen's journalism and opinions when relayed by hostile others, or obfuscated by a barrage of catcalls, then here is an opportunity to read some considered, thoughtful, well informed, nicely written first hand accounts of various important places, persons, moods, opinions, and even some events (apparently journos do get lucky sometimes). I bought this e-book on the day of its publication but have to admit that I still haven't finished the book before writing this review. Unusually I don't think this matters too much. It's one of those volumes that the reader can dip in and out of, being a collection of fairly self contained pieces (or pairs of pieces). In title, concept and structure (but not necessarily opinion or mood!) it reminded me enough of P.J. O'Rourke's "Holidays in Hell" that I bought the Kindle version of "Holidays in Hell" and have started to re-read it about 25 years after last navigating the paperback. "Holidays in Hell" costs a very serious one (new!) British penny in Kindle form at the moment and I definitely recommend it as a companion piece for Mr Hitchen's "Short Breaks in Mordor", and vice versa. At present there is just a handful of nationally or internationally significant journalists and commentators in the UK who have both the ability to honestly relay what they have seen and experienced, and the candour, experience, self-reliance and decency to try to interpret it in an informed and contextual way. John Pilger comes to mind in a similar vein (integrity, honesty and doggedness, not left/right leaning or world view) . Generally nobody thanks them for it. For the most part the powerful people they annoy and offend, and whose deficiencies they reveal, try very hard to ridicule them or consign them to obscurity or some kind of pariah second rank. This must be easier to bear than being threatened, beaten or killed, so it's safe to say that the rule of law still matters here despite our supposed masters' attempts to chisel away at it until it loses its shape. Meanwhile simpering, acquiescent, pliable sycophants take centre stage of our broadcast and print media and attempt to define our horizons, tell us what to think, and how. You might think of yourself as a leftist or liberal or conservative or tory or radical or socialist, or perhaps an anarchist or some kind of activist or even a fantastic combination of any of the above. My suggestion is to put all that aside for a moment and find a few hours to seek out the views of people who are so awful that they insist on describing things as they find them and on trying to offer an honest and credible opinion.

Short Breaks in Mordor is a scary and thoughtful book about the author's observations and reflections on some of the world's trouble spots, forgotten backwaters and places about which most of us know nothing. He has visited them all. A subtitle might be 'Travel yourself interesting.' This is a collection of travel essays from the last couple of decades from various countries which are police states, poverty stricken **** holes, or both, places most of us would rather suffer 'flu than visit, hence the title. They include China, Burma, the Zambian Copper Belt (where PH and his colleagues were nearly killed by an enraged mob at an unofficial mine), Soviet era Moscow and Prague, India, North Korea, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Somalia and others including (perhaps scariest of all) the decaying post-industrial city of Detroit. Hitchens has been to a few exotic/dodgy places and then some! Jacob Zuma sings 'Bring me my machine gun' at an election rally: PH is refused an interview. Nervous people in various dictatorships tell him how much they love their government, assuming he is a spy. An abandoned child grins as he eats human excrement in a Bombay street. He sees unimaginably huge building projects in unknown areas of China and vast plains of coal fired power stations belching sulphurous stink in apparent mockery of the west's fastidious 'Green' energy policies. He chats (via a local accomplice) with an abortionist in Kunming, China, where by 2020 it is expected there will be some 30,000,000 more men than women because of 'gendercide', the selective abortion of girls about which the pro-choice sisterhood in the West is so strangely quiet. Will these men accept celibacy or seek other options to gratify their urges? He is tempted to join Chinese Muslim Uighurs as they dance at an animal sacrifice bloodbath in Old Kashgar but thinks better of it in case he is beaten up for sacrilege. And wherever he goes he is impressed by the resilience and courtesy of incredibly poor people who offer him generous hospitality. Is the book opinionated? Of course it is, like everything else that anyone writes. I don't always agree with PGH's opinions but at least you know what they are. And as someone who made the difficult journey from Marxist revolutionary to conservative Christian, his opinions are at least a change from what we hear from most journalists. Did PH bring his opinions to the places he visited or did he form or at least modify them based on what he saw and heard there? Probably a bit of both. He went to Moscow as an atheist and what he saw there-the desolate and corrupt fruit of state atheism-set him on the road to the traditional Christian belief that now informs his writings. One theme of these essays is that most of us have NO IDEA how fortunate we are to have the liberty, security and prosperity currently enjoyed in Britain by contrast with conditions endured elsewhere. These conditions had to be gained and could be lost, travel reveals this starkly. Hitchens wrote once to his readers 'I study the Guardian so you don't have to.' and there is an element of that in these travelogues. This book is a bit like the capital punishment of murderers, ugly but necessary. That statement will offend some, but one of Peter Hitchens' uncomfortable cases is that while 'Enlightened' western powers recoil from executing convicted murderers (with the exception of Saddam) they bomb cities killing innocents and justify it because of some 'greater good'. How great that good is, the seasoned but sour traveller PH tells us as he reports from Baghdad in 2003, shortly after the invasion that was meant to bring 'democracy' to Iraq. It sort of ...didn't, as we are now aware. One of the most interesting reports is from the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, high in the Himalayas and the model for the novel 'Lost Horizon' about the mythical Shangri-La. This ordered, peaceful society had little crime, but things have changed in many ways since the introduction of a new highly addictive drug. It is called television. Workers are now getting up an hour later each morning due to late night TV, and small children are acting out the mannerisms of soap and Hollywood stars. Why isn't there a flood of sociology researchers going to Bhutan to study the effect of sudden introduction of TV into a country that previously didn't have it? But perhaps the results would be suppressed: it's not as if mass TV would be withdrawn if evidence linked it to mental illness, educational failure, violence, lethargy or crime was available. Another of Hitchens' themes is the ever growing power of the globalist corporations over all of us. 1984 and Brave New World are coming and there's probably nothing we can do about it. On the whole, riveting stuff but scary. By the time I had finished it, I was a bit more nervous about the future than I was when I began. Some readers may prefer to read something more uplifting and 'enlightened', maybe by Sam Harris, Alistair Campbell, Ed Milliband or Barack Obama. I prefer the truth, even if it's ugly.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

