PETER HITCHENS - THE KEY TO HAPPINESS | Inspired Edinburgh
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Elliot Reeves sits down with Peter Hitchens, an award winning journalist, author, broadcaster and renowned conservative polemicist. Having spent in excess of 40 years in Fleet Street, he has been a specialist reporter on education, labour and industry, politics, defence and diplomacy, as well as a resident correspondent in Moscow and Washington.
After being shortlisted in 2007 and 2009, he won the Orwell Prize in political journalism in 2010. He’s written for The Spectator and The American Conservative magazines, as well as The Guardian, Prospect, and the New Statesman. Now writing for The Mail on Sunday he has a weekly column and blog in which he debates directly with readers.
To date he has written eight books, including The Abolition of Britain, The Rage Against God, and The War We Never Fought. His most recent book, 'The Phoney Victory' was published in August 2018 and addresses the national myth of the Second World War, which he asserts did long-term damage to Britain and its position in the world.
A regular on British radio and television, he’s appeared on Question Time, Any Questions?, This Week, The Daily Politics and The Big Questions. He’s presented several documentaries on Channel 4 and in the late 1990s, he co-presented a programme on Talk Radio UK.
He has also visited nearly 60 countries during the course of his work.
00.00 Trailer
00.12 Introduction
04.00 What do people not ask Peter Hitchens that he wished they would?
04.40 What does Peter find interesting about himself?
05.40 Peter’s early life
07.30 Peter’s relationship with his parents
08.10 Peter’s thoughts on boarding school
10.30 Peter on losing his Mother
11.30 Peter on his University life
12.10 Peter’s career aspirations
13.30 Being taught what to think, not how to think
15.40 What are the things Peter says that people cannot tolerate?
17.00 How can we create a society that produces better thinkers?
21.00 Education system vs Parenting
22.10 Modern day Britain and it’s position in the world
26.00 Pessimism being the key to happiness
27.30 Peter on the why he opposes the legalisation of cannabis
36.30 Peter’s biggest regret
36.50 Peter on opposing ideas and having a conscience
38.40 How does Peter define God?
41.00 How does Peter think people perceive him?
41.40 Why does Peter think some people hate him?
42.30 How can you know if you’re right?
43.10 Peter on addiction
47.00 Spirituality and religion
47.50 Could God exist outwith religion?
49.29 Peter on his purpose
51.20 Peter on open-mindedness
52.10 Peter on his legacy
52.30 What does Peter think his brother, Christopher Hitchens’ legacy is?
55.40 How does Peter define success?
55.50 Best piece of advice
56.50 Speaking to 20 year old self
57.20 Older and younger generation sharing knowledge
57.50 Changing the world
You can find Peter at:
hitchensblog.m...
www.spectator....
/ clarkemicah
Find Inspired Edinburgh here:
www.inspiredinb...
/ inspiredinburgh
/ inspiredinburgh
/ inspiredinburgh
About Inspired Edinburgh:
Inspired Edinburgh is a pre-eminent video and media production company. We are centred around a world class online talk show that delivers powerful conversations with fascinating people.
Hashtags: #PeterHitchens #PeterHitchensLatest #PeterHitchensBestOf #HitchensvsHitchens #PeterHitchensQuestionTime #ChristopherHitchens #Hitchslap #ElliotReeves #Inspiredinburgh
Intro sequence:
Edinburgh Time lapse Part 4 (4K) by Adam Robertson
www.adamrobert...
• Edinburgh Time lapse P...
/ @adsrabs
Edinburgh Timelapse by Krzysztof Wrzos
kwrzos.co.uk
• Edinburgh Timelapse
/ @majonezzzz
Intro music:
Raid - No Empathy For The Machines
• Raid Kyu - No Empathy ...
Not a conservative or religious but Peter’s a national treasure to England.
A national treasure to Britain, though some of my fellow countrymen (Scots) likely disagree.
