If you are reading these reviews, then you probably have at least some curiosity about history and politics. Let us therefore dismiss those among the reviewers who need to get their pro/anti-Hitler angst off their chests.What upsets me about this book is to see just how much propaganda swirls through our own school systems. What? A drooling, raving, lunatic overpowers a whole nation with a small gang of thugs? A fool with an IQ of 16 tricks the whole German population? Any intelligent person will ask: "Is this possible?"
Quote: "The other parties had practically no paying members. We, with our two and a half million members, banked two and a half million marks every month."
Hitler employed rough methods in his rise to power, but when he was alone in prison, he persuaded most of the prison staff to his cause. He developed massive grass-roots support. How? Why?
Time for a mini-education. The term 'right wing' is often applied to libertarians. This always amazes me. Hitler was 'right wing' - he believed in AUTARKY (and autarchy) - the OPPOSITE of free-market liberalism. He sought to make 'Greater Germany' self-sufficient - to terminate imports, to break away from the international trading system, to get rid of the 'thieving capitalists', to get more agricultural land and coal fields and iron ore mines and rivers (hydro power) and oil wells and forests. Hitler wanted to construct 'Island Europe' - a European Union - to challenge the British Empire and the United States of America (which he considered a corrupt and morally degenerate trade-bloc). He wanted Europe (an Anglo/Nordic/Germanic Europe) to be the dominant power in the world.
His party was called the National Socialist German Workers Party. He was a nationalist and a socialist and a big supporter of the working man. If he were alive today, he would have LED the 'Battle of Seattle'. His motto was 'fair-trade' not free trade and 'our people first'. He hated international capitalism. Get it?
This was not such a strange idea during the Great Depression (and concomitant international trade war). The Japanese wanted a similar autarky (the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere); the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also constructed an autarky. There were many in America who thought (and still think) that America would be much better off without international trade links. Remember the Japan-bashing of the 1980s? Well, in 1933 the whole Liberal International tradition was in bad shape. Millions were unemployed. Autarky and socialism looked like a great solution.
Even so, not just anybody can organize a political party. Not just anybody can marshal the political currents to his advantage. How many 'men of the hour' blew it when their time came? No, Hitler was no imbecile. He was no ragamuffin or fifth-rate politician. He was smart and popular and he worked very, very hard to accomplish his goals.
This book, then, contains his thoughts and reflections. He speaks candidly on almost every subject under the sun. What is particularly fascinating is his grasp of certain subjects but complete misunderstanding of others. He obviously never studied economics!
Whoever reads this book will instantly recognize how many of Hitler's ideas are alive and well in Europe and America today. He was a fervent anti-smoking, vegetarian, healthy lifestyle, clean-living, moralistic, environmentalist kind of guy. Much of the film "Triumph of the Will" is about men washing and doing exercises in the open air. Hitler passionately sought to construct a 'better society' - a fit and healthy society with high moral values. He was deeply concerned about the nations' health - physical, moral, economic, and spiritual. He was out to 'do good' for the people - and save them from 'foreigners', 'international capitalists', and 'terrorists' (within and without).
No, he was no lunatic. In fact, he was charming and sincere. He cleverly manipulated people's tribal instincts and their desire for health, safety, and security. To many at the time, he was a hero.
My fear is that many readers of this book may still consider him a hero. To counter this problem, Amazon should offer this book with "Pop Internationalism" by Paul Krugman. Read both. Don't go through life without some understanding of economics in addition to politics.
Remember, it's not the sloppy, unshaven guy with sunglasses who cons you out of your life savings. It's the 'really nice man' who was trying to help.