A well-researched and wonderfully wry collection of short pieces from Peter Hitchens. Well worth the cover price simply for his eye opening piece on North Korea.

This is a wonderful collection of articles. Hitchens' writing is clear and lucid, and the articles are both interesting and informative.

If Mr Hitchens worked for the BBC, he'd be a national treasure, with endless series made about his travels. As he refuses to kow-tow to the left-wing PC commentariat, he labours in relative obscurity. This book is hard-hitting stuff, and proves Mr Hitchens to be not a desk-bound blogger, but someone who's been there, done that, and got shot at in the process. The man has balls. If only you could say the same of our lickspittle, wishy-washy politicians. Read this book, it will change your view of "foreign affairs" forever. In addition, it is superbly well-written, literary, and historically informative. I pray Cameron, Miliband and Obama have a copy.

I've not yet finished 'Short Breaks in Mordor' but it won't be long until I have, and then I know I'll be yearning for more. It's truly thrilling, evocative and eye-opening stuff. Hitchens is one of the few journalists around who sticks to George Orwell's golden rules: he writes clearly and plainly, being very careful about the words he chooses, whilst avoiding cliché as much as possible. This makes reading him an absolute joy, as well as an important lesson in history, politics, geography and culture. I'd seriously recommend this book to anyone with an interest in any of those subjects.

I follow his blog and have read his other books so expected to enjoy this collection of articles - I did and you might too. When I was much younger than I am now I did a bit of travelling and always found other countries / cultures very different from the stereotypes peddled by lazy journalists and 'travel' writers. Like Mr Hitchens I found things to be much more complicated and complex than the mainstream media would have us believe. An added bonus is that these essays are not only intellectually rigorous but extremely well written. It is a sad indictment of British publishing that this is only available as an e-book. Download now.

I knew what to expect from Peter Hitchens before I set out with him on this epic tour. Not brave enough to go alone I have now returned feeling exhilarated and educated in equal measure. I do recommend that you put your prejudices to this man on one side and read this book. It might even open your eyes to just a little bit of truth.