I am a Conservative and religious and Peter Hitchens is a national treasure to the UK.
He is a very principled man and long may he continue to have a voice in the public arena
Absolutely agree!
Peter claims addiction doesn't exist but I'm addicted to watching TH-cam content of him. Mental discipline can only go for far. I keep telling myself "just one more video" but the satisfaction and pleasure only lasts so long before I'm pining for more.
My favourite eternal pessimist. Peter Hitchens, keeping it as real as ever
Peter Hitchens talks about his childhood like it was centuries ago, but to be honest, it was this way up until the mid 90's. The internet and mass media has done a lot of damage.
I can only quote Obi Van Kenobi - Hitchens is an "elegant weapon for a more civilized age".
When I first used to read Peter Hitchens I knew he was right in what he was saying, but I hated his message because it was so pessimistic and depressing. I have now stopped pretending to be an optimist and I am much happier, and much better informed, as a pessimist for the reasons Peter gives in this interview. Thank you Peter.
Found Hitchens few years ago on TH-cam. I remember that first interview ,... he pissed me off big time.. usually when I regard someone as a giant ass-clown I just go to the next vid after few more mins. I did the same but with Peter something was different, .. something bugged me still after I 'calmed down'.. I could still recall what his argument was and the logic he built that up with, until the point I left … and that did not let me rest. A few days later I swallowed my ego and went back and finished that roughly an hr or hr and a half long vid... by the end of it, I had to admit that he was indeed right on a particular subject and I've done my homework on that afterwards. I genuinely like this guy ever since. Most people just piss you off. He pisses you off too, but he explains it why. Properly. From A to Z … Hey Peter man!! Eat your veg and walk a lot, we want you to be with us for another 30 years at least!!
This is a great comment Jakob! I’ve just shared some of the comments here on Twitter and have tagged Peter - I’ll share this one in the next couple of days too. I particularly like your closing sentiment 😁👍🏼
Don't worry, Peter is a big cyclist and he seems to know important things about diet and processed foods from things I've read of his
Always loved Peter Hitchens. He is a thinker among an unthinking society. God bless you Peter.
Serious statement
His almost lone voice on the pandemic brought me here and I've not been disappointed. Thanks for uploading this interview.
How long will it be before Russell Brand concedes every last point that Peter Hitchens make in this interview?
Sam Harris "there is no freewill"
Peter Hitchens "isn't that convenient"
the only people bothered by Hitchens are those who know he's right.
Asking Peter Hitchens how to be happy is like asking a penguin how to fly!!
(He's my favourite grump though)
I hate false humility... This is one reason I 'love' Peter Hitchens. Of course the fact that he articulates my thoughts so well also helps.
He articulates the Biblical world view which is founded on a moral basis. Civil behaviour is founded on the Biblical adage of loving your neigbour as yourself. Depart from that and you enter into the uncivilised world.
The hitchens boys are brilliant!
Interviewing the world's preiminent skepic about the topic of happiness...
...y'all got stones. Excellent job.
Haha! 😂 Thanks Martin! 👍🏼
The King of the Black Pill.
But witty, urbane and brilliant even when teetering on the edge of the abyss we are all about to pitch into.
I love this man I wish he was the mentor for all the young people in this country
Mr. Peter Hitchens never disappoints in his commentary. Whether one accepts his argument is secondary, his primal conviction is pure genius. Thankful for the Micah 6:8 scripture, a verse to live by for certain.
I like Peter Hitchens precisely because he seems annoyed with everybody doing everything wrong. The man is a legend, but if he encountered situation or series of events with which he was entirely happy, I'd be worried that the universe was about to implode.
First time I've viewed Inspirededinbrugh a truly excellent and inspiring guest plus a refreshing, open and relaxed style of interview, great job guys.
Peter has the unique ability to challenge and unsettle people to think through important issues for a fuller and more considered opinion if allowed to go there.
It is sad however that he will be an observer and record keeper of the decline of this once grest nation.
