The True Believer Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements

"The True Believer glitters with icy wit. . . bristles with deadly parallels. . . . It is a harsh and potent mental tonic." - New York Times

"Its theme is political fanaticism, with which it deals severely and brilliantly. . . . It owes its distinction to the fact that Hoffer is a born generalizer, with a mind that inclines to the wry epigram and icy aphorism as naturally as did that of the Duc de La Rochefoucauld." - The New Yorker

"Hoffer's 1951 classic reads as even more incisive today. . . . It offers a timeless psychological study of the lure of the fanatic. Those hoping for insights into the success of Donald Trump's 'America First' politics could do worse than start here." - Edward Luce, The Week ("Edward Luce's 6 favorite books that predicted the future of politics")

"If you want concise insight into what drives the mind of the fanatic and the dynamics of a mass movement at their most primal level, may I suggest an evening with Eric Hoffer." - Wall Street Journal

"In 1951, a book by an unschooled dockworker predicted the forces that would give rise to radical politics on the left, populism on the right-and a president like Donald Trump." - The Free Press

"An enigmatic mid-century thinker helps explain Trump's true believers." - Commonweal Magazine