Peter Hitchens provides some highly refreshing observations and challenges the conventional perception of many states and regions. Of particular interest to me were Peter's thoughts on the Arab Israeli conflict which in his view has been exacerbated by western intervention prior to which there was relative peace, mutual goodwill and compromise. Also, the opening chapters revealed an irony I hadn't considered - that Iran is a secular state at heard forced to conform to Islam whereas Turkey is Islamic by nature yet forced to be secular by a despotic government. Food for thought indeed. I hope this book makes it to the printers and encourages more of us to reconsider our spoon-fed views of other nations and cultures.

A beautifully written and fascinating collection of articles. Peter Hitchens's foreign reporting is first class and he provides excellent insights along with flashes of dry humour, which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing read. His love of travel and adventure is palpable, as is his warmth and understanding for the people he meets. Slightly oddly given his reputation, he seems more comfortable in far-flung, alien environments than he does in Blighty. A thoughtful and thought-provoking book that surprises and delights whilst it stretches the mind and our often too-narrow horizons. A masterpiece of its type and highly recommended for anyone who loves good writing and serious thought..

A nice work to dive into in bite sized pieces for a quick dose of mind expansion. The analysis of the speed, breadth and power of the development of Shanghai was particularly frightening.

As ever, Peter Hitchens delivers a brilliant read. Side note - it is ridiculous that PH can't get a publisher these days but Russell "Revolution" Brand can. Yet again, the fashionable opinions of bien pensant lefties trumps good old fashioned journalism.

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.

Very informative and interesting as always.

Brilliant reportage from one of the best journalists in the business. It is, essentially, a collection of his foreign reporting covering the last 12 or so years. Never less than thought provoking. Covers everything from the ruin of Detroit to the build up to the Iraq war. If you want to read something that will challenge your presumptions and you have the slightest interest in the outside world then this book is for you.

Excellent travel writing, not to mention prophetic too - especially regarding Iraq and Ukraine.

In a world where everything is immediately labelled "good" or "bad" it is refreshing to read first-hand factual accounts written with authority, with clarity and in a way that brings places and people to life. Essential read.

Let's talk about something important. I'm sure there are many who think Peter Hitchens is the devil incarnate. They are probably wrong about that. I urged a colleague of mine to read some of Mr Hitchens's stuff and he refused. 'I can't stand him - the right-wing so and so!" That wasn't exactly what he said, but it'll do. I had taken some time to explain that Hitchens doesn't think what many think he thinks. My colleague included. I pointed out that Hitchens isn't in the least right-wing. (The look I got for that stays with me still.) Hitchens is an example of what Norman Mailer used to describe himself as: a 'left-conservative.' I will make a confession. I used to have a generalisation about Peter Hitchens. I used to think: 'Hitchens disapproves of everything.' That was as wrong as I got, and it was a few years ago. Now, however, I've seen and heard many things written and said about him by thoughtful individuals. I decided my generalisation wasn't all that bad and I long ago chose to forgive myself. I told my colleague that taking Hitchens's measure, by reading his books, columns and blog postings did repay the effort; indeed, doing so might make such a person a little more privileged than they were before doing it. Privilege is what comes to mind with `Short Breaks in Mordor.' Consider the writing about Iran and the reports from normal Iranians who are, actually, quite fond of the West and would only side with their government if attacked by the West; or consider the normal Iranians cracking dirty jokes about their dear leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. It's not what one might expect. The privilege for the reader comes from being offered a glimpse of the world which is closer to the truth than what is offered by our newspapers and TV news programs. One could compare the coverage from the newspapers and TV news programs against the reports and essays from this book, and one could be forgiven for thinking that the papers and TV news programs might have agendas of their own. Consider the question of ideology. Peter Hitchens's criticisms of communism, for instance, come not from automatic opposition to the other side's ideology, but from a love of liberty and freedom from state interference. He has seen the evidence which suggests five-year plans and great-leaps forward usually involve murder and starvation, or murder by starvation, along with huge amounts of incompetence. Questions about communism and economic planning and trade and so on are difficult to answer in a sentence or two; though consider the argument - quite unexpected, considering the book is travel journalism - against television, which coarsens the younger viewer by allowing them to develop self confidence in a way they might not have done without TV but at the price of their individuality and potential. I felt the argument against TV much more in `Mordor' than `The Abolition of Britain.' That might be because Britain has had TV for decades and it's tricky to see it the way the teachers in Bhutan see it. The writing from Bhutan was quite moving, actually. I had the sense of sadness at the loss of a type of innocence. `Mordor' has tales of China and the modern magnificence of Shanghai; China 's wooing of Africa and the threat China poses to the West in the years to come. There's India, which has an education system to rival, if not surpass, our own, and was the country where our hero witnessed an abandoned child smiling as it ate human excrement. There are many things one could mention, but why bother? The education on offer is in the book, not the reviews. I bought the book and was pleased I had. Go and do likewise, gents.