Thanks reference12 - very much appreciated! 👍🏼
What an enjoyable discussion. Clearly the interviewer did his homework and was actually able to make Mr. Hitchens think a few times. You can tell at the actual pauses as he thought. Not an easy task with him as he is quite bored of the standard fare.
Thanks so much Mark, I take my time researching guests so glad it showed. Glad you enjoyed it too; I’ve shared your comment along with some others on our Twitter feed and tagged Peter in it 😊👍🏼
Love Peter Hitchens!
Well done with the interview, the start felt a little bit like Peter was going to put you through a bumpy ride but you adapted well. I guess the guy has become pretty defensive as he's so constantly, viscerally attacked. The awkward laughter I saw someone else criticize was actually a net positive overall, it was really key to opening him up and animating him. Good job.
Thank you for an excellent objective assessment of the interview, Phil.
Yes, it took a good while to get the conversation moving and without a lighter approach I felt it would have been dead on arrival.
This was a great listen. Was not aware of the hair mentioned below until the end!
It would be interesting to understand what message he would give to expats living here temporarily and whether this message would be effective for someone living here for only 2 years. I know at least one person who spent only a gap year here working in aged care and returned a completely different person, almost as though they follow what Peter says.
Secondly, a small point is that Christopher’s talks have left a legacy - it’s hard to think of a better speaker.
Finally several years ago poundland were selling pairs of reusable large plastic cups, one labelled optimist and the other labelled pessimist. I used to keep both on my desk at work, however the pessimist cup went missing. This interview has challenged my beliefs as to why it went missing and the sort of person that would take it.
Fascinating, Thought Provoking and Moving.
Thank you Lady Rotha 🙏🏼
Oh my God this just made my day. I'm reminded of one interview with Peter Hitchens when he said I have no sense of humour. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
" I tend to find myself more interesting than the person I'm interviewing.". I like it.
Lovely interview. Thanks for bringing us more Hitchens!
Patrick L Haha! Nice cover up, Patrick! Don’t worry, I’ve got a screenshot of your original comment 😉
While I’m somewhat sceptical of your sincerity, your comment is very much appreciated.
Wishing you a happy New Year.
I really enjoyed this interview. It was wonderful to see PH so relaxed and oddly likable. Excellent.
That means a lot! Glad you enjoyed it 😊👍🏼
Not easy for a young interviewer to take on a man with so much gravitas...admirable courage...Stunning...as always, from Peter....all these things are happening in my country now, America 2022. ....I’m 5 yrs older than Peter but my road has been similar...was an agnostic progressive my whole life until 2015...changed political views, returned to Christianity, lost almost all my friends and have been shocked at their open hostility, especially about everyone needing to jab. . But I am comfortable to stand in the same space he is in, a Christian in a dying culture that has turned against God.
One of the best Peter Hitchens interviews that I've seen in a good while. Well done! If only people would listen and digest, rather than come back with their, prejudiced knee-jerk reactions. In addition the emotional response when talking about his dalliance with cannabis, I've rarely seen.
Incredibly kind of you Mick - very much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it 😊👍🏼
Great job of exploring Peter's beliefs and some of the less explored areas of his mind. Well done!
Thanks for recognising this, and for commenting 😊👍🏼
Wonderful discussion 🤙🏾
Really a bright man. Glad to see someone else get him on to listen to what Hitchens has to say.
😊👍🏼❤️🧡💛
Absolutely brilliant. Mr. Hitchens is a treasure. He cannot be an easy person to debate and interview. Well done!
Thank you Dylan - that’s incredibly kind. Glad you enjoyed it! 👍🏼
What does the Lord require of thee... 49.22: I have great respect for Peter Hitchens.
Peter Hitchens is the Van Morrison of the journalism world.
“Van Morrison's voice a fierce beacon in the darkness, the lighthouse at the end of the world.”
Definitely checks out Wendy!
