This chapter wasn't very long so I only came across one point that stuck out and made me think: "Could I offer any advice to the young and restless; any counsel that would help them avoid disillusionment?" I had to look up "disillusionment" and basically found out that it means when you are let down because something wasn't as you imagined. This hit a spot with me because I do that a lot. I imagine something happening a certain way and find myself disappointed because it didn't turn out exactly how I played it out in my head. This is no one's fault except for my own. His statement intrigued me and made me interested in continuing reading his book, something a good introduction should always do.
Chapter 1:
This chapter housed a few phrases that stood out to me. One was "by definition a single existence cannot furnish any pattern". This seems odd to me because a lot of species live by pattern. Us humans, for example, are a product our own patterns. Everyday we wake up, eat breakfast, go to our classes (adults to work), come home, eat dinner, and go to sleep. This happens everyday making it a pattern. I don't know how Christopher Hitchens can say that we can't house our own patterns, its in our DNA.
Another part of this chapter that stood out to me was when he was describing out of the box thinkers. I completely agree with his thought that society "tolerates and even admires even admires eccentricity". The ability to be creative and a cognitive thinker is admired throughout society. I am actually envious of these people because they can think of ideas for writing and projects easily. The author switches tones, however, when he describes people that think "too far out of the box"and how society will be "much less 'tolerant'". Which i agree with as well. Society deems these people on a "crazy" type of level. This is supported by all the mental illnesses that are associated with the extreme out of the box thinkers.
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