Hitler

1495 Hitler, by Joachim C. Fest translated from the German by Richard and Clara Winston (read 21 Aug 1978) This biography was published in Germany in 1973. Periodically one must review the vividness of the horror that was Hitler. This book was particularly good on the period from 1919 to 1933. It seems to me that I really had not had a clear understanding of that period in Hitler's life before reading this book. I can see how Germans just did not believe all he said, and looked on him as an easy way out. This has been a really absorbing book, unqualifiedly good

A great and insightful biography. We take history for granted, after all it did happen, but this story as fiction would be unbelievable. I had a peculiar surreal dream-like feeling during the part of the biography covering the late 20s - you know, it's time to wake up now! I haven't read a lot of Hitler biographies, but this one certainly seems to give a coherent and consistent psychological picture. It makes you wish you could have been present (and had a revolver), and it makes me think again about the US drone strikes. I was occasionally irritated by comments about Hitler's support in England or about how Hitler and the party weren't all that antisemitic in the early 30s (even though the author states that the SA would pass show more around collection cans labeled "For the destruction of the Jews"), but looking at the whole work, perhaps I am just overly sensitive.
The Kindle version has many typographical mistakes that look like OCR-type errors. Most disturbing, Alfred Jodl is always called Jodi. show less

Heard this was one of the definitive general biographies. Reader gets a sense of the active politician dodging and weaving and often nearly losing in the lead up to the Beer Hall Putsch. History is contingent. What if. Here is a maker of history one wishes had not "succeeded" -- history is far from trends and forces, F. Braudel, the Annales school, and tectonic scale history notwithstanding.

A door-stop of a book - almost 1200 pages - and oddly, a book with some gaps.
Fest's approach is basically that of a moralist, and he does not really answer the question of of why Hitler became so normously popular as he despises socialogical analysis - he is always reliable for a pop at the Marxists.
He is at his best in describing the manoueverings by the traditional Right that brought Hitler to office, and their blindness as to what they were dealing with.
He is not at all bad at the psychology of Hitler's own character.
Surprisigly little about the Holocaust.
Not so interested in the war either; seems to gallop through the last six years of the Fuhrer's life in, by his standards, a rather short space.
A good, sometimes rivetting, read show more though - if you have the time. show less

Dit lijvige biografie beschrijft het leven van Adolf Hitler. Pas de laatste 150 pagina's gaan over de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Een must-read voor diegene die geïnteresseerd willen weten hoe Hitler aan de macht kwam en de lessen die we daar uit kunnen leren.
Dit is geen makkelijk te lezen boek.

Excellent book -- very detailed look at the rise of Hilter. I have always wondered how a figure like Hilter could come to power in a modernized country such as Germany. This book gives a good look at how this takes place. Probably not the best book for WWII; however great look at Hilter's life and rise to power.

The best Pre-Kershaw Hitler biography in English.