The great thing about Peter is that, even when you're on his team he won't let you get comfy. Thank you Elliot et al. - This is gold.
You're a great interviewer, i think your comedic reaction is done well actually. Thanks for interviewing Peter.
I've never thought of myself as a conservative but I keep coming back to Peter Hitchens. What does that mean? I don't know. Yet!
Realism is pessimism.....fantastic and so logically true.
Thanks for this. Good little interview. I just ordered Phoney Victory. The pics of Edinburgh make me want to visit again. Great city.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. You should visit; Edinburgh would be thrilled to have you 😊👍🏼
I like this guy.Really smart just like his bro!
Thank you! I always enjoy listening to Mr Hitchens. Be mindful of too much reaction laughter, which can be distracting. (But to be fair, I'd find PH pretty intimidating!) What an amazing pair of brothers. Thanks for an enjoyable interview in a beautiful setting.
Thanks Deborah, glad you enjoyed it. I can account for the laugher and it’s very contextual but appreciate your insight.
You're not ugly or fat Peter. Plus even if you were your values and principles make you very attractive.
Really entertaining interview and well handled. Thanks for making this available.
That’s extremely kind, Jonathan. I’m pleased with how it turned out and glad you enjoyed it 😊👍🏼
So much love for God. You can see it.
Spirituality is immaterial reality.
Thank you for this interview!
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoyed it 😊👍🏼
14.38: 'In a primitive society someone like me would have been clubbed to death at an early age' 😂
My version: Don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed.
I like Peter already , only knew about him during this covid crisis !
love his attitude
He doesn’t mince his words and stands up for what he believes. Whether you agree with his views, you have to respect that.
'Yea, HAPPY is that people, whose God is the Lord' PSALM 144:15
Love Peter !
❤️🧡💛
I would love to read a Peter Hitchen's manifesto and know exactly what that man thinks on a range of issues. I know the nationalisation of our railways would be there for starters!
Awesome interview. Peter is always great fun! I’d love to chat with him some day.
“In a primitive society someone like me would have been clubbed to death at an early age” hahaha
A delightful conversation.
Thank you Brian - very kind 😊🙏🏼
A voice for reason.
A book on the Battle of Britain opens with an elderly former pilot watching a Peter Cook WW2 sketch about the necessity for a "pointless sacrifice". Peter represents the generation who laughed at that skit but who are no longer laughing. Sadly, there are still people who would find it hilarious. People never learn.
He makes a solid point about drugs. You do not allow mind-altering substances into free-for-all public domain. I've accidentally overdosed on edible weed, having absolutely no idea that I'd consumed more than my body and brain could handle. It's been years and my mind just isn't the same anymore.. But having been through it I can attest that I am LUCKY. I can still string a sentence. It fills me with chilling dread knowing that it is a pure statistical inevitability that thousands of people will make the same mistake and scramble their minds up far worse than I have. People, you only have one damn brain, and one life with which you'll depend on it to lead you. You do NOT want to risk screwing with your consciousness, because the effects can be forever.
Thank you for your cool show!
I’ll look for more.
I wish I could say that people could leave British education, as Peter would advise, to find it better here in British Columbia, Canada. But
education here from kindergarten to university is going down down down!
Although I don't always agree with him, he talks a lot of sense and believes in free speech. I liked his brother too, although for different reason. He is quite self effacing and never found him rude when expressing his strong held views.
I recently discovered his brother Christopher. They are both very similar, in so far as there is a guardness in their emotions.This might come across as arrogance but like his brother they have a high intellect that can quite easily destroy any challenge. I think the loss of his mother and boarding school has had a profound effect on both himself and his brother. Very genuine and sincere guy.
Nobody does "pessimistic future of Britain" quite as engagingly as Peter Hitchens!
I enjoyed this video - I’m was a big fan of Christopher Hitchens - so ofcourse not a Christian like Peter - also a Libertarian so don’t agree with his stand on marijuana - (although I have never used it) - but I found this interview interesting and thought the interviewer did a good job. So glad to be able to pull things like this up on utube. Peter and Christopher were so different in many ways. I also liked Peter talking about boarding school. As an American it’s hard for me to imagine shipping a small child off to boarding school.
