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The Nazi Mind

Twelve Warnings From History

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The Nazi Mind

By: Laurence Rees
Narrated by: John Sackville
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A groundbreaking narrative history of the motivations and mentalities behind the Nazis and their supporters, from the bestselling author of THE HOLOCAUST and President Zelenskyy’s most-read book, HITLER AND STALIN
.

How could the Nazis have committed the crimes they did? Why did commandants of concentration and death camps willingly – often enthusiastically – oversee mass murder? How could ordinary Germans have tolerated the removal of the Jews? In THE NAZI MIND, bestselling author Laurence Rees combines history and the latest research in psychology to help answer some of the most perplexing questions surrounding the Second World War and the Holocaust.

Ultimately, he delves into the darkness to explain how and why these people were capable of committing the worst crime in the history of the world. Rees traces the rise and eventual fall of the Nazis through the lens of ‘twelve warnings’ – from talk about ‘them’ and ‘us’ to the escalation of racism – whilst also highlighting signs to look out for in present day leaders.

Rees uses previously unpublished testimony from former Nazis and those who grew up in the Nazi system, and in-depth psychological insights including cutting edge work on obedience, authority and the brain. THE NAZI MIND is a revelatory new way of understanding how so many people committed the most appalling crime of the 20th century.

'I will recommend to everyone' Alastair Campbell

'This disturbing book is timely, relevant and important'
Sir Ian Kershaw

©2025 Laurence Rees (P)2025 Penguin Audio
20th Century Europe Germany Military Modern Politics & Government Holocaust War Prisoners of War

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Critic reviews

'A fascinating study offering new insights into the psychological forces driving the Nazis - essential reading for anyone seeking answers to the haunting question of how and why Germany became consumed by Hitler’s evil.' (Julia Boyd)

'The Nazi Mind recounts one by one the chief ways in which Nazism attracted and held its many millions of followers. It is not just an unsparing, detailed reminder of the horrors of the past, based on decades of exhaustive research, but, unmistakably, a challenge to us to check our own no-longer-so-complacent twenty-first century consciences and act accordingly.' (Frederick Taylor)

'A chilling analysis of a mind perverted by relativism, delusion, cravenness, amorality and downright evil' (Allan Mallinson)

Most relevant  
A very important book by a very distinguished historian. The author employs understandings derived from psychological scholarship without getting bogged down in it.

Beautifully Read and Crisply Written

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It is horrifying how quickly an apparently civilised European country turned into a vile murderous dictatorship. It’s not hard to see parallels with events today, in several countries, but most alarmingly in an anglophone superpower.

Warnings from the past

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Chillingly relevant to today. He is an exceptional historian. The use of behavioural psychology is fascinating and makes the comparisons with today more compelling.

Quite remarkable.

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Loved the care and thoughtfulness shown
The research was superb
I was totally hooked from page one

The level of research

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A very detailed view on how people can become unstoppable in their plans for domination

Brilliant

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This history of human nature is disturbing and horrifying but if we don’t know it and learn from it, then we are doomed to repeat it.
This is a very well researched resource and should be considered essential for anyone planning to be employed in media, teaching or other positions of influence.

Horrific but essential

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I enjoyed this book although I think it could have delved into the psychology side a little more. I appreciate that this would be difficult as the war was 80 years ago.

Interesting and good

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Great read and well presented and very informative to the reader or listener. Would recommend it to anyone interested in history.

Great book and well written and very informative.

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There are many factors to a successful (in the beginning) dictatorship. The worrying aspect through listening to this, is that, you don't need many to get started. Throw in one or two sycophants, find something or someone to blame and bobs you uncle Stalin or fuhrer or duce. To a certain degree every human being (certainly politicians) has a bit of it in them. Tell me you don't have an inkling to hate, it's in all of us but luckily, like news, we move on to something else in a few days. When we allow it, and someone, to control us, things turn out rather differently. Extremely brought to life by this book. I think we, as human beings, just can't help ourselves!

All you need is not love but an enemy

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A great book that really digs into the past and uses nazism as a lense to illustrate what is already happening around us today.

A familiar warning from the past made new.

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