The author of ten books, he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 1983. Eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. In walden henry david thoreau wrote, the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. 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. There is a lot to be said here, but ill just mention a few similarities. Eric hoffer published it in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were fresh in everyones mind. 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. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements ebook written by eric hoffer. This endorsement made hoffer, a selfeducated san francisco stevedore, famous. The book is a critique of ideological fanaticism, tracing it to its psychological roots. Hoffer is primarily concerned with the active phase, the stage dominated by the true believer. 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. It is the type of book that congratulates the reader while pretending to challenge him.
This book presents ideas about how mass movements work and the psychology of people that awakenjoin mass movements. Eric hoffers the true believer and trump reason and meaning. 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 was, dwight eisenhower said in 1952, his favorite philosopher. Hoffers big insight was that the followers of nazism and communism were essentially the same. 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. 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 first edition of the novel was published in 1951, and was written by eric hoffer. The main characters of this non fiction, philosophy story are. In 1951, the american philosopher eric hoffer attempted to answer this, and published his first and most wellknown work. We look at their causes, those most prone to join a mass. A piece of cardboard is glued onto the inside of the front cover in an attempt at. He could have written this book today and selfpublished it, but he would never be traditionally published. His papers in the hoover archives run to many thousands of pages and include journals that have never been.
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. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer is a political philosophy classic from 1951. The true believer summary and quotes by eric hoffer. The range of his reading and research is vast, amazing.
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. 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 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. 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. That would be the true believer, published 65 years ago this spring, a book about mass movements. 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. The truth is that the surrendering and humbling of the self breed pride and arrogance. He received the presidential medal of freedom, in february, 1983. 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, 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.
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. Nevertheless, they committed suicide for their cause. Youd be welladvised to read eric hoffers the true believer in full before you. From the intro, heres what its designed to explain. September 20, 2016 by jesse kornbluth leave a comment. Frustration seems to be inherent in this personality type. Back in 1951, eric hoffer wrote a brilliant book called the true believer. See all books authored by eric hoffer, including the true believer. 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. 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. After writing his first book, the true believer, he went on to publish over ten others. 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.
Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Eric hoffer books list of books by author eric hoffer. The true believer and the nature of mass movements. Faith in a holy cause is a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves eric hoffer, the true believer. 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. No doubt this book, written just prior to the outbreak of the korean war, served as one of his qualifications. Eric hoffer was a stevedore, and he wrote the true believer in his spare time. Hoffer and the true believers the russell kirk center.
Eric hoffer was a workingclass american autodidact who authored a variety of treatises on moral and social philosophy. The true believer is the book that eisenhower gave all his friends. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the true believer. Hoffer was to write several books throughout his career, but it was first book, the true believer which, published in 1951, made his name and fame. He cautions that although mass movements share many traits this does not imply that theyre equally harmful or beneficent. Fair with yellowed cover, rubbed and bumped edges, and creased backstrip. Eric hoffer and the creation of fanatical mass movements. 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 a very insightful book into the nature of mass movements. The authors biography ties in with some of the themes of the scifi im writing. The impression somehow prevails that the true believer, particularly the religious individual, is a humble person. Naturally, the question arises as to the similarities between trump supporters in the usa and hoffers true believers.
The true believer project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. People wanted to understand why these movements sprang up and gripped millions of people, often with horrific results like the holocaust. The true believer became widely read after thenpresident dwight eisenhower recommended it as an essential book. 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. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements is a nonfiction book authored by american philosopher eric hoffer. The true believer revisited issue 34 philosophy now. The true believer is apt to see himself as one of the chosen, the salt of the earth, the light of the world. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a.
Read today, however, this book is mediocre, at best. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements, and the passionate state of mind. Eric hoffer july 25, may 21, was an american moral and social philosopher. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a bestseller when president eisenhower cited it during one. 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. 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. Eric hoffer published it in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were fresh in. Eric hoffer 19021983 was a selfeducated us author and philosopher who was a migratory worker and longshoreman until 1967. The book was published in multiple languages including, consists of 177 pages and is available in paperback format.
The true believer and the nature of mass movements duration. The true believer eric hoffer paperback harpercollins publishers. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements pdf epub book. 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.
The book tries to understand and explain, not pass judgment. The author uses examples of movements of all types from the past, as well as movements that were current when the book was written. Anyone wanting to understand this horrible irony would do well to read eric hoffers 1951 classic, the true believer. This could easily be seen as hoffers starting point.
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