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Eric Hoffer authored one of my favorite books...

True Believer

The True Believer
(New York: Harper and Row, 1951.)
Hoffer's first book is the one that brought him fame and continues to be his best known. Subtitled "Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements," it is an examination of the types of individuals who tend to join and foster those destructive (and sometimes creative) fanatical causes which have wreaked such havoc in our time.

Anyone else a fan?

~td~

I am a would-be fan. I thought I could find some good quotes from him for my book, but nothing apparently available in local libraries, and it isn't public domain yet. (On the other hand, I might be able to get results if I ask again-- local reference librarian has personal problems)

Frustrating.

Hi MCB,

Does your library have an inter-library loan service?

I get many of my books really inexpensively on half. com.

;-)

~td~

Yeah. She can get awfully passive-aggressive, though. One time, no results, other times, real quick. That was one good thing about Dodge City-- the reference librarian was very involved in this project.

And money, until I sell the book, is a real problem.

I'm a major fan. I first read The True Believer when I was twelve or thirteen. My older brother had a copy.

Whenever I've toyed with making a list of pivotal books in my life, it's always made the cut.

Daniel, there are times when you do very well as a comedian.

MCB wrote:Daniel, there are times when you do very well as a comedian.

I take it, from your cryptic remark, that you find something amusing in the fact that I read Eric Hoffer at a very young age and was fascinated by his insights?

I'll refrain from posting my initial response to your comment, which was dazzlingly witty but not, perhaps, altogether respectful.

Thank you for your restraint. I wish you could restrain some of your disciples a bit better.

truth dancer wrote:Anyone else a fan?

I've been a fan since the '80s. Hoffer attacks extremism of any kind, not just religious extremism. His particular gall was with communists, and people who try to reshape God "in their own image".

Interesting supplemental reading: The Atheist Delusion.

Hi Ray,

I grew up with Eric. LOL! My very amazing, agnostic father was a fan and I knew many Hoffer quotes by the time I was ten. As I grew older and became more involved in the LDS church, many of his thoughts became much more pertinent.

in my opinion, Hoffer's philosophy and ideas exemplify the truth that one doesn't need a "God" to embrace integrity and morality.

~td~