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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Although this book contains some important insights and is an interesting take on the nature and danger of Fascism, the fact that it relies so heavily on outdated and long debunked Freudian pseudo-psychology (a field which is now infamous for being nothing but circular and self-fulfilling intellectual masturbation,) means that much of it is now worthless. And having now spent several years studying Fascism, I was deeply frustrated by the way that the author touched on, then proceeded to brush past the core issue. Namely, to many people's existential fear of the degenerate and inferior, yet somehow, all powerful 'Other' taking what is rightfully theirs in a world in which Neo-Liberal Capitalism forces us all to run to stand still and fight for every crumb. After all, this is the defining basis of the new breed of Neo-Fascism which presents itself as 'Defending Democracy' by ensuring that only the *True* people can vote. So in the end, while this book definitely isn't a total waste of time, there many far better, more useful and less outdated books exploring Fascism that I would recommend first.
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
reflective
slow-paced
In a single book Fromm manages to:
-identify why people need to be part of something larger than themselves
-identify the social changes that contributed to the rise of liberal capitalism from Medieval times to the Reformation
-identified the character traits that give rise to totalitarianism, Fascism and Nazism
-argues that liberal democracies under capitalism are lacking as much freedom as totalitarian states
-identifies both the socio-economic conditions and personal conditions one needs to flourish and be happy (hint: a controlled economy directed towards human happiness rather than profit combined with bottom-up democratic participation)
Bonus points:
-Identifying Lutheranism and Calvinism in combination with the loss of meaning and economic power in creating fertile ground for monsters
-Showing me Luther and Calvin were monsters themselves and their vision of God as cruel and domineering will only lead to domination and cruelty towards yourself and others
-that sadists and the power-hungry are dependent on the 'weak' person they use
-that Fascists hates themselves as much as they hate others
-that us living in so-called 'free' societies are still not free. We are subject to conformity, materialism and economic drives that suck out any knowledge we may have of our true selves and how to flourish.
Here Fromm foresaw the tyranny of social media rather perfectly.
Fromm is right about everything and not a single page on this book feels dated or wrong. The only thing that may be argued against is that we escaped the fight for natural resources and economic scarcity. Climate change and our relationship to nature has brought that back and yet it does not disprove Fromm but rather proves that our current social system is broken and not only has it broken the bond between individual and a sense of higher purpose, but it has also broken our bond from nature. Compelling, insightful with searing critique, this is a classic everyone should read.
-identify why people need to be part of something larger than themselves
-identify the social changes that contributed to the rise of liberal capitalism from Medieval times to the Reformation
-identified the character traits that give rise to totalitarianism, Fascism and Nazism
-argues that liberal democracies under capitalism are lacking as much freedom as totalitarian states
-identifies both the socio-economic conditions and personal conditions one needs to flourish and be happy (hint: a controlled economy directed towards human happiness rather than profit combined with bottom-up democratic participation)
Bonus points:
-Identifying Lutheranism and Calvinism in combination with the loss of meaning and economic power in creating fertile ground for monsters
-Showing me Luther and Calvin were monsters themselves and their vision of God as cruel and domineering will only lead to domination and cruelty towards yourself and others
-that sadists and the power-hungry are dependent on the 'weak' person they use
-that Fascists hates themselves as much as they hate others
-that us living in so-called 'free' societies are still not free. We are subject to conformity, materialism and economic drives that suck out any knowledge we may have of our true selves and how to flourish.
Here Fromm foresaw the tyranny of social media rather perfectly.
Fromm is right about everything and not a single page on this book feels dated or wrong. The only thing that may be argued against is that we escaped the fight for natural resources and economic scarcity. Climate change and our relationship to nature has brought that back and yet it does not disprove Fromm but rather proves that our current social system is broken and not only has it broken the bond between individual and a sense of higher purpose, but it has also broken our bond from nature. Compelling, insightful with searing critique, this is a classic everyone should read.
First published in 1941 and still a valuable read to gain an understanding of the social and psychological conditions that form the basis for facism. That in the individual, it is the product of fear and lack of individuation that has them seeking masochistic security in oppression in order to feel part of something bigger than themselves. It’s not fear of freedom in and of itself, but fear of standing alone with the bonds of authority severed.
I will say, Fromm describes something called ‘sadistic satisfaction’ in the mind of certain German facists that could have been describing and does describe the mentality of MAGA / Trump supporters now. - ‘While the “leaders” are the ones to enjoy power in the first place, the masses are by no means deprived of sadistic satisfaction. Racial and political minorities within Germany and eventually other nations which are described weak or decaying are the objects of sadism upon which the masses are fed. While Hitler and his bureaucracy enjoy the power over the German masses, these masses themselves are taught to enjoy power over other nations and to be driven by the passion for domination of the world.’ (Pg 225)
I will say, Fromm describes something called ‘sadistic satisfaction’ in the mind of certain German facists that could have been describing and does describe the mentality of MAGA / Trump supporters now. - ‘While the “leaders” are the ones to enjoy power in the first place, the masses are by no means deprived of sadistic satisfaction. Racial and political minorities within Germany and eventually other nations which are described weak or decaying are the objects of sadism upon which the masses are fed. While Hitler and his bureaucracy enjoy the power over the German masses, these masses themselves are taught to enjoy power over other nations and to be driven by the passion for domination of the world.’ (Pg 225)
6 stars. This books is as important then as it is now. Great insights and analysis. It would be a great book for a discussion or a book group. I thinks it's best bit is it's point of view of the authorative character and the loss of meaning in freedom.
challenging
informative