How to Get The True Believer by Eric Hoffer as an Epub File
The True Believer by Eric Hoffer: A Book Review
Have you ever wondered what makes people join mass movements, such as religious cults, political revolutions, or social causes? What drives them to sacrifice their individuality, freedom, and even lives for a collective cause? How do mass movements start, grow, and end?
the true believer eric hoffer epub reader
If you are interested in these questions, you might want to read The True Believer, a classic book by Eric Hoffer that explores the psychology of mass movements. In this article, I will give you a brief overview of what this book is about, who wrote it and why, how to download it in epub format, and what I think of it.
Introduction
What is The True Believer about?
The True Believer is a book that analyzes the nature and dynamics of mass movements. It was first published in 1951, but it remains relevant and influential today. The book is divided into four parts, each consisting of several short chapters that cover various aspects of mass movements, such as their appeal, their potential converts, their united action and self-sacrifice, and their beginning and end.
The book does not focus on any specific mass movement, but rather draws examples from various historical and contemporary cases, such as Christianity, Islam, Communism, Fascism, Nationalism, and Socialism. The book also does not take a moral or political stance on mass movements, but rather tries to understand them from a psychological perspective.
Who is Eric Hoffer and why did he write this book?
Eric Hoffer was an American philosopher and writer who lived from 1902 to 1983. He was born in Germany but immigrated to the United States when he was five years old. He had a rough childhood and lost his sight at the age of seven due to an accident. He regained his sight at the age of fifteen and became an avid reader. He never received a formal education but taught himself various subjects through books.
Hoffer worked as a migrant worker, a gold prospector, a dockworker, and a longshoreman. He wrote several books in his spare time while living in the railroad yards. He became famous when his first book, The True Believer, was published and praised by President Eisenhower in a press conference.
Hoffer wrote this book because he was fascinated by the phenomenon of mass movements. He witnessed the rise of Nazism in Germany and Communism in Russia and China. He also observed the social unrest and radicalism in America during the Great Depression and World War II. He wanted to understand what motivates people to join mass movements and how they affect society.
How to download The True Believer in epub format?
If you want to read The True Believer on your e-reader, tablet, or smartphone, you might want to download it in epub format. Epub is a popular and widely supported file format for digital books. It allows you to adjust the font size, style, and layout of the text according to your preferences and device.
There are several websites that offer free downloads of The True Believer in epub format. However, some of them might not be legal or safe, so you should be careful and use a reliable source. One of the websites that I recommend is OceanofPDF, which provides free and high-quality ebooks in various formats. You can find the link to download The True Believer in epub format from this website below:
Download The True Believer by Eric Hoffer in epub format from OceanofPDF
Summary of The True Believer
Part 1: The Appeal of Mass Movements
In this part, Hoffer explains why mass movements are attractive to certain types of people. He argues that mass movements appeal to people who are dissatisfied with their lives and who feel powerless, insignificant, and frustrated. Mass movements offer them a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose. They also offer them a chance to escape from their personal problems and responsibilities by submerging themselves in a collective cause.
Hoffer identifies three main types of people who are likely to join mass movements: the poor, the misfits, and the fanatics. The poor are those who suffer from material deprivation and social oppression. They join mass movements to improve their living conditions and gain dignity and respect. The misfits are those who feel alienated and rejected by society. They join mass movements to find acceptance and recognition. The fanatics are those who have an intense and obsessive devotion to a cause or idea. They join mass movements to spread their doctrine and convert others.
Part 2: The Potential Converts
In this part, Hoffer examines the characteristics and circumstances of the potential converts to mass movements. He argues that mass movements recruit their followers from various segments of society, but they have some common traits that make them susceptible to persuasion and indoctrination. These traits include:
A sense of insecurity and inferiority
A desire for change and action
A dissatisfaction with the present
A nostalgia for the past or a vision for the future
A readiness to follow a leader or a doctrine
A willingness to sacrifice oneself for the cause
Hoffer also discusses the role of imitation, persuasion, coercion, and propaganda in converting people to mass movements. He argues that mass movements use various techniques to influence people's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. These techniques include:
Creating a sense of urgency and crisis
Appealing to people's hopes and fears
Using simple and catchy slogans and symbols
Repeating and reinforcing the message
Suppressing dissent and criticism
Creating an enemy or a scapegoat
Part 3: United Action and Self-Sacrifice
In this part, Hoffer analyzes how mass movements unify their followers and motivate them to act and sacrifice for the cause. He argues that mass movements create a sense of solidarity and loyalty among their members by fostering a common identity, a common enemy, and a common destiny. They also create a sense of duty and obligation by imposing rules, rituals, and disciplines.
Hoffer also explores the reasons why people are willing to give up their individuality, freedom, and even lives for a mass movement. He argues that people are driven by various psychological factors, such as:
A need for self-esteem and self-justification
A need for meaning and direction
A need for excitement and adventure
A need for renunciation and martyrdom
A need for faith and devotion
Part 4: Beginning and End
In this part, Hoffer discusses how mass movements start, grow, and end. He argues that mass movements usually begin with a charismatic leader who articulates a vision or a doctrine that appeals to the discontented masses. The leader attracts followers who spread his message and recruit more converts. The movement grows as it gains momentum, resources, and allies.
Hoffer also explains how mass movements end or change over time. He argues that mass movements face various challenges and crises that test their viability and vitality. These challenges include:
Analysis of The True Believer
The main themes and arguments of the book
One of the main themes of the book is the psychology of mass movements. Hoffer tries to explain how mass movements appeal to people's emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. He also tries to understand how mass movements affect people's personalities, identities, and relationships. He argues that mass movements have a powerful and lasting impact on both individuals and societies.
