I grew up intellectually in part on Eric, and as a fellow manual laborer including working on the docks, we had much in common including our distrust of collectives. I went to San Francisco in 1993 and did interviews with those still alive who knew Eric in preparation for a biography I have yet to write.
His first critique of collectivism, The True Believer, still affords deep insights into today's totalitarian temptations. Here is a favorite quote I put together from various sources:
“How much easier is self-sacrifice than self-realization. The urge to escape our real self is also an urge to escape the rational and the obvious. The refusal to see ourselves as we are develops a distaste for facts and cold logic. There is no hope for the frustrated in the actual and the possible. Salvation can come to them only from the miraculous, which seeps through a crack in the iron wall of inexorable reality. They asked to be deceived. The substitute for self-confidence is faith; the substitute for self-esteem is pride; and the substitute for individual balance is fusion with others into a compact group. The short-lived self, teetering on the edge of irrevocable extinction, is the only thing that can ever really matter. Thus the renunciation of the self is felt as a liberation and salvation.” Eric Hoffer
And yes, unfortunately, Eric believed in the god of government, yet that does not diminish the best of his work. Like Ayn Rand you can accept the ideas and abide with the personal immoralities.
I became aware of theTrue Believer in 1964, or 65. Early Vietnam, war protests, bra burning, friends of mine going off the rails... Hoffer offered me an insight, beyond just blaming propaganda, and I kept friendsI would have rejected. I have been his fan ever since.
Thank you Ivor for highlighting this book to your readers. I was given a copy of this book in 1981 by an American cousin whilst visiting him in the US. He was a professor at a University and informed me that all undergrads were required to read The True Believer prior to starting their studies. In particular, I recall the character traits and behaviours that Hoffer identifies as those typical of the ‘true believer’ - my cousin, I think being concerned that I might have been displaying some of those and in danger of becoming a religious nut (sorry, fanatic)!
In about 1965 as an early teen, I remember Eric Hoffer being interviewed on some news show, probably 60 Minutes. I was quite impressed with everything he said. He is still on my list as someone to read more. His publisher was complaining his last book submission was too short. He replied that the book had 12 good ideas. Show me another book with that many good ideas, he said.
I grew up intellectually in part on Eric, and as a fellow manual laborer including working on the docks, we had much in common including our distrust of collectives. I went to San Francisco in 1993 and did interviews with those still alive who knew Eric in preparation for a biography I have yet to write.
His first critique of collectivism, The True Believer, still affords deep insights into today's totalitarian temptations. Here is a favorite quote I put together from various sources:
“How much easier is self-sacrifice than self-realization. The urge to escape our real self is also an urge to escape the rational and the obvious. The refusal to see ourselves as we are develops a distaste for facts and cold logic. There is no hope for the frustrated in the actual and the possible. Salvation can come to them only from the miraculous, which seeps through a crack in the iron wall of inexorable reality. They asked to be deceived. The substitute for self-confidence is faith; the substitute for self-esteem is pride; and the substitute for individual balance is fusion with others into a compact group. The short-lived self, teetering on the edge of irrevocable extinction, is the only thing that can ever really matter. Thus the renunciation of the self is felt as a liberation and salvation.” Eric Hoffer
And yes, unfortunately, Eric believed in the god of government, yet that does not diminish the best of his work. Like Ayn Rand you can accept the ideas and abide with the personal immoralities.
I became aware of theTrue Believer in 1964, or 65. Early Vietnam, war protests, bra burning, friends of mine going off the rails... Hoffer offered me an insight, beyond just blaming propaganda, and I kept friendsI would have rejected. I have been his fan ever since.
Seconded. The True Believer is a great book.
My recommendations:
"War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning", by Chris Hedges
"The Gift of Fear", by Gavin de Becker
"The Corruption of Economics", by Fred Harrison and Mason Gaffney
Thank you Ivor for highlighting this book to your readers. I was given a copy of this book in 1981 by an American cousin whilst visiting him in the US. He was a professor at a University and informed me that all undergrads were required to read The True Believer prior to starting their studies. In particular, I recall the character traits and behaviours that Hoffer identifies as those typical of the ‘true believer’ - my cousin, I think being concerned that I might have been displaying some of those and in danger of becoming a religious nut (sorry, fanatic)!
Interesting anecdote! I'm not Ivor though!
I’m so sorry! Please forgive me. I was getting confused with ‘the fat emperor’ - Mr Cummins!
I love your newsletters - thank you for all that you provide for searchers of ‘truth’ based on the best, reliable evidence available at the time.
Not a problem! We write about similar things so easy confusion to make.
In about 1965 as an early teen, I remember Eric Hoffer being interviewed on some news show, probably 60 Minutes. I was quite impressed with everything he said. He is still on my list as someone to read more. His publisher was complaining his last book submission was too short. He replied that the book had 12 good ideas. Show me another book with that many good ideas, he said.
just to get started let us discuss LBJ's very bad great society.
which destroyed the us of a.