A reminder from the late eric hoffer the mark levin show. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements perennial classics hoffer, eric on. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by hoffer, eric and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Completely relevant and essential for understanding the world. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer. All mass movements appeal to the same personal frustrations. Eric hoffer books list of books by author eric hoffer. The true believer book summary, by eric hoffer allen cheng. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements perennial classics audible audio edition. It is perhaps the most unremarkable and selfevident truth of life. The true believer a new appreciation of eric hoffers.
Thoughts on the nature of mass movements is a 1951 work in the field of social psychology by american moral and social philosopher eric hoffer. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a best seller when president e. His first book, the true believer 1951, was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen, although hoffer believed that the ordeal of change 1963 was his. Frustration seems to be inherent in this personality type. Eric hoffer was a san francisco longshoreman who selfeducated and left behind the true believer, an astonishingly insightful examination of the phenomenon of mass movements. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements pdf book by eric hoffer 1951 download or read online. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements is a nonfiction book authored by american philosopher eric hoffer. The book is a critique of ideological fanaticism, tracing it to its psychological roots. True believers unite into a close group which gives them a new identity and new life, and liberates them from the cage of their frustration. This endorsement made hoffer, a selfeducated san francisco stevedore, famous. Aug 06, 2019 a stevedore on the san francisco docks in the 1940s, eric hoffer wrote philosophical treatises in his spare time while living in the railroad yards. He could have written this book today and selfpublished it, but he would never be traditionally published.
Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer, 1989, perennial library edition, in english. Sep 19, 2019 the true believer glitters with icy wit. He received the presidential medal of freedom, in february, 1983. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Published in 1951 the book become immediate popular and critical acclaim in non fiction, philosophy books. Eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. Subsequent to the publication of the true believer 1951, eric hoffer touched upon asia and american interventionism in several of his essays. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements perennial classic.
It is the true believer s ability to shut his eyes and stop his ears to facts that do not deserve to be either seen or heard which is the source of his unequaled fortitude and constancy. The authors biography ties in with some of the themes of the scifi im writing. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. Its theme is political fanaticism, with which it deals severely and brilliantly. The true believer a new appreciation of eric hoffer s classic book news, information, feature articles, and opinion regarding antiquarian, outofprint and rare books. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a best seller when president eisenhower. Download the true believer book summary, by eric hoffer as pdf. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer, 1980, timelife books edition, in english. A macat analysis of eric hoffers the true believer. This small manual on the nature of fanaticism is an invaluable guide to. Hoffer and the true believers the russell kirk center. Where these movements came from, why they gripped millions of people and. The true believer is an insightful study of how an individual becomes a fanatic.
The true believer thoughts on the nature of mass movements eric hoffer we live in a world of change. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements, and in our time, and more on. Originally published in 1951, the true believer is mainly concerned with fanaticism. Eric hoffer was a workingclass american autodidact who authored a variety of treatises on moral and social philosophy. Before getting into the book, i should provide some context on hoffer himself, as any evaluation of his work needs to take into consideration his unusual life story and path to authorship. Eric hoffer, charles osborne, house of shawn publications. New york times if you want concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement at their most primal level, may i suggest an evening with eric hoffer. Eric hoffer tries to answer all these questions in the true believer. The true believer project gutenberg selfpublishing.
No doubt this book, written just prior to the outbreak of the korean war, served as one of his qualifications. Doc a criticism of hoffers the true believer darin. In the awakening of asia 1954, published in the reporter and later his book the ordeal of change 1963, hoffer discusses the reasons for unrest on the continent. Eric hoffer, a selfmade man, a longshoremanphilosopher, has been chosen by president johnson to serve on a committee studying violence in the united states. New yorker a stevedore on the san francisco docks in the 1940s, eric hoffer wrote. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for the true believer. The true believer goodreads meet your next favorite book. Read today, however, this book is mediocre, at best. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements ebook written by eric hoffer. May 11, 2020 eric hoffer was a stevedore, and he wrote the true believer in his spare time.
