The true believer a new appreciation of eric hoffers. 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 project gutenberg selfpublishing. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer is a political philosophy classic from 1951. The true believer by eric hoffer 1951having just endured a world war and facing an uncertain peace because of the power of mass movements, the author sought to compare and contrast all previous mass movements to sift out the commonalties of both the leaders and the led. As soon as he gained his eyesight, he read voraciously, taking up every book that he could lay his hands on. Apr 30, 2018 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. The true believer by hoffer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements 1951, viewed the postwar world at midcentury with trepidation. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements 1951, is a work in social psychology.
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. Naturally, the question arises as to the similarities between trump supporters in the usa and hoffers true believers. Hoffer writes, the genuine man of words can get along without faith in absolutes. They simply declare all who oppose their ideology or theology to be unworthy of life.
A moral and social philosopher, eric hoffer was a sheer genius who is today regarded as one of the most important thinkers of the 20 th century. Very good with extremely slight rubbing to corners, former owners inscription on front free endsheet. Eric hoffer 19021983 was a selfeducated us author and philosopher who was a migratory worker and longshoreman until 1967. In this text, hoffer is interested in the people who join mass movements who they are and why they sign up. Eric hoffer published it in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were fresh in. The true believerthe first and most famous of his bookswas made into a bestseller when president. It received critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen and catapulted hoffer into the limelight.
However these intellectuals are more flexible than their true believers and followers. Articles the true believer revisited tim madigan on september 11th and on a longshoreman who understood the psychology of mass movements after the initial horrified reaction i experienced on september 11th, my first question was. The author uses examples of movements of all types from the past, as well as movements that were current when the book was written. Eric hoffer july 25, 1898 may 21, 1983 was an american moral and social philosopher. What is more amazing is that the author was a longshoreman who had no. In 2001, the eric hoffer award was established in his honor with permission granted by the eric hoffer estate in 2005. 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 famous bestseller with concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement wall st. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements ebook written by eric hoffer. 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 is a nonfiction book authored by american philosopher eric hoffer.
The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a bestseller when president eisenhower cited it during one. This book deals with some of the peculiarities common to all mass movements, be they religious movements, social revolutions, or national movements. 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. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements perennial classics.
The true believer summary essay 1088 words bartleby. The true believer is one of the most provocative books of our immediate day. Later works include the passionate state of mind 1955, a collection. Jan 19, 2010 the famous bestseller with concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement wall st.
Hoffers moral and social philosophy throws a light on various aspects of life such as happiness, expectation, hope, joy, kindness, compassion, selfesteem, strength and so on. This book presents ideas about how mass movements work and the psychology of people that awakenjoin mass movements. Mar 10, 2020 the fact is that there is a difference between people who lean a certain way politically or religiously, and the people eric hoffer called, the true believers, the people who chose a side and never wrestle with the hard choices of life. Unfortunately, the lessons here will be rejected by those who need most to hear them those people who cannot separate thought. Every time i watch a video on this channel, i add more books to my list. From the intro, heres what its designed to explain. He values the search for truth as much as the truth itself. May 10, 2011 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 hoffers the true believer in the time of trump jul. 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. A piece of cardboard is glued onto the inside of the front cover in an attempt at reinforcement. In walden henry david thoreau wrote, the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by hoffer, eric discusses the appeal of mass movements, types of potential converts, factors promoting selfsacrifice, and good and bad mass movements. 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.
In this book, eric hoffer explores the nature of mass movements. His first book, the true believer 1951, demonstrated his insights into the nature of mass movements and the people who compose them. Author of ten books, his big break came in when he penned the true believer which amassed recognition and acknowledgement from the critics and audience alike. The true believer eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. Find out some of the best known quotes by eric hoffer. And eric hoffer was a true gangsta he was blind as a kid, homeless most his life, and tried killing himself at 30, so makes the book that much cooler. New yorker 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 best quotes from eric hoffers the true believer. Eric hoffers the true believer and trump reason and meaning. For booksellers and collectors of rare and antiquarian books. It is only when we begin to understand the forces that create such evil that we have learned something of value. 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.
Thoughts on the nature of mass movements affiliate link. The true believer thoughts on the nature of mass movements. Eric hoffer eric hoffer in 1967, in the oval office, visiting president lyndon baines johnson bornjuly 25, 1898 new york city, new york, u. There is a lot to be said here, but ill just mention a few similarities. A rising religious movement is all change and ex perimentopen to new views and techniques from all quarters. Journal by presidential medal of freedom recipient eric hoffer, the true believer is a landmark in the field of social psychology, and even more relevant today than ever before in history. September 20, 2016 by jesse kornbluth leave a comment. Summary of eric hoffers, the true believer reason and. Other articles where the true believer is discussed. Therefore, the more miraculous and unrealistic the movement sounds, the more. Eric hoffers 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.
People wanted to understand why these movements sprang up and gripped millions of people, often with horrific results like the holocaust. The author of ten books, he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 1983. A revolutionary movement is a conspicuous instrument of change. One complaint i have is how hoffer creates i dont know where to start, the book interweaves so many disciplines, history. Eric hoffer s true believer outlines a model that mass movements follow or need to follow in order to succeed. I first read this book in the 1960s, its the classic study of authoritarian movements. True believer, a drama starring james woods and robert downey, jr true believers, a 1988 australian miniseries featuring ed devereaux and ray meagher true believer, the fifth episode of dollhousetrue believers, an episode of the television series the unitliterature. The true believer eric hoffer paperback harpercollins publishers. The true believer is a manuscript that attempts to grant justification as to why people would be drawn to a mass movement. Inside the mind of donald trumps true believers national. 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. The nazi party rose to power because of the setting of germany at the time and the people involved in the movement. Fair with yellowed cover, rubbed and bumped edges, and creased backstrip.
