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  • The Origins of Totalitarianism

  • By: Hannah Arendt
  • Narrated by: Nadia May
  • Length: 23 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (194 ratings)
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The Origins of Totalitarianism

By: Hannah Arendt
Narrated by: Nadia May
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Summary

A recognized classic and definitive account of its subject, The Origins of Totalitarianism traces the emergence of modern racism as an "ideological weapon for imperialism," begining with the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe in the nineteenth century and continuing through the New Imperialism period from 1884 to World War I.

In her analysis of the institutions and operations of totalitarian movements, Arendt focuses on the two genuine forms of totalitarian government in the twentieth century: Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, which she adroitly recognizes as two sides of the same coin rather than opposing philosophies of the Right and Left. From this vantage point, she discusses the transformation of classes into masses, the role of propaganda, and the use of terror essential to this form of government. In her brilliant concluding chapter, she discusses the nature of individual isolation and loneliness as preconditions for total domination.

©1966 Hannah Arendt (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Origins of Totalitarianism

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must read, for people interested in history.

Would you listen to The Origins of Totalitarianism again? Why?

Hanna Arendt gives us great insight into European history, espesially the period 1800-1950. Why the first generation of educated young Jews, leaves the profession of their parents, and become revolutionaries, and end up in gulags and concentration camps. She also lists the differences and similarities, between Nazi-Germany and Soviet-Union.

What other book might you compare The Origins of Totalitarianism to, and why?

"The Road to Serfdom" by F.A. Hayek
"In the Shadow of Satan" by Janusz Subczyski

What does Nadia May bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Clear and easy listening.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

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41 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Style of writing doesn’t suit an audio book

Written just after the second world war, with some later amendments, the book inevitably only considers events up to that point in time. What surprised me was that it was about 15 hours of listening before the totalitarian regimes are discussed in any detail. The first 7 hours or so lays out the history of anti-semitism. Interesting and I’m sure revealing at the time of writing, but is now a familiar topic that has been covered by many authors. As a German Jew I can well understand why the author wanted to expose the injustices but I don’t see the close link between anti-semitism and totalitarianism.

The next 7 hours are about imperialism in great detail. Again, interesting but a well-trodden path by subsequent authors. The final third of the book does deal directly with Nazism and Soviet-style regimes the dominant totalitarian systems of the period. Again now familiar topics with many books written. The final chapter of the book is a strange addition of philosophical musings about aspects of loneliness and sat awkwardly as the finale to the book.

There is interesting material in the book but the style of writing is overly wordy and doesn’t suit being narrated. I skipped a few chapters here and there, such as a lengthly section on the Dreyfus affaire as I’ve read a book about that scandal.

I imagine in the early 1950s this was a ground-breaking book, but its verbose style of writing now seems dated and the material less illuminating. Of historical interest but inevitably omits the more recent regimes with one party dominating and ruling by force.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Ed
  • 16-05-17

Hard but interesting

Very thorough treatment of the subject that requires attention & concentration but well worth it

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • LC
  • 05-06-20

Endless waffle with no substance

I tried really hard to get something from this book, but I found it to be pretty much pure waffle. And endless stream of opinions presented as fact, without anything really being explained or joined together. Key terms and concepts were never defined or explained. For most of it I found it impossible to understand what point was really being made or what the relevance is. I was unable to detect any real substance throughout.

The whole books therefore seems completely pointless, and I am struggling to work out what purpose there author may have had in writing it, except maybe to prove how clever she is to whoever might actually be able to make any sense out of what she has written. However, I guess that any such person, if they exist, must already know what ever it is that the book is saying, so they are unlikely to learn anything either.

The narration, although clear, I found to be a bit distracting due to quite extreme intonation and emphasis - a kind of interpretation of what mood or value the author may have been expressing. I would have preferred it to more neutral and simply read it, so I can decide on meaning myself.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent narrative of totalitarian regimes

This was not an easy read, good theories but sometimes feels a bit over analysing. Nonetheless good and interesting read

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Shallow

The author fails to understand and consequently - explain - the origins of totalitarian culture in soviet russia, as she's inspecting the events without much knowledge of the region's prior history.
In chapter 5 she says ".. the situation in russia is more confused..", but it is herself who is confused about the reasons and the outcomes of the events mentioned.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow, what a book

This book is an eye-opener and a life changer. Read fairly well. Would like chapter headings! Why are these always missing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars

Detailed yet lucid.

Hannah Arendt's dissection of Totalitarianism (in all of its aspects) is structured as an essay but is accessible to any audience. Her reasoning is clear and its structure becomes more and more evident which each ensuing passage. Nadia May's enunciation is equally clear and engaging.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Problem with the order. Starts at chapter 4

Starts at chapter 4 and loops back. Basic technical issue which should be fixed. Great content however. Very well read.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

history through a narrow slit

I was looking forward to listening to this book but found it disappointing. it seemed to me like viewing history through a narrow slit even though it was explained that anti semitism fur example need not just apply to anti semitism and can mean any similarly targetted victims. I'm also unsure about the view that we have never seen such tyranny as we have in contemporary and near contemporary times. I would concede that technology has made tyranny more effective but not that our recent times are necessarily any more tyrannical by intent or purpose.

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1 person found this helpful