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tsharris's review
4.0
A bit dull for a book about humor, but nevertheless offered a unique approach to the study of everyday life under the Nazis.
mechankily's review
4.0
Talks about the type of jokes and political humour that existed in the Third Reich. It doesn't have jokes per se (it has some), it's mostly a record of the state of humour at the time, and countering some common ideas about jokes and the nazis.
By looking at the criminal records, it shows that telling jokes about the Nazis wasn't too serious a crime, there weren't prosecuted too often. The standard of jokes tells us what people mocked about the nazis, and alas, it didn't seem to be about them being genocidal dictators (merely other things like oppertunistic job seekers, or fans of pomp and ceremony).
It has lessons for today, because there were plenty of people taking the piss out of Hitler at the start, and that didn't stop him becoming dictator, so why do you think you can stop the next dictator by comedy.
If you're curious to read lots about the Third Reich, I'd recommend this.
By looking at the criminal records, it shows that telling jokes about the Nazis wasn't too serious a crime, there weren't prosecuted too often. The standard of jokes tells us what people mocked about the nazis, and alas, it didn't seem to be about them being genocidal dictators (merely other things like oppertunistic job seekers, or fans of pomp and ceremony).
It has lessons for today, because there were plenty of people taking the piss out of Hitler at the start, and that didn't stop him becoming dictator, so why do you think you can stop the next dictator by comedy.
If you're curious to read lots about the Third Reich, I'd recommend this.
sarahjsnider's review
2.0
Some insights, but the poor writing (and possibly clunky translation) interfered with my enjoyment. A German speaker reading this in the original might have better luck.
zivan's review
3.0
Humor is one of the deepest expressions of human culture.
I don't think there is a genre that ages faster than humor. (accept slapstick).
So I found it interesting to learn about humor in Nazi Germany.
It was an interesting read, and I was surprised on how well Herzog summerises the strategic situation in the different stages of the war.
I was a bit put off by how Herzog makes sure to tell me how I should interpret each joke he quotes.
It is clear that his is an apologetic work intended to refute claims that humor in the third rich was a form of resistance to the Nazis. But Herzog is laying it a bit too thick.
I don't think there is a genre that ages faster than humor. (accept slapstick).
So I found it interesting to learn about humor in Nazi Germany.
It was an interesting read, and I was surprised on how well Herzog summerises the strategic situation in the different stages of the war.
I was a bit put off by how Herzog makes sure to tell me how I should interpret each joke he quotes.
It is clear that his is an apologetic work intended to refute claims that humor in the third rich was a form of resistance to the Nazis. But Herzog is laying it a bit too thick.
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