This a fine collection of writing from the most misunderstood and wilfully misrepresented journalist in Britain. Peter Hitchens offers a captivating insight into some of the most curious, interesting and dangerous locations in the world. He really makes you think and feel as if you are broadening your horizons simply by sharing his intriguing perspective on the places he has visited, the people he has met and the things he has seen. I highly recommend this, from North Korea, to Burma, India and Iran, this is a though provoking collection of travel writing that had me turn the pages late into the night.

Peter Hitchens is one of the most intelligent and readable commentators currently writing. Other journalists parrot the received view; his independence of mind and clear-sighted approach to politics and culture are refreshing. He is sceptical but never cynical; sees the problems of the present without wallowing in nostalgia for the past; and is frequently proved correct in his predictions about the future. This book is a collection of his travel writing, though if that phrase conjures visions of Bill Bryson or Paul Theroux, forget it: Mr Hitchens is interested more in the intersection of totalitarian government and the people who have to endure it. He has also been a working journalist all his professional life, and the essays in this book were mainly written for newspapers of magazines: it's fascinating to compare two pieces on the same place designed for different outlets. I can't recommend this book highly enough: it's an engrossing read, and a book which turns many of one's preconceptions (though by no means all) upside down.

Captivating and evocative. A pleasure to read such eloquent, insightful prose. Makes one want to dust off the passport and start travelling again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to read original, well-written accounts of such interesting countries. I also felt that I learned a lot from reading it. My only complaints are that I would have liked to have been able to read a physical copy and it also gave me serious wander lust...

The author writes well and his descriptions of places and people are very good. The book is now a bit dated as many of the events described have moved on considerably since the book was published

Want to know what REALLY goes on in the world? One surely won't find the answers in the mainstream press. Peter Hitchens, a correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, a British newspaper, gives us a tour of the world through a series of essays that he has written over the years. One can learn about bad western influence creeping into Bhutan; one can read with anxiety about the rise of Muslim power in Turkey and the despotic rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the depressing rule of leaders in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. To we in the United States, these unpleasant truths about bad government are little heard about and are papered over with inane stories about Miley Cyrus or a gay man getting drafted into the NFL. Peter Hitchens, in essence, gives us a warning that all is not right in the world. A brilliant e-book. Five stars.

Peter Hitchens describes his visits to places such as North Korea, Pakistan, and various other countries that most of us may never get to experience. This book gives a glimpse of the history and everyday life of the countries he visits, allowing one to have a better understanding of the world. It is well written. No chapters were tedious or boring, even though there was some repetition at times. An interesting, enjoyable read.

This is a collection of essays that Peter Hitchens wrote for both British and American political magazines. They are his personal social commentary on countries, mostly with oppressive regimes -but not all (like Japan). They include his visits to North Korea, China, former eastern bloc countries, African countries and Japan. Hitchens is a favorite editorialist of mine and even though I don't 100% agree with all his conclusions, his writing is highly readable, witty, enjoyable and most importantly, acutely insightful to current events and politics. One will enjoy the vicarious ride to countries most of us will not be able to (or maybe want) to see in person.

A fascinating book. You will find a lot of interesting facts here which are written about in an extremely poignant manner. Peter's content is second to none, backed up by real experience. However, the book is badly edited and formatted with no page breaks between chapters and a lot of curious repetition as if the same content was written twice in different ways. That is disappointIng. But nevertheless I urge you to read it as it will expand your horizons in a way you won't see elsewhere.

