The Authoritarians

By: Bob Altemeyer

Narrated by: Bob Altemeyer

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The Authoritarians summarizes the research of Dr. Robert Altemeyer, whose professional career has focused on the study of the Authoritarian Personality, and development of the Right-Wing Authoritarian (RWA) personality and ideological variable widely studied in political, social, and personality psychology.

The foreword is provided by John W. Dean, former Nixon White House counsel and New York Times best-selling author.

©2008 Bob Altemeyer (P)2008 Bob Altemeyer

Great read!

This book helped explain the mind of some far right wing conservatives. Will read again.

Insightful and Alarming

This book is heavy with information and light on opinion. I appreciate Bob’s forthright approach in relaying his research. The recording is good throughout.

Excellent read

A clear and concise approach to understanding the ways we differ in our beliefs and behaviors.

Great book, I highly recommend it.

Clean and clear magnum opus from a lifelong researcher. Altemayer is shockingly modest about his life's work and will get you to rethink popular media narratives.

must read

Political and religious violence may be on the way in the United States. This book provides the psychological phenomena at work behind the ideologues and the followers driving the political and religious unrest in North America.

An illuminating read

A must read for anyone trying to understand what the h. is happening in American politics. (And politics in general.) Written by Dr. Robert Altemeyer, it is a compelling and clear analysis on what drives authoritarian leaders and followers.

The Authoritarians provides an overview of the political and social implications of authoritarianism, including the rise of populist movements, the erosion of civil liberties, and the breakdown of democratic institutions.

The book has the air of someone extremely comfortable in his established field of expertise. Altemeyer, a retired psychology professor, draws on decades of research and personal experience to paint a vivid picture of the authoritarian mindset and the dangers it poses to democracy. Many of the points he makes were surprising, insightful and thought-provoking. He provides a detailed analysis of the authoritarian personality, outlining its key traits and characteristics, and explains how these traits are manifested in real-world behaviors and attitudes.

The Authoritarians is an important book that deserves to be read by anyone interested in understanding the psychological and political forces that are shaping our world today. It is a powerful reminder of how democracy and authoritarianism are opposing forces.

Good Book but there are unresolved research questi

It's a good book but why isn't his theory more widely accepted or well known? From a research standpoint Dr. Altermeyer has done the research about as well as it can be done. The whole analysis about how the different personality types conduct War Games is splendid. Also, personality research is a notoriously fishy subject due to the fact that you only get out what you put in, but I still can't help but wonder why his theory and research isn't more widely accepted in the academic world? This is important stuff. It seems to me that this particular subject is important and especially relevant because it answers several important questions like: how do we get ourselves into messy wars, and how do we end up with tyrannical leaders like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Obama, and George Bush? It can also tell you where Islamic fundamentalists and Islamic terrorist come from. Personally, I think Dr. Altermeyer is not accepted as credible because his research calls into question and draws attention to things that the mainstream academic powers that be don't want people to know or think about. Because if people did become more aware of the things that are in Dr. Altermeyer's book then they wouldn't be so easily brainwashed by politicians on the left or the right.

Yeah, so read this book at your own risk. Once the corporatist state finds out that you know the truth you will end up in a FEMA camp. I'll see you there :-)

Definite Authority on Authoritarians

What did you love best about The Authoritarians?

Bob is one of the (if not the principle) Authority on this topic, so you are getting it from the expert. The work of Bob Altemeyer is cited often in scholarly papers including 2 by John Jost, et al. He narrates his own work which allows him to take small liberties with the text and even expand on it somewhat. This also helps you get a feeling for the author's character and political positions.

Any additional comments?

This is very interesting and important material, regardless of your position. It demands acknowledgement and thoughtful dialog. I have read several authors discussing this topic, in particular Jost and Altemeyer who I do not feel were politically motivated (at least initially), as well as the popular book "The Republican Brain" by Chris Mooney which most likely has a political motive. Regardless, the descriptions of the surprising resistance to even such well verified science as relativity and many similarly untenable position by republicans are difficult to explain. The situation appears to require a broad based psychological explanation, and RWA (Right-Wing Authoritarians) and SDO (Social Dominance Orientation) does provide one possible explanation.

As Bob Altemeyer's book explains, the "Right-Wing" of the RWA did not refer to the political "Right-Wing" during the development, but later it was found that most of the extreme politically right republicans are very high on the RWA scale.

The Social Science Samuel Clemens

What a delightful storyteller. His intellect, charm and wit combine for what would later become an auditory binge session for me.

It has changed (reinforced) my observations of the current political environment in the United States. I am concerned to say the least.

This is a must hear story!

A Most Important Study

Sited by John Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" (another recommended book), Altemeyer summarizes his studies for non-academic reading. This psychological study explains Authoritarian followers and leaders on today's political scene.