Monday, Apr. 04, 2011
Christopher Hitchens
Age: 61
Occupation: Writer, atheist
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
When Christopher Hitchens, the acerbic author of dozens of books including God Is Not Great, revealed last October that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, believers of all faiths prayed for his health — and his salvation. The staunch atheist responded that he was grateful for the good wishes and hoped that praying for him made the faithful feel better. Hitchens continues to write with searing wit about the disease, and he's recently begun an experimental treatment developed by a former sparring partner and now friend, geneticist Dr. Francis Collins, author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.