Hitler cover

Hitler

by Alan Bullock

Imported from Britain, with its penetrating use of relatively new source material, its well sustained narrative, its deep concentration on the man, this book should prove one of the best studies to date. The author has a fine record as an Oxford historian—he is now Censor of St. Catherine's—and states as his aim the determination of Hitler's fantastic wielding of power. He does this chronologically and with a sense of episode that makes every word readable and that brings the historical background into clear relief. The survey of Hitler's parentage is explicit as the possible emotional causes of his fanaticism, his utterly frustrative attitude toward the Germanic status quo that made him into the lying, brutal conniver who "acknowledged no masters". A lengthy follow-up takes him and his generating, generated causes through first post-WWI attempts, failure in the twenties, the depression in 1930 that swung the balance needle in his favor and allowed him successes by putsch, chancellorship, speech, extermination and invasion. Intensive examination of roles played by his henchmen, military and economic factions, and foreign negligence further clarify the techniques of lie and propaganda. A familiar period that deserves the re-emphasis and reinterpretation it gets here. A must for workers in the field. [Kirkus Reviews][1] [1]: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/alan-bullock-2/hitler-a-study-in-tyranny/

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?