The Origins of Totalitarianism

By: Hannah Arendt

Narrated by: Nadia May

A recognized classic and definitive account of its subject, The Origins of Totalitarianism traces the emergence of modern racism as an "ideological weapon for imperialism," begining with the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe in the nineteenth century and continuing through the New Imperialism period from 1884 to World War I.

In her analysis of the institutions and operations of totalitarian movements, Arendt focuses on the two genuine forms of totalitarian government in the twentieth century: Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, which she adroitly recognizes as two sides of the same coin rather than opposing philosophies of the Right and Left. From this vantage point, she discusses the transformation of classes into masses, the role of propaganda, and the use of terror essential to this form of government. In her brilliant concluding chapter, she discusses the nature of individual isolation and loneliness as preconditions for total domination.

©1966 Hannah Arendt (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A road map for Trump?

Hannah's work is somewhat dated (I believe she's writing this in the 1950s), but her insights into the philosophy underlying totalitarianism as practiced in the Soviet Union and Germany post WWI are astute and spot on. Her discussion on how totalitarianism requires an enemy in order to justify its existence, whether internal or external, is pertinent to the current (2024) American political scene and that is frightening. While DT is not Stalin or Hitler, there are eerie parallels happening.....

An extraordinary well written and reasoned text

I have never read anyone who could explain something as complex so simply and clearly. Wonderful. Listened almost straight through.

Amazing

This book had so much information! Loved all of it.

Her analysis at the end about loneliness and isolation are amazing and really tie the whole book together.

It was just so amazing. Really sad that such a book has to be written though

Everithing was great

Me ha gustado todo. Es una de las más interesantes pensadoras de todos los tiempos. Excelentemente leído.

Deep and complex, gets better as it progresses

Admitidly very long, but overall really interesting. The first 70-80% is slow, and contains long discussions of topics which later I couldn't remember why they were relevant, but the last 20-30% was packed with really insightful discussions on totalitarianism.

Much to consider

If you don't know much about political science especially as it relates to our recent world history, you may need to research whilst reading. I will be reading this again but this time in print so I can take notes and do research. I have read a few other books by Arendt, so I assumed this first go round would be an introduction to a topic I wish to know in depth.
I listen at work while stocking shelves so I didn't make many notes on audible but there were at least 20 times I was struck by her words that directly described things brewing in the United States government currently. So I made a few notes I most urgently wanted to research.

Rewards Patience

Even with the benefit of corrective hindsight, this remains the definitive work on how Totalitarianism arrives and how it works. Even newer texts that argue with Arendt have a high bar to meet if they choose to disagree and contend with this brilliant and incisive book.

This is NOT light reading. It's astonishingly detailed and showcases all of Arendt's encyclopedic knowledge of the relevant factors. Expect to get lost. This book deserves its own accompanying wiki.

Where the book goes wrong is not obvious, and you will wonder if she wasn't right after all. Perhaps not, but you'll have to martial your facts to show it.

You *will* be glad you gave this book your patience.

Totalitarianism and History

Totalitarianism is a human enterprise difficult to explain but possible to comprehend. This work of Hannah Arendt helps the reader in understanding this human "achievement". Pure and absolute evil doesn't appear suddenly, it has its roots in history. Arendt examines the genesis and the development of anti-Semitism and imperialism in the first two parts of this work. Its characteristics and history are well explained in order to relate them to totalitarianism. Arendt has a talent to relate the pivotal facts in history to ideas (concepts), its generation and development. Her writings increase the reader comprehension of the questions and, when confronted with human faults and failures, inspire the search of solutions. As the result of this well made work, the reader gets invaluable knowledge about totalitarianism and its manifestations in history and about how to overcome it.

Helpful and necessary aid

The Audible narration by Nadia May made Arendt’s complex syntax easier to understand. This is a sophisticated read. It takes or it took my entire attention to comprehend Arendt. I read and re-read and re-read sections and chapters without narration and with it. But May does a fine job.

Insightful, concise, so true even today

Arendt is the definitive author on totalitarianism without equals. Her insights are still as valid today as when she wrote the book, mainly about Stalinism and nazism, but also imperialism, racism and apartheid.
Clear and almost clinical descriptions of the ways leading to totalitarianism and the distinction with dictatorship are logical and inclusive. And she was right, no one is immune.