Thanks for your lovely comment Hannah. I too am a big fan of Christopher and have watched hours upon hours of his content on TH-cam.
I didn’t feel it was appropriate to say so during the interview but I attended a boarding school as a day pupil. I was there from 8am-9pm on weekdays and 8am-5pm on a Saturday. It was a brilliant place and great experience but I didn’t envy the boarders.
Hi Peter...I was sent to Prep School at the age of 8 yrs old from Somerset to Chester, as dad returned from WW11.
days gone by....but hurt if one isn't strong..I am strong and immigrated to Canada at 21 yrs old...now deserve wealth.
"We are now ruled by idiots". How true!
Extremely hard person to interview
Vineeth Paul thank you for noticing. Yes, he seems to quite enjoy it too 😆 I could fight fire with fire but that’s the mistake most interviewers make; it just creates an impasse. Laughing it off allowed us to have a pretty good chat, if I do say so myself.
awesome
😘❤️🧡💛
There is a principle in psychology which says pessimists have more realistic views of reality.
well done elliot brilliant
Thanks Kirk - really appreciate it buddy 😊🙏🏼💛
He seems like a hard man to interview if you haven't got something particularly interesting to ask.
When he is in this persona he’s a tricky interview, yes. ‘Interesting’ is subjective - one person’s interesting is another person’s boring. I think we mainly spoke in his interests. Thanks for your comment 👍🏼
That's one hell of a hair cut. Beautiful setting. Interesting that he brought up the 2011 riots. The very first video to put me on to him was his Sky appearance regarding them.
I'll be eternally grateful for every minute of interview and every word written by PH. He is simply peerless.
I’ll assume you’re talking about me 😄 Life is too short to have boring hair: I’m lucky to have any at all. Thank you 😊🙏🏼
Beautiful.well done both.
Thank you W RR 😊🙏🏼
I think the interviewer has the right attitude, just gentle laughter. Peter’s more intelligent and honest than his brother but TBH there’s lots of people cleverer that just don’t appear on TV. His heroism is the fact that he puts himself out there. Kudos.
Christopher Hitchen’s was far more intelligent and superior in debate. He also had a sense of humour
I agree, understanding truth, reality is freeing comforting and is balanced. cup not full or empty but just where reality says it is at that moment in time.
Whenever I think of “old man yells at cloud,” I picture Peter Hitchens or Grampa Simpson. I also love the title of this video, “Peter Hitchens - The Key to Happiness.” 😂😂😂. Having said that, I love me some Peter Hitchens. Peter and Christopher invented the “Hitchslap.”
How did you coerce bae to come to Scotland? I would freaking love to meet him!
He was in Edinburgh for the international book festival. I reached out to him and he was very forthcoming and generous with his time. A pessimist he may be but his heart is in the right place 😊
Insightful and lucid as always, but not exactly the first person I'd seek out for advice on being happy :)
Edit - quote at 49.23 is an elegant summary of the man himself
49:18 Best part of the interview.
This is the most optomistic interview of Peter Hitchens.
😃🙌🏼❤️🧡💛
How right Peter is about Education. I was sufficiently fortunate to have been born into a Working Class RAF household; but to have passed my 11+ Exam, which (unlike my three brothers) resulted in my gaining a Grammar School/University education in the 1960s and 70s. Last night I watched BBC's 'Pointless', where two teams of 'students' were dispatched in the first and second rounds. One of the questions concerned the EU. "Name any EU Country without a U or a K in their name". Oh the irony! Twice, these students names Countries which are not in the EU: and this is the generation which is supposed to be hostile to us leaving the EU, when they do not know its component Countries? In a subsequent question, one 'Media Studies' student even used the excuse "I wasn't born then", having failed to answer correctly: and that immediately after someone else had answered a question with "Queen Elizabeth 1". How old was the person answering? As to THALIDOMIDE, this does have one beneficial use in the treatment f cancer, owing to its recognised anti-angiogenic property. It prevents the development of new blood-vessels......which is why there were all those awful events in newborn babies in the 1960s. Greedy Big Pharma rushing ahead of proper research!
