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The True Believer
by Eric Hoffer · 1951
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This book presents ideas about how mass movements work and the psychology of people that awaken/join mass movements. The author uses examples of movements of all types from the past, as well as movements that were current when the book was written; and discusses in great detail many techniques used to form and hold them together, the many motives that draw people to them, and the similarities between movements that appear on the surface to be completely different in nature (e.g., secular vs. religious, communist vs. fascist, radical vs. reactionary movements). The book is well referenced, and uses quotes from secular and religious writings (the Bible, too) associated with mass movements past and (the author's) present.…
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"Hoffer's exploration of the psychology behind mass movements aligns with Mark Manson's work on societal values and the often-irrational drivers of human behavior. It's an expected read for someone exploring how individuals find meaning and belonging."
"This is a brilliant book. Hoffer points out that zealots can be attracted to zealotry itself. Leaders of revolutionary movements go after people who are so dissatisfied with the status quo, and with themselves, that they are willing to put everything at risk, to create a new, better, purer world. The trick is to provide them with an identity as part of something bigger than themselves. One of the fascinating things Hoffer does is to look at how the Nazi and Communist Parties were recruiting from the same pool. He has these examples of people who switch. Reading that book got me interested in extreme left ideologues who switched allegiances to become neo-Nazis, and Communists who switched allegiances to become radical Islamists. When we see zealots switching their allegiances as if they were changing clothing, the shallowness, of their extreme beliefs becomes clear. “When we see zealots switching their allegiances as if they were changing clothing, the shallowness, of their extreme beliefs becomes clear” Terrorists claim to be making the world a better place for the population they claim to be serving. But over time it may become clear that the terrorists’ ‘customers’ don’t want the service the terrorists are providing. When that happens, some terrorists – the ones whom Hedges might describe as addicted to war – find a new ideology. Ideology is often just a marketing tool."