Revisited this in light of the ongoing unspeakably horrific cultural genocide of the Uyghurs being carried out by the Chinese government, the first foreshadowing of which Peter describes here in one of the most memorable episodes in a book of highly memorable episodes. Alas, his pessimistic predictions proved only too perceptive in this, as in most cases. I've often thought that, for all people on the Right are derided as parochial bigots and cultural Philistines, it really only is conservatives who are able to truly appreciate other cultures, since they are the only ones who can appreciate them on their own terms, without trying to interpret them through the condescending/condemnatory lens of Western Liberalism-Marxism; without feeling the need to either excoriate or excuse their authoritarian backwardness, religious dogmatism and misogyny.

Engaging accounts of the multiple places through the eyes of everyday people. The author goes out of his way to seek out what is happening in the streets rather than in the palace. Somehow, that makes it all seem more real. The book contains 35 journeys. Sometimes, the journeys cover the same place, but different time frames. The writing is exquisite. Hard to put down.

Not only is this excellent writing that keeps you engaged, but also when you compare the dates of the reports the opinions were well ahead of the common opinion and prove to be immensely valuable. This is a nice ebook to buy for those who enjoy reading the english language for the clarity of expression, ability to communicate passion and placing of the individual in the smells and events described. It never fails to turn from the attempt to capture the tensions and reality of a country, community or place. I particularly took pleasure in some of the Chinese and Iranian dispatches, echoes of which are now broadcast on in the last couple of years on mainstream television channels i.e. child abduction, ghost cities, middle east reaction to american adventurism in the region and forced abortion as state policy and the unintended consequences. Like all good writing, this is not so much for the escapism from the reality of our society, a chance to use what is seen elsewhere for examination of ourselves. I would only persuade the reader to finish the article and dwell on the content. Often i find myself wanting to put it down, so that i don't have to agree with the writer, only to be remorsefully pulled back into finishing it just to see if i can't hold on to my preconceived notions, which often but not always give way from the chomping at the bit and spewing of the bile in the days following.

Peter Hitchens' book, so far available only in electronic form, is a compendium of his writings for different publications as a reporter from the less traveled roads of the world. It is in a word, outstanding. The reader can expect to have their comfortable cliches about every single one of these countries challenged and punctured on virtually every page. You may have your disagreements with Mr. Hitchens' take on things, from the Israel-Palestine issues, to Russia and Ukraine, but he puts together formidable arguments for his positions and writes breathtakingly beautiful accounts of these strange lands that will draw you to read them over and over again. It is true that these are troubled, dangerous parts of the world, so no happy endings over tinkling glasses, instead the lingering suspense of Mordor pervades these pages from Cairo to Tokyo. The author has visited, researched and written about more countries than some people have heard of, let alone visited and his deep historical frame and experience fill these accounts with an unerring instinct for the dark shadows beneath the shiny facades. Forget the flashing signs and hyper colors of Tokyo, Mr. Hitchens shines an incisive light on the scores of homeless and destitute in parks living off an unofficial can recycling economy, and the strange plight of Brazilian repatriates. That's just one of countless fascinating and deeply informative reports from this excellent book. The best thing I can say about Mr. Hitchens' writing is that reading these frequently disturbing accounts of countless horrors mixed occasionally and faintly with hope, nevertheless left me with a deep desire to visit these distant and dangerous lands and see these things with my own eyes. I found this to be an unforgettable book with a persistent ring of truth.

Phenomenal book. Consists of many columns previously published written (apparently) on assignment. Exposes the false Western assumption that the normal state of human government is one that respects individual rights. Particularly poignant was the chapter about North Korea. It reminds one of the underworld kingdom in _The Silver Chair_. I highly recommend this book as being informative enlightening. I felt like a better person when I was done.

Smart, original and beautifully written. As a long-time admirer of PH I've been hoping for a while now that his foreign journalism would be collected and published. Motivated above all by a desire to tell the truth, Hitchens looks at his subjects with fresh eyes, and conveys deep compassion for human suffering and palpable outrage at the politicians and ideologies that propagate it. The chapters on Iran, North Korea, Chinese gendercide and Detroit should be read by everyone, but the standard of the whole is extremely high.