The Origins of Totalitarianism: Hannah Arendt (Penguin Modern Classics)

Good book

Everyone should read this, especially in today's world.

This is a seminal work, written by a Holocaust survivor, that speaks powerfully, more than 70 years after it was first published, of the existential threat posed by populism (in its various forms) to civilization. It remains particularly relevant is current circumstances. It is a pity that, as is sadly often the case with new books supplied by Amazon, its condition on delivery was less than perfect; had it been purchased as a gift I would have returned it and requested a replacement.

I felt like I got my money’s worth after just reading the first three pages 🤣🤣 I feel really lucky to have come across this book. It doesn’t read like an academic tome at all - it’s easy to read. However her sentences can sometimes stretch over six lines. I got up to page 300, so I got halfway through the book, but then I seemed to grind to a halt. People who find German political history interesting may also enjoy the first part of “Terror and Democracy in West Germany” by Karrin Hanshew which gives a very interesting description of German politics between 1918 and 1969. People who enjoy this book might also enjoy “What Is Populism?” by Jan-Werner Muller.

Full of challenging concepts and interesting analysis. Her comparison of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany as totalitarian states is thorough and convincing. The recounting of history leading to the birth of these states and their modes of ruling was illuminating and challenged many of my preconceived notions. Her style of writing is easy and pleasant to read, often with incredibly memorable summations. I did find it a slow read mainly because re-reading sections to get an absolute grip of them and the amount of detail included in the references, which as someone immensely interested in the subject matter, I was appreciative of. Has become one of my favorite books.

A must read for our times

Divided into three sections, the book takes the reader through anti-semitism and imperialism onto totalitarianism. Most frightening are the parallels with what is happening in the US and elsewhere with the rise in populism and xenophobia. A quote from Arendt "Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty". Sound familiar?

I'm very puzzled by this book, which is clearly a photocopy of an original book that has simply been re-bound. I will contact the publishers.

Mientras leía este libro pensaba una y otra vez en el dicho que: "los que desconocen la historia están condenados a repetirla". Con una minuciosa metodología y conocimiento Hannah Arendt despieza los movimientos totalitarios europeos desde el siglo XVII hasta la segunda guerra mundial. Las similitudes de estos movimientos con muchos que hoy aspiran a la consolidación de una ideología como base de un movimiento universal es escalofriante. Este libro libro, con un punto de salida del antisemitismo, al principio no parece que tendría una estructura lógica, pero poco a poco va consolidando la idea que para los movimientos ideológicos cualquier razonamiento es valido. Y, si no tienen una piedra angular basada en la realidad mas seguidores se apuntan al movimiento. Considerando todos los problemas que esta afrontando la humanidad uno termina el libro rascándose la cabeza y dudando mucho de un futuro utópico y benevolente para todos.

That book must be read and can be used not only by many teachers but also by managers at all hierarchy levels. It is very interesting for people we lead working people because nowadays some head managers are governing through an on-off authority which sometimes conducts their subordinates to suffer from psychical and physical diseases and even to suicide.

Though very difficult to read it through, it's totally worth the effort. Hannah Arendt was really an independent thinker and I found the book still very relevant to current totalitarian movements or developments, in China (Mao Era was totalitarianism, and followed by some limited freedom and fresh air, now again, fresh air were long gone, and it's on the road to a better totalitarianism or Totalitarianism 2.0).

Book arrived in récord timing. Perfect description of the same. Perfect condition.

Arendt's theory of so-called 'totalitarianism' is inadequate, but here it is.