I was reminded of this cartoon when I found this YouTube recording of an interview about Ronald Reagan. If someone asked me the question, "Which three authors would you read if ...?", my reply would be Clive James, P.J. O'Rourke, and Christopher Hitchens.
I mean, who could forget Clive James' "Unreliable Memories" or "Beautiful Creatures, P.J. O'Rourke's "Parliament of Whores" and the unforgettable "The Baby Boom - How It Got That Way And It Wasn't My Fault And I'll Never Do It Again", to say nothing of Christopher Hitchens' numerous books, including "God is Not Great" and his memoir "Hitch-22".
While listening to Clive James and PJ and Hitch in the same interview is pure gold, the most remarkable thing about this debate is that people with opposing views can do it in a civilised and respectful way. It's sadly gone missing today! As they have, because Christopher Hitchens passed away in 2011, followed by Clive James in 2019, and PJ O'Rourke in 2022.
I just hope that this clip will stay on Youtube because every Hitch video taken down is a loss to thinking people as well as to those with a sense of humour; viz. Hitchens' "lumberjack in the Sahara" at 25:28 et al.