'I'm not sure enjoy is the word'. Oh come on Peter you can admit you had a good time if you can be found smirking or at least engaged throughout.😆I think his modesty sometimes tugs on his honesty often times.
Haven't listened yet but I will... The headline made me laugh mind.. The key to happiness with Peter Hitchens... The man is perpetually miserable, a self proclaimed pessimist! Who up next, Victor Meldrew?
I hope you enjoy it, David. Just don’t expect the usual combative, interrogative mainstream media ‘journalist’ interview. The title should make sense after around 25 minutes 😊
Peter says he will not trot to silly questions and spends his life asking questions and giving his opinions on issues he claims he doesn't care about.
Peter hits the nail on the head 55:13 "you're free, you have complete autonomy" regarding atheism. Many who cling to atheism do so because they think they no longer have to deal with their sins. It makes them feel better, it gives them a free pass. What did Adam and Eve do in the garden when they sinned? They ran away from God and hid, and that is what human beings still want to do, run and hide from God, better still if we can stop believing in God it makes it much easier for them. Well, that is till they are confronted with the word of God.
About addiction: The discussion here makes sense with me. I pinch myself that in 1978 I took my latest cigarette. Until then I had tried many times to quit and with every resumption my whole self esteem was crushed more and more. I brought my smokes by the carton and had 60 fags each day. But I saw an advert one day and ended up in a program put on by the local Seventh day Adventists - The Five Day plan. There was only one suggestion we seek "Divine Aid" and it did nothing for me. They offered several ideas as to how to avoid smoking triggers, and I had another couple of quitting attempts. But ultimately, one thing they said stuck with me. "You can want to give up - Think it would be good to give up - You'd save money if you give up - etc etc -:- BIT you never will give up until you make an ADULT DECISION TO GIVE UP - then you have given up!" Once every decade or so I still get cravings - but they soon pass if I distract myself. So, Are we adult enough to rule ourselves?
he's bang on about cannabis it will get legalized for the tax dollars
N.B. from around 13:20 to 15:30
Peters comment on being attacked in his home are pertinent given the film of him being followed around Oxford recently.
Truly happy people tend to not find themselves any more interesting than anybody else. This is because their mind or ego has subsided to the point where they see others as not separate from who they themselves are. The bodily organism known as Peter Hitchens would appear to be quite far from this realisation, which his mind can only conceive of intellectually as opposed to experientially. Sadly this is not enough.
I won’t lie to you Ned - I’m a fan of this post. You clearly grasp the higher levels of awareness/consciousness 👍🏼❤️🧡💛
The interviewer always looks blown away by everything he says. Quite funny 😂
Are you not surprised by the things he says?
Perhaps it’s a generational thing (or maybe just a me thing) but I find it incredibly difficult to reconcile Peter’s model of the world with my own.
He is lucky to have had a brother of the caliber of Christopher Hitchens. Both brothers are full blown intellectuals with a wonderous capacity to explain their ideas. Sorry that Christopher, the magician with wit and language, has died.
Indulgence is a better word to use in place of addiction.
orkney ancestor I’m not sure on this one. That implies the behaviour is always pleasure seeking. Anorexia, bulimia, self-harming could be classified as addictions but they don’t strike me as indulgent.
Leaving aside that I vehemently disagree with probably most of the opinions Peter holds, I think he, much like his brother, has a charisma that can't help but captivate. In another sense it could be considered a negative thing, as it's allowed them both to be wrong on certain issues yet likable enough for us to forget that.
"Whistling Pete" lol.. A great man nevertheless..