the culmination and main event of arendts trilogy. features the most insightful, original analysis and best writing by far

there are ofc a few issues -- arendts analysis of totalitarianism in power, and its distinction from mere fascism, is hampered by her conception of state domination as being distinctly separate from that form of domination conducted via party offices (which from an anarchist perspective is merely a superficial legalistic distinction)

her assertion that extermination camp victims were passive has been met w criticism, but i believe it parallels the argument e.g. in "Mauss" -- there was active resistance in the extermination camps, but such was not the most commonly observed norm for the camps' inhabitants

her concluding argument abt loneliness is simultaneously deep and inspiring, and somehow also shallow and evasive. but stimulating and provocative either way ( )

Reading an e-version of this book, it was quite a while before I realised I was reading volume 3 without having read the first 2.
It was, nevertheless, fascinating material - very grim, very interesting. Will of course read the other volumes as soon as possible. ( )