Mortality Summary of Key Points

Mortality is a poignant collection of essays by Christopher Hitchens that he wrote while undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer, leading up to his death in 2011. The essays, originally published in Vanity Fair, cover a range of topics related to the author’s reflections on death, his battle with cancer, and his views on religion and the afterlife. Hitchens shares his experience with honesty, wit, and a sharp critical eye, providing readers with insights into his personal struggle as well as broader reflections on human frailty, dignity, and the search for meaning in the face of mortality.

A Long Way Gone Summary of Key Points

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is the autobiographical narrative of Ishmael Beah’s experiences as a child soldier during the civil war in Sierra Leone. The book recounts his early life, conscription into a rebel army at the age of 13, and the harrowing acts of violence he both witnessed and participated in. The narrative also follows his eventual rehabilitation, his experiences with UNICEF, and his path to healing and advocacy.