Excellent history of the leader of the third reich

An excellent account of the dark personal history of the most infamous man in history. Gripping and very interesting account of how this truly awful man had the german people in his hand for so long despite the turn in the war, read very well by Michael Jayston. The only negative is the relentless hatred of the man can be hard to listen to sometimes, for he was a truly awful awful man. Fans of history should give this a listen, great stuff.

5 people found this helpful

A convincing case for Hitler's personal influence

I think Laurence Rees has enough material for a cracking essay on the nature and influence of Hitler's charisma, but not quite enough for a whole book. Instead Mr Rees gives a fairly complete account of the rise and fall of Hitler, with special attention to the influence of Hitler's personality and speeches. Rees makes quite a convincing case for the critical importance of Hitler - not just as a dictator operating via terror, but a persuasive politician and leader. Hitler's charisma was a function of the time and situation, and how well he read the mind of the mann on the Munich omnibus. It didn't work on everyone even then, and it could only work with an audience primed to respond. He fed (and fed on) a feeling of indignation and being disrespected, but actually promised very little (politically speaking). He created a feeling of unity among German peoples by conjuring up an enemy, few enough in number not to worry the majority. He was consistent and genuine in his obsessions. He was canny and cunning in bringing people along with him, step by step.

The narration is superb. Somehow Michael Jayston manages to impersonate the speakers without resorting to silly accents. William Shirer has an American lilt without it being an impersonation, and Hitler's quotes are not done with an German accent (which would be unforgivable in my book) but they come over with a certain intonation that seems Germanic none-the-less. Just how a non-fiction book should be read. The stopping places co-incide with the chapters, which is again how it should be (but often isn't).

3 people found this helpful

Fascinating

A fascinating account of how Hitler lead a nation into a World War. Really spiked my interest in an area I have not previously read much about.

3 people found this helpful

review

What made the experience of listening to The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler the most enjoyable?

Enjoyable seems an odd description of my experience of this book. I hesitated before purchasing it as I was unsure if the subject matter would be too uncomfortable. However, I found the book to be compulsive listening. My only interest in this period of history came from secondary school, but I found this book has reignited an interest in the Second World War and the lessons we can take from it.

What did you like best about this story?

The pace of the book and the balanced approach gave an insight into the characters and what drove them to succeed for a time with such a terrifying regime

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I enjoyed the whole book, and did not find any aspects of it boring, I wish history could be taught like this in schools

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How one person given the right environment and supported by like minded individuals can cause such suffering to so many

1 person found this helpful

Why did they follow him?

This is a wonderful audiobook, which attempts to explain what made people follow what to us is a complete mad man, it is easy to listen too, wonderfully read and has taught me a lot about Nazi Germany and some of the reasons why so many followed Hitler to the very end in many ways blindly.

3 people found this helpful

Cometh the hour, cometh the man...

Authoritatively and excellently narrated by Michael Jayston the book shines a light in assisting us toward an understanding of the potent mixture of madness, chaos, opportunism and delusion that supported the rise to power, of this extraordinary or perhaps very ordinary little man and why he became the embodiment of a national psyche to the detriment of all.

A horrifying, tragic, cautionary and haunting tale concisely and clearly put across.

"What would the Fuhrer want us to do?"

My best selection on audible to date.

2 people found this helpful

Bad men do bad deeds

Great production and superb presentation. So much to think about and total disbelief in the whole inhumanity of those who followed hitler

Truly excellent insight

Would you consider the audio edition of The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler to be better than the print version?

Yes. Don't have much free time to read a print version

What other book might you compare The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler to, and why?

Nazi and the final solution is the closest book similar

Which scene did you most enjoy?

From start to finish this was excellent

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

Could have been longer as I didn't want it to end as it was fascinating

fascinating insight

What did you like best about this story?

A fascinating insight into how someone with such evil intentions could rise to power and mobilise so many people to follow his will. And gave me an insight into the forces that shaped the environment that allowed Hitler to rise and fall.

What about Michael Jayston’s performance did you like?

Brilliantly read- tone and pace

Excellent

What did you like most about The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler?

After a run of really disappointing books I took a chance on this. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator was very good and very natural without being over powering. The pace of the book was good and although I have read many books on the subject I found this perspective to be very interesting.