Jan, 2018 eric hoffer on true believers and false fronts january, 2018 stephen hicks 1 comment eric hoffer ten of my favorites from the always perceptive eric hoffer. A piece of cardboard is glued onto the inside of the front cover in an attempt at. The band went into the studio in early 1987 with producer jeff glixman, whod recently scored a. 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. He cautions that although mass movements share many traits this does not imply that theyre equally harmful or beneficent. 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. 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. The famous bestseller with concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement wall st. For booksellers and collectors of rare and antiquarian books. The true believer the first and most famous of his books was made into a. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements 1951, is a work in social psychology. Eric hoffer 1898 1983 was an american moral and social philosopher who worked for more than twenty years as longshoremen in san francisco. The first is an overview of ideas from eric hoffers book. E ric hoffers 1951 classic the true believer is a guide to truly understanding civilization and how it is shaped through different flavors of mass movements.
The true believers are an americanacountryfolk band founded in 2014 and based in lewisham, south east london. He concludes his analysis with a discussion of the energumen of those who join both good and bad mass movements. The second part is a discussion about some of the implications for a christian. The true believer project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. In walden henry david thoreau wrote, the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. Eric hoffer, a selfmade man, a longshoremanphilosopher, has been chosen by president johnson to serve on a committee studying violence in the united states. True believers, a shortstory collection by joseph oconnor. True believers, a marvel comics limited series by cary bates.
Fair with yellowed cover, rubbed and bumped edges, and creased backstrip. Anyone wanting to understand this horrible irony would do well to read eric hoffers 1951 classic, the true believer. 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. The tragic inner life of sports fans, a humorous nonfiction jawn by joe queenan. The true believer summary essay 1088 words bartleby. The ubiquitous allnight internet and manga comic cafes offer. Below is a passage from an interesting old short book called the true believer by eric hoffer 1951. A rising religious movement is all change and ex perimentopen to new views and techniques from all quarters. Emiamerica picked up distribution of true believers and bought out the band s contract, promising them a bigger budget and a major promotional push for their second album. The author of ten books, he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 1983. Hoffer is primarily concerned with the active phase, the stage dominated by the true believer. No doubt this book, written just prior to the outbreak of the korean war, served as one of his qualifications.
The true believer revisited issue 34 philosophy now. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by eric hoffer is a political philosophy classic from 1951. Intensity of conviction is not the main factor which impels a movement to spread its faith to the four corners of the earth. The book continues with a focus on hoffers analysis of the means used to motivate true believers and bind them together. In this excerpt from the eric hoffer s book, the true believer, we are given insights into some of the sources of missionary zeal. Thousands of homeless net cafe refugees in japan risk being turfed out onto the streets as the coronavirus pandemic forces the sudden closure of their uniquely japanese 247 comic book havens. Excerpts from eric hoffer s the true believer with annotations regarding the fitness aerobics movement ken hutchins, superslow exercise guild essay. 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. It is perhaps the most unremarkable and selfevident truth 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. This is a thumbnail sketch of a few of the ideas from eric hoffers book the true believer go to. The book tries to understand and explain, not pass judgment.
This is the first part of a twopart discussion at wascana fellowship that took place in early december 2010. The true believer eric hoffer paperback harpercollins publishers. The true believer is one of the most provocative books of our immediate day. The first lines of hoffers book clearly state its purpose. 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. 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. 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. 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. He was the author of ten books and was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in february 1983. Youd be welladvised to read eric hoffers the true believer in full before you. After writing his first book, the true believer, he went on to publish over ten others. The band went into the studio in early 1987 with producer jeff glixman, whod recently scored a major chart hit with the first georgia satellites album. Summary of eric hoffers, the true believer reason and meaning. The author uses examples of movements of all types from the past, as well as movements that were current when the book was written.
Penetrating insight into human nature can be found at any level. Inside the mind of donald trumps true believers national. Other articles where the true believer is discussed. Eric hoffer is a student of extraordinary perception and insight. Eric hoffer on true believers and false fronts stephen.
Aug 28, 2009 this is a thumbnail sketch of a few of the ideas from eric hoffer s book the true believer go to. Whether they are religious, social, or nationalist movements, all of them share an underlying architecture. Completely relevant and essential for understanding the world. 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. Mar 30, 2016 e ric hoffers 1951 classic the true believer is a guide to truly understanding civilization and how it is shaped through different flavors of mass movements. Excerpts from eric hoffers the true believer with annotations regarding the fitness aerobics movement ken hutchins, superslow exercise guild essay. 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. Below is a passage from an interesting old short book called. Feb 04, 2011 this is the first part of a twopart discussion at wascana fellowship that took place in early december 2010. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements by hoffer, eric discusses the appeal of mass movements, types of potential converts, factors promoting self.
He received the presidential medal of freedom, in february, 1983. A mass movement is a form of social, economic, or religious movement where a. This book deals with some peculiarities common to all mass movements, be they religious. September 20, 2016 by jesse kornbluth leave a comment. The true believer a new appreciation of eric hoffers classic book.
Eric hoffer was a workingclass american autodidact who authored a variety of treatises on moral and social philosophy. His prose style is at once aphoristic and thoughtful. Nevertheless, they committed suicide for their cause. Eric hoffer on true believers and false fronts january, 2018 stephen hicks 1 comment eric hoffer ten of my favorites from the always perceptive eric hoffer. It received critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen and catapulted hoffer into the limelight. In this excerpt from the eric hoffers book, the true believer, we are given insights into some of the sources of missionary zeal.
Thoughts on the nature of mass movements 1951 eric hoffer. The following quotes are from eric hoffers book, and are posted here because of their strong relevance to life in the new american wing cult. Later works include the passionate state of mind 1955, a collection. True believer dictionary definition true believer defined. The true believer is a manuscript that attempts to grant justification as to why people would be drawn to a mass movement. 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. It is the result of the experiences of the author with nazis and stalinists during 30s and 40s. His first book, the true believer 1951, was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen, although hoffer. The true believer earned renewed attention after the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001, 22 and also after the tea party protests and occupy wall street protests a decade later. This book presents ideas about how mass movements work and the psychology of people that awakenjoin mass movements. Aug 04, 2018 the book continues with a focus on hoffer s analysis of the means used to motivate true believers and bind them together.
Eric hoffer 19021983 was a selfeducated us author and philosopher who was a migratory worker and longshoreman until 1967. Anyone wanting to understand this horrible irony would do well to read eric hoffer s 1951 classic, the true believer. Thoughts on the nature of mass movements is a nonfiction book authored by american philosopher eric hoffer. I suspect the president was unaware that the term true believer was made famous more than 65 years ago in eric hoffers 1951 book, the true believer. Frustration seems to be inherent in this personality type. Eric hoffer july 25, 1898 may 21, 1983 was an american moral and social philosopher. Birth and death of government the true believer by eric.
True believer wolff novel, a 2001 youngadult novel by virginia euwer wolff. 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. His first book, the true believer 1951, demonstrated his insights into the nature of mass movements and the people who compose them. The conservatism of a religionits orthodoxyis the inert coagulum of a once highly reactive sap. 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. The true believer thoughts on the nature of mass movements eric hoffer we live in a world of change. Eric hoffers the true believer, thoughts on the nature of mass movements.
1640 1462 1182 176 758 1092 1375 377 1613 10 356 41 496 635 470 169 817 1644 89 1558 1589 961 502 700 557 1360 60 1043 665 364 682 30 1245 728 577 1215 51 359 956