Youd be welladvised to read eric hoffers the true believer in full before you. Eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. Hoffers big insight was that the followers of nazism and communism were essentially the same. In 1951, the american philosopher eric hoffer attempted to answer this, and published his first and most wellknown work. 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. Hoffer is primarily concerned with the active phase, the stage dominated by the true believer. Eric hoffers 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.
He could have written this book today and selfpublished it, but he would never be traditionally published. Hoffer and the true believers the russell kirk center. The true believer project gutenberg selfpublishing. This book presents ideas about how mass movements work and the psychology of people that awakenjoin mass movements. 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, the true believer 1951, put him on a path from san franciscos docks to a presidential medal of freedom, conferred in 1983 by a fellow californian. The true believer revisited issue 34 philosophy now. The true believer summary and quotes by eric hoffer. In this lecture we examine eric hoffers fascinating analysis of mass movements. Eric hoffer, a selfmade man, a longshoremanphilosopher, has been chosen by president johnson to serve on a committee studying violence in the united states. 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 to status quo, hoffer discussing the sense of individual identity and the holding to particular ideals that can lead to fanaticism among both leaders and followers. The author of more than ten books, including the passionate state of mind, the ordeal of change, and the temper of our time, eric hoffer was awarded the.
Read today, however, this book is mediocre, at best. Eric hoffers the true believer and trump reason and meaning. Eric hoffer, born july 25, 1902, new york citydied may 21, 1983, san francisco, american longshoreman and philosopher whose writings on life, power, and social order brought him celebrity hoffers family was of modest means, and his early life was marked by hardship. There is a lot to be said here, but ill just mention a few similarities. Summary of eric hoffers, the true believer reason and meaning. 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 writing reflects that to an extent. Eric hoffer published it in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were fresh in everyones mind. Fair with yellowed cover, rubbed and bumped edges, and creased backstrip. He cautions that although mass movements share many traits this does not imply that theyre equally harmful or beneficent. The true believer is the book that eisenhower gave all his friends.
N o one had heard of eric hoffer until he published the true believer 1951, a set of reflections about mass movements and those attracted to them. See all books authored by eric hoffer, including the true believer. It is the type of book that congratulates the reader while pretending to challenge him. It points out that mass movements grow out of frustration and boredom a man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding.
The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a. Eric hoffer was a stevedore, and he wrote the true believer in his spare time. 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 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.
The range of his reading and research is vast, amazing. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer is a political philosophy classic from 1951. That would be the true believer, published 65 years ago this spring, a book about mass movements. Combining the life of a working man with a life of reading and writing, the san francisco longshoreman eric hoffer became a noted philosopher, a bestselling author, and an acute observer of american life. Eric hoffer 19021983 was a selfeducated us author and philosopher who was a migratory worker and longshoreman until 1967. The main characters of this non fiction, philosophy story are. Aphoristic in style his later books would be even more in this vein, some having only a single sentence on a page, it was based upon years of reflection, and his own observations of the rise of. 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. People wanted to understand why these movements sprang up and gripped millions of people, often with horrific results like the holocaust. Hoffer describes the means groups use to spread their message, the appeals to brotherhood, to the nation, to patriotism, to traditional family values, and the use of force or violence if necessary. This endorsement made hoffer, a selfeducated san francisco stevedore, famous. The true believerthe first and most famous of his bookswas made into a bestseller when president eisenhower cited it during one of the earliest television press conferences. Naturally, the question arises as to the similarities between trump supporters in the usa and hoffers true believers. The book is a critique of ideological fanaticism, tracing it to its psychological roots.
From the intro, heres what its designed to explain. He received the presidential medal of freedom, in february, 1983. September 20, 2016 by jesse kornbluth leave a comment. The impression somehow prevails that the true believer, particularly the religious individual, is a humble person. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements is a nonfiction book authored by american philosopher eric hoffer. We look at their causes, those most prone to join a mass. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements the true believer became a hit because it was released on the heels of world war ii and at the outset of the ussoviet cold war, and hoped to.
The author uses examples of movements of all types from the past, as well as movements that were current when the book was written. 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. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Eric hoffer was, dwight eisenhower said in 1952, his favorite philosopher.
Faith in a holy cause is a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves eric hoffer, the true believer. The first edition of the novel was published in 1951, and was written by eric hoffer. The book tries to understand and explain, not pass judgment. His papers in the hoover archives run to many thousands of pages and include journals that have never been. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. 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. No doubt this book, written just prior to the outbreak of the korean war, served as one of his qualifications. A piece of cardboard is glued onto the inside of the front cover in an attempt at. The true believer became widely read after thenpresident dwight eisenhower recommended it as an essential book. Eric hoffer and the creation of fanatical mass movements. Nevertheless, they committed suicide for their cause. The best quotes from eric hoffers the true believer. In my last post, i discussed eric hoffers 1951 classic. The author of ten books, he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 1983.
The true believer eric hoffer paperback harpercollins publishers. Back in 1951, eric hoffer wrote a brilliant book called the true believer. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements, and the passionate state of mind. This could easily be seen as hoffers starting point. 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 the first and most famous of his books was made into a bestseller when president eisenhower cited it during one. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements ebook written by eric hoffer. The true believer and the nature of mass movements duration. The true believer and the nature of mass movements. Eric hoffer july 25, may 21, was an american moral and social philosopher. Eric hoffer books list of books by author eric hoffer. Frustration seems to be inherent in this personality type.
Eric hoffer published it in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were fresh in. A fall at the age of 7 left him partially blind until he was 15, when his eyesight returned. This book deals with some of the peculiarities common to all mass movements, be they religious movements, social revolutions, or national movements. The true believer is one of the most provocative books of our immediate day. Recently on twitter i posted a quote of hoffers that id found years ago, which led to a conversation and actually reading the book. After writing his first book, the true believer, he went on to publish over ten others. The true believer is a very insightful book into the nature of mass movements. Eric hoffer was a workingclass american autodidact who authored a variety of treatises on moral and social philosophy. Christian science monitor the famous bestseller with concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement wall st. The authors biography ties in with some of the themes of the scifi im writing. In walden henry david thoreau wrote, the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the true believer. The truth is that the surrendering and humbling of the self breed pride and arrogance. The true believer is one of the most provocative books of our. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements pdf epub book. The true believer is apt to see himself as one of the chosen, the salt of the earth, the light of the world.