Encontre diversos livros escritos por hoffer, eric com otimos precos. Some see the world as essentially progressive, that over time we grow more advanced technologically, more confident in our abilities to control our destinies, more sure. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a best seller when president eisenhower cited it during one of the earliest television press conferences. Published in 1951, it depicts a variety of arguments in terms of applied world history and social psychology to explain why mass movements arise to challenge the status quo. Discover the true believer as its meant to be heard, narrated by charles osborne.
Like most cold war authors writing in this genre, hoffer finds that communism, fascism, and religious movements have things in common, but he is careful to avoid turning the book into a. The book tries to understand and explain, not pass judgment. Read a quick 1page summary, a full summary, or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. For booksellers and collectors of rare and antiquarian books. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a bestseller when president eisenhower cited it during one of the earliest television press conferences. He further argues that for any mass movement to succeed, it should provide all essential answers to the true believer. Hoffer wrote the book in 1951, when two of the most malignant mass movements in human history, those that produced the soviet union and nazi germany, sprung up, and the.
The true believer is the book that eisenhower gave all his friends. See all books authored by eric hoffer, including the true believer. Completely relevant and essential for understanding the world today, the true believer is a visionary, highly provocative look into the mind of the fanatic and a. The true believerthe first and most famous of his bookswas made into a bestseller when. Written by a selfeducated san francisco dockworker who produced philosophical treatises in his spare time, the true believer became a bestseller when president eisenhower cited it during one of the first television press conferences. A stevedore on the san francisco docks in the 1940s, eric hoffer wrote philosophical treatises in his spare time while living in the railroad yards. His first book, the true believer 1951, demonstrated his insights. The true believerthe first and most famous of his bookswas made into a. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a bestseller when. Want to get the main points of the true believer in 20 minutes or less. True believer thoughts on the nature of mass movements. Hoffer is primarily concerned with the active phase, the stage dominated by the true believer. Eric hoffer s landmark analysis of the psychology of mass movements identifies the appeal of these campaigns for frustrated people seeking to escape their own incompetency and build a new life. He cautions that although mass movements share many traits this does not imply that theyre equally harmful or beneficent.
The book is an uncommon psychological and moral exposition of the marxistsovietinspired new man, which was touted by western intellectuals as the future of western. The true believer harpercollins harpercollins publishers. Jan 19, 2010 a stevedore on the san francisco docks in the 1940s, eric hoffer wrote philosophical treatises in his spare time while living in the railroad yards. Eric hoffer was, dwight eisenhower said in 1952, his favorite philosopher. Eric hoffer july 15, 1902 may 21, 1983 was an american moral and social philosopher. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements is a 1951 social psychology book by american writer eric hoffer that discusses the psychological causes of fanaticism the book analyzes and attempts to explain the motives of the various types of personalities that give rise to mass movements. Faith in a holy cause is a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves eric hoffer, the true believer. This book was first published in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were still fresh in everyones mind. Allen scarbrough chose the true believer as one of 25 books that you need to read to know just about everything. Sep 03, 2002 a stevedore on the san francisco docks in the 1940s, eric hoffer wrote philosophical treatises in his spare time while living in the railroad yards. The true believer, eric hoffer, and the contemporary left.
He was the author of ten books and was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in february 1983. Apr 01, 2019 interestingly, hoffer argues that mass movements can only succeed in those societies where some amount of intellectual freedom is allowed. Apr 30, 2018 eric hoffer s the true believer is one of several insightful and important works that trace the trajectory of radical ideology of true believers in the bloody twentieth century. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. Aug 14, 2014 recently on twitter i posted a quote of hoffer s that id found years ago, which led to a conversation and actually reading the book.
Thoughts on the nature of mass movements, was published in 1951 and offered insight into the cultural phenomenon surrounding public movements and what dynamics bring people together for one common cause. Apr 01, 2020 in this vein, i find myself reading eric hoffer s the true believer. The true believer is one of the most provocative books of our immediate day. New yorkera stevedore on the san francisco docks in the 1940s, eric hoffer wrote. Feb 28, 2021 this time around, the book of the month was the quite differentin many waysthe true believer.
266 1104 1369 315 868 1016 216 649 1471 207 108 33 1136 738 657 1032 28 283 933 1207 493 1134