His first book, the true believer, published in 1951, was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen, although hoffer believed that his book the ordeal of change was his finest work. 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. Its theme is political fanaticism, with which it deals severely and brilliantly. Back in 1951, eric hoffer wrote a brilliant book called the true believer. The true believer and the nature of mass movements. Jul 12, 2017 i suspect the president was unaware that the term true believer was made famous more than 65 years ago in eric hoffer s 1951 book, the true believer. After writing his first book, the true believer, he went on to publish over ten others. It a wonderful reference book for trying to understand the nature of political. Youd be welladvised to read eric hoffers the true believer in full before you do. Eric hoffer 1898 1983 was an american moral and social philosopher who worked for more than twenty years as longshoremen in san francisco. In this lecture we examine eric hoffers fascinating analysis of mass movements.
Eric hoffer was a workingclass american autodidact who authored a variety of treatises on moral and social philosophy. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a bestseller when president. Introduction to true believer by eric hoffer a true believer is a man of fanatical faith who is ready to sacrifice his life for a holy cause p. A stevedore on the san francisco docks in the 1940s, eric hoffer wrote philosophical treatises in his spare. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements perennial classics kindle edition by hoffer, eric. Eric hoffer, in his seminal work, the true believer. His papers in the hoover archives run to many thousands of pages and include journals that have never been published. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements 1951 eric hoffer 19021983 177 pages when considering the histories of mass movements such as the spread of christianity, the french revolution or the rise of nazism, the proximate causes for. The true believer and the nature of mass movements duration. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the true believer. Eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. The true believer the first and most famous of his bookswas made into a bestseller when president eisenhower cited it during one of the earliest television press conferences.
The true believer is a challenging book to read, but an important one. If you dig a little deeper if you drive past the easy answers of a hardworking middle class vs. The book is a critique of ideological fanaticism, tracing it to its psychological roots. Allen scarbrough chose the true believer as one of 25 books that you need to read to know just about everything. Nevertheless, they committed suicide for their cause. Hoffer and the true believers the russell kirk center. Eric hoffer, a selfmade man, a longshoremanphilosopher, has been chosen by president johnson to serve on a committee studying violence in the united states. The true believer describes his analysis of how people decide to throw their individual freedom and ability to think for themselves away to become willing instruments of autocratic, dictatorial systems of values. Hoffer argues that nearly all mass movements have certain elements in common. Dec 01, 2011 from eric hoffer s classic book, the true believer, about the dangers of mass movements. Anyone wanting to understand this horrible irony would do well to read eric hoffers 1951 classic, the true believer. The true believer book report free essays, term papers.
The nazi party in eric hoffers true believer essay 1140. The true believer revisited issue 34 philosophy now. No doubt this book, written just prior to the outbreak of the korean war, served as one of his qualifications. Students of business must be students of human behavior, including mass behavior. Again, near the end of the book, he says, a genuine popular upheaval is often an invigorating, renovating and integrating process a miraculous instrument for. Eric hoffer, the son of german emigrants, was born in the bronx in 1898. This applies equally to religions, political systems and nationalism. A mass movement is a form of social, economic, or religious movement where a. It is perhaps the most unremarkable and selfevident truth of life. 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.
The nazi political movement in germany is explained well through the use of this framework. The true believer was hoffers first book and it was published in 1951. The conservatism of a religionits orthodoxyis the inert coagulum of a once highly reactive sap. 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. Madigan in one of his writings as a reflection to the the true believer book of eric hoffer while analyzing the september 11, 2001 attack in the united states of america by those who believe as terrorist who can also be called themselves crusaders, jihad followers, fanatics or true believers. His first book, the true believer, was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen, although hoffer believed that the ordeal of change was his finest work. 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. 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.
The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In the era of trump, voices of rationalism that call us out of the whirlwind for a moment are an increasingly necessary treatment, an oxygen mask that allows us to restore brain function so as to work out where we are headed and what can be done about it. It is startling to realize how much unbelief is necessary to make belief possible. Eric hoffers the true believer in the time of trump. 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. 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 best analysis of these forces may well be a book that was written more than 15 years before the khmer rouge existed.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the true believer. It is a truism that many who join a rising revolutionary movement are attracted by the prospect of sudden and spectacular change in their conditions of life. The range of his reading and research is vast, amazing. Journal hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. 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. There is a lot of wisdom, common sense, and clear thinking in this little book. 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 delights in the clash of thought and in the give and.
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. He found it difficult to explain the forces that had channeled the disillusion of trench warfare and poison gas, had established the. How could the terrorists have sacrificed their own lives, and taken the lives of thousands of others, as well as causing such colossal destruction. Eric hoffer published it in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were fresh in everyones mind. This applies equally to religions, political systems and. Analysis of how beliefs influence actions and how actions influences belief based on islamic theology 1254 words 6 pages. He was the author of ten books and was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in february 1983.
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