Another main theme of the book is the comparison and contrast of different types of mass movements. Hoffer does not limit his analysis to any specific ideology, religion, or cause. He treats all mass movements as similar phenomena that share common features and patterns. He also points out the differences and variations among mass movements, such as their origins, goals, methods, and outcomes.
The main argument of the book is that mass movements are driven by people's dissatisfaction with their lives and their desire for change. Hoffer claims that mass movements are not rational or logical, but rather emotional and irrational. He also claims that mass movements are not constructive or creative, but rather destructive and fanatical. He suggests that mass movements are a form of escapism and self-deception that prevent people from facing their personal problems and realities.
The strengths and weaknesses of the book
One of the strengths of the book is its originality and insightfulness. Hoffer offers a fresh and provocative perspective on mass movements that challenges conventional wisdom and assumptions. He also offers a rich and diverse collection of examples and anecdotes that illustrate his points and arguments. He draws from various sources and disciplines, such as history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and literature.
Another strength of the book is its clarity and simplicity. Hoffer writes in a concise and accessible style that makes his ideas easy to understand and follow. He uses simple and catchy language that captures the reader's attention and interest. He also organizes his book in a logical and coherent way that makes his structure easy to follow.
One of the weaknesses of the book is its lack of evidence and support. Hoffer does not provide much empirical data or scientific research to back up his claims and arguments. He mostly relies on his own observations, opinions, and speculations. He also does not cite his sources or references properly, which makes it hard to verify his information and arguments.
Another weakness of the book is its lack of nuance and balance. Hoffer tends to generalize and oversimplify complex and diverse phenomena. He also tends to be biased and judgmental towards certain types of mass movements and people. He does not acknowledge or address the possible benefits or merits of mass movements or their followers.
The relevance and impact of the book today
The book is still relevant and impactful today because mass movements are still prevalent and influential in the modern world. We can see many examples of mass movements in various fields and domains, such as politics, religion, culture, technology, environment, etc. We can also see how mass movements affect our lives and societies in various ways, such as shaping our values, beliefs, opinions, behaviors, etc.
The book is also still relevant and impactful today because it offers valuable insights and lessons for both leaders and followers of mass movements. For leaders, the book can help them understand how to attract, persuade, motivate, unify, and mobilize their followers for their cause. For followers, the book can help them understand how to critically evaluate, question, resist, or leave mass movements that are harmful or detrimental to themselves or others.
Conclusion
A brief recap of the main points
In this article, I have reviewed The True Believer, a classic book by Eric Hoffer that analyzes the nature and dynamics of mass movements. I have given you a brief overview of what this book is about, who wrote it and why, how to download it in epub format, and what I think of it.
I have summarized the four parts of the book that cover various aspects of mass movements, such as their appeal, their potential converts, their united action and self-sacrifice, and their beginning and end. I have also analyzed the main themes and arguments of the book, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. Finally, I have discussed the relevance and impact of the book today.
A personal opinion and recommendation
In my opinion,The True Believer is a fascinating and insightful book that offers a unique and original perspective on mass movements. I think it is a well-written and well-organized book that is easy to read and understand. I also think it is a thought-provoking and challenging book that makes me reflect on my own beliefs, values, and actions.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about mass movements and their followers. I think this book can help you gain a deeper and broader understanding of the psychology and sociology of mass movements. I also think this book can help you develop a more critical and independent mind that can resist or challenge the influence of mass movements.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about The True Believer and their answers:
What is the main message of The True Believer?
The main message of The True Believer is that mass movements are driven by people's dissatisfaction with their lives and their desire for change. Mass movements appeal to people who feel powerless, insignificant, and frustrated. Mass movements offer them a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose. Mass movements also offer them a chance to escape from their personal problems and responsibilities by submerging themselves in a collective cause.
Who is the target audience of The True Believer?
The target audience of The True Believer is anyone who is interested in learning more about mass movements and their followers. The book is suitable for readers of various backgrounds, ages, and levels of education. The book does not require any prior knowledge or expertise on the topic. The book is also relevant and applicable to various fields and domains, such as history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, politics, religion, culture, etc.
How long does it take to read The True Believer?
The length of time it takes to read The True Believer depends on various factors, such as your reading speed, comprehension level, interest level, etc. However, according to some estimates, the average reading speed for adults is about 200 words per minute. Based on this estimate, it would take about 3 hours to read The True Believer, which has about 36,000 words.
What are some other books similar to The True Believer?
Some other books similar to The True Believer are:
Crowds and Power by Elias Canetti, which explores the psychology and sociology of crowds and their effects on individuals and societies.
The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon, which examines the characteristics and behaviors of crowds and their influence on history and civilization.
The Anatomy of Revolution by Crane Brinton, which compares and contrasts four major political revolutions in history: the English Revolution, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Russian Revolution.
The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, which analyzes the rise and fall of totalitarian regimes in the 20th century, such as Nazism and Stalinism.
Captain America and the Crusade Against Evil: The Dilemma of Zealous Nationalism by Robert Jewett and John Shelton Lawrence, which uses the comic book character Captain America as a symbol of American nationalism and its implications for global politics and ethics.
Where can I find more information about Eric Hoffer?
You can find more information about Eric Hoffer from various sources, such as:
His Wikipedia page, which provides a brief biography and a list of his works.
His official website, which provides more details about his life, his books, his awards, his quotes, etc.
His interview with Eric Sevareid on CBS News in 1967, which shows him talking about his views on various topics.
iever/">His article on Brain Pickings, which summarizes some of his main ideas and quotes.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new and useful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with me. Thank you for your time and attention.
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