The rape of the mind; the psychology of thought control, menticide, and brainwashing cover

The rape of the mind; the psychology of thought control, menticide, and brainwashing

by Joost Meerloo

This book is about thought control in general and about brainwashing or menticide in particular. Its somewhat alarming title attests to the author's journalistic talent but seems to reflect also his deep concern about the sinister subject of this work. During World War II, while he was still in Holland, the author saw some of the effects and learned about the methods of this new weapon of totalitarianism. A number of his countrymen who were members of the underground movement had been subjected to the methodical use of torture and mental coercion by the Nazis and came to him for psychiatric treatment. Finally, he too was exposed to the subtle brutality of this systematic "destruction of man's mind."

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?