Hoffer and the true believers the russell kirk center. The true believer a new appreciation of eric hoffers. 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. His first book, the true believer 1951, demonstrated his insights into the nature of mass movements and the people who compose them. 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. Nevertheless, they committed suicide for their cause. Hardback book no dust jacket titled the true believer. His papers in the hoover archives run to many thousands of pages and include journals that have never been published. Eric hoffer 1898 1983 was an american moral and social philosopher who worked for more than twenty years as longshoremen in san francisco.
It was written in 1951 and i first read it sometime in the early 70s. The true believer by hoffer, first edition abebooks. The true believer is a manuscript that attempts to grant justification as to why people would be drawn to a mass movement. In walden henry david thoreau wrote, the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. 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. Summary of eric hoffers, the true believer reason and meaning. Sep 16, 2015 i read the book true believer by nicholas sparks who is one of my favorite authors. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements is a nonfiction book authored by american philosopher eric hoffer. When, a few years ago, i became aware of the terrorist network of bin laden i could not help but think back to this excellent, concise book by eric hoffer.
Eric hoffers true believer outlines a model that mass movements follow or need to follow in order to succeed. Allen scarbrough chose the true believer as one of 25 books that you need to read to know just about everything. 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. 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 thoughts on the nature of mass movements eric hoffer we live in a world of change. The book tries to understand and explain, not pass judgment. Eric hoffer published it in 1951, when the memories of people like hitler, stalin and mussolini were fresh in everyones mind. The eric hoffer book award honors the memory of the great american philosopher eric hoffer by highlighting salient writing, as well as the independent spirit of small publishers. Thoughts on the nature on mass movements is the first book of eric hoffer and considered as his most successful manuscript. The famous bestseller with concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement. This could easily be seen as hoffer s starting point. 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 nazi party in eric hoffers true believer essay 1140. The true believer by eric hoffer this is a softcover book.
No doubt this book, written just prior to the outbreak of the korean war, served as one of his qualifications. Eric hofferone of americas most important thinkers and the author of the true believerlived for years as a depression era migratory worker. This is a thumbnail sketch of a few of the ideas from eric hoffers book the true believer go to. 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. But regarding your comment about hoffer surpassing nietzsche, i respectfully make the following observations.
Eric hoffer july 25, 1898 may 21, 1983 was an american moral and social philosopher. Other articles where the true believer is discussed. 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. It was a great story about jeremy and lexi and their hesitations about falling in love with each other. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the true believer. The true believer is one of the most provocative books of our immediate day. Anyone wanting to understand this horrible irony would do well to read eric hoffers 1951 classic, the true believer.
The true believer project gutenberg selfpublishing. Since its inception, the hoffer has become one of the largest international book awards for small, academic, and independent presses. 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. Published by harper and brothers in 1951 first edition. 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. A rising religious movement is all change and ex perimentopen to new views and techniques from all quarters. This book presents ideas about how mass movements work and the psychology of people that awakenjoin mass movements.
A survivor of visually impairment during his childhood days, orphaned at an early age and once a veteran of pearl harbor, he called himself a. Register of the eric hoffer papers 94057 1 register of the eric hoffer papers. A mass movement is a form of social, economic, or religious movement where a. The conservatism of a religionits orthodoxyis the inert coagulum of a once highly reactive sap. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements ebook written by eric hoffer.
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. Eric hoffer in 1967, in the oval office, visiting president lyndon baines johnson hatred is the most accessible and comprehensive of all the unifying agents mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a god, but never without a belief in a devil. Hoffer is primarily concerned with the active phase, the stage dominated by the true believer. The nazi party rose to power because of the setting of germany at. Eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements 1951, is a work in social psychology. It is then published and reached the crowd in 1951. Frustration seems to be inherent in this personality type. Eric hoffer, a selfmade man, a longshoremanphilosopher, has been chosen by president johnson to serve on a committee studying violence in the united states. Hoffer is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest observers of the human condition ever. 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.
Selftaught, his appetite for knowledgehistory, science, mankindformed the basis of his insight to human nature. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements perennial classics eric hoffer. People wanted to understand why these movements sprang up and gripped millions of people, often with horrific results like the holocaust. Eric hoffer 19021983 was a selfeducated us author and philosopher who was a migratory worker and longshoreman until 1967. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer. The true believer summary essay 1088 words bartleby. The true believer revisited issue 34 philosophy now. The true believer goodreads meet your next favorite book. This could easily be seen as hoffers starting point. 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.
Author eric hoffer analyzes and attempts to explain the motives of the various types of personalities that give rise to mass movements. 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 by eric hoffer is a political philosophy classic from 1951. Temper of our time by eric hoffer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I read the book true believer by nicholas sparks who is one of my favorite authors. His first book, the true believer 1951, was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen, although hoffer.
He received the presidential medal of freedom, in february, 1983. It received critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen and catapulted hoffer into the limelight. 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. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements, by eric hoffer. Boards show rubbingscuffing at edge with tips and top of spine worn previous owners name written top of front endpaper. Jan 19, 2010 eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. 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 true believer a new appreciation of eric hoffers classic book news, information, feature articles, and opinion regarding antiquarian, outofprint and rare books. He cautions that although mass movements share many traits this does not imply that theyre equally harmful or beneficent.
Later works include the passionate state of mind 1955, a collection. Book awards eric hoffer book award, a top independent. 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. Even as eric hoffer makes plain the impetus of any major movements in world history from biblical times to postwar russia,china and germany,he he says the scriptures should be so essential,integral and imperative to the true believer that. It is perhaps the most unremarkable and selfevident truth of life. Completely relevant and essential for understanding the world. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements perennial classics by eric hoffer. Even though the entirety of the heavenly host descended upon me telling me something other than what the. September 20, 2016 by jesse kornbluth leave a comment. 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. We want to make you happy, so please contact us if there are any questions, problems or concerns.
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. 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 range of his reading and research is vast, amazing. The famous bestseller with concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement wall st. The author uses examples of movements of all types from the past, as well as movements that were current when the book was written. After writing his first book, the true believer, he went on to publish over ten others. 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. Eric hoffer was a workingclass american autodidact who authored a variety of treatises on moral and social philosophy. He was the author of ten books and was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in february 1983. The nazi political movement in germany is explained well through the use of this framework. Aug 28, 2009 this is a thumbnail sketch of a few of the ideas from eric hoffer s book the true believer go to. The author of ten books, he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 1983. 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.
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