Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Missionary Position

By: Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Mallon - foreword
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $11.69

Buy for $11.69

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

"A religious fundamentalist, a political operative, a primitive sermonizer, and an accomplice of worldly secular powers. Her mission has always been of this kind. The irony is that she has never been able to induce anybody to believe her. It is past time that she was duly honored and taken at her word."

Among his many books, perhaps none have sparked more outrage than The Missionary Position, Christopher Hitchens's meticulous study of the life and deeds of Mother Teresa. A Nobel Peace Prize recipient beatified by the Catholic Church in 2003, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was celebrated by heads of state and adored by millions for her work on behalf of the poor. In his measured critique, Hitchens asks only that Mother Teresa's reputation be judged by her actions - not the other way around.

With characteristic élan and rhetorical dexterity, Hitchens eviscerates the fawning cult of Teresa, recasting the Albanian missionary as a spurious, despotic, and megalomaniacal operative of the wealthy who long opposed measures to end poverty, and fraternized, for financial gain, with tyrants and white-collar criminals throughout the world.

©1995 Christopher Hitchens (P)2012 Hachette Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Missionary Position

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    497
  • 4 Stars
    142
  • 3 Stars
    54
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    439
  • 4 Stars
    123
  • 3 Stars
    56
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    465
  • 4 Stars
    98
  • 3 Stars
    45
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

all in all worthy book

Didn't liked non english interpolations in the book, I understand the wish to sound eloquent but english is not my first language and it is hard sometimes by itself without this french.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

icon slaying

He definitely sheds, well deserved it seems, hardh light on an icon. An important reads for lovers of facts

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hitchens at his best!

Excellent, albeit relatively brief, analysis of the phenomenon that is Mother Teresa. Glad I purchased it. My only reservation was the production quality of the narration. It sounded as though it had been recorded once, and then edits inserted that were recorded under different conditions resulting in often times jarring changes in ambiance and tone. And while Simon Prebble is a laudable narrator, I would have preferred Mr. Hitchens himself.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The world needs to hear this.

Religion has been used for thousands of years to manipulate the mASSes by others who don’t even believe what they are preaching. This sick and twisted woman was just one of probably millions that got away with it. Rest in peace Hitch. You’re greatly missed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

She was an awful human being

This is a well researched and sharply put critique of an awful human being. Be warned, it's a really depressing read. Still, I say it should be mandatory high school reading. Religious frauds like her must not be allowed to torture the impoverished.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An absolutely fascinating "must read"

A most compelling, thoroughly researched and well presented accurate account of the institution of religion. Well done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Theresa was a monster.

She was a woman so desperate to find her lost faith, she forced untold poor, sick and orphaned suffer needlesy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book to listen and read

The author has provided many convincing evidence in the book that the mother teresa is not what she portrayed herself. The foundation in Kolkata still exists and there are many girls joining the foundation even today.

It’s a pity no one disputed her or her foundation in court or taken up politically to shut down the organization, except a TV discussion disputing the sainthood awarded to her. After all, she was close to Vatican which has reach beyond countries and religions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Setting the record straight

Only 2 hours and 11 minutes. I think a 20-hour detailed laundry list of all of this creature's crimes against humanity would be too short. My biggest regret when I listen to a book like this is that we can't dig her up, reanimate her, and hold her accountable for her crimes. These crimes and hypocrisies should have been addressed to her face with criminal consequences. She should have been forced to reveal her truth ... forced to stop talking in quips and platitudes... forced to reveal to the world the complete evil behind her veneer. BTW, EXCELLENT BOOK!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everything Hitch touched turned to gold.

if you've ever seen him in person or on Youtube, you'll figure that his books have got to be equally as amazing. well, they are!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!