The True Believer

For better or worse, I spent a lot of time over the last month thinking about politics and populism. Current events here and around the world prompted it, but most of what I read was focused on understanding the past.

The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, written by Eric Hoffer in 1951, is a provocative book chock-full of declarative, sweeping statements. I don't agree with all of Hoffer's conclusions, but it would be a mistake to ignore his observations about the rise of leaders like Hitler and Stalin – and the fervent followers who make such leaders possible.

Eisenhower is said to have cited the book and Reagan gave Hoffer a medal of freedom. Not bad for a self-taught philosopher working on the docks in San Francisco.