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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.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

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Rees uses previously unpublished testimony from former Nazis and those who grew up in the Nazi system, and in-depth psychological insights including cutting edge work on obedience, authority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

'World-renowned historian Laurence Rees lays out a past that is also eerily a cautionary tale for our future if we are not careful' Anthony Scaramucci

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

© Laurence Rees 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 20th Century Europe Germany Military Modern Politics & Government War & Crisis Crime Scary Thought-Provoking Holocaust War Socialism

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Critic reviews

I will recommend to everyone . . . superbly researched and structured. I just wish it was coming out before November 5. Reading how Hitler warped and won over the German people, it is impossible not to see and feel constant resonances with so many of the styles, strategies and tactics adopted by Donald Trump (Alastair Campbell)
Rees is uniquely placed to look at this cautionary tale through a fresh lens . . . This is a brilliant piece of work: learned, compelling and frankly terrifying (James Holland)
Compulsive reading . . . rarely have the tormented questions that accumulate around the conduct of the Third Reich been subjected to such a baleful, brilliant, modern and revelatory interrogation
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)
At once frightening and scholarly, urgent and profoundly necessary. Here is history as a flashlight illuminating the darker hinterlands of human nature. In excavating deep beneath the surface of familiar history – exploring rich, unexpected sources - Rees shows us that the reign of the Nazis is not a story of monsters, but much more terribly of recognisable humanity. A book very much for our time, and all times (Sinclair McKay)
Chilling, brilliantly researched . . . only Laurence Rees could have written this book (Keith Lowe)
Rees, an expert on the Nazi period, focuses on recalling its hideous highlights
All stars
Most relevant
I’ve read many, many books about WWII, Nazi Germany & the holocaust & until reading this incredible book I’ve always maintained that (in my humble opinion) Goldhagen’s ‘Hitler’s Willing Executioners’ is the best book on the topic of HOW the holocaust happened. However, having just finished ‘Nazi Minds’ I’ve finally read a book that explains how the holocaust happened, the necessary prerequisites for such an event to happen & the scientific, psycho-pathology of the individuals involved.
Using up-to-date neuroscience & psychology research, Rees manages to explain how supposedly “cultivated Germans” could engage & take part in mass murder. Indeed, of all the books on the Holocaust & the treatment of Jewish people between 1933-1945 ‘Nazi Minds’ is the ONLY one to mention & discuss the amygdala & what has to happen to a person’s brain in order for a person to single out another, treat them cruelly & ultimately murder them.
Of all the explanations given for “how could the Holocaust happen?” and “what has to happen in a society to allow for mass murder?” - Rees (I believe) has come closer than any other in providing the answer(s)
I honestly can’t tell you just how well written, interesting, fascinating & informative this book is.
Given the subject matter, to say that “I really enjoyed this book” somehow doesn’t seem fitting; how can one “enjoy” a book about mass murder? That said, this book did keep me enthralled & once I started it I couldn’t put it down.
Lastly, as for the narrator: his voice was absolutely perfect & the recording of this audiobook is flawless.

A scientific & psychological explanation for the Holocaust

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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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A structured evidence based analysis of dictatorship and racism. The way the author discusses the psychology behind actions was superb. Whether intentional or not the narrative acts as a warning for the future and the implications of acts that could happen at any time.

Intelligent warning that resonates now

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Bought this book as I felt it would be informative with the rise of modern fascism, I was not disappointed. A must read to understand how America and the far right movement MAGA are using near identical techniques that Hitler and the Nazis started to use 100 hundred years ago in 1920s.

The only problem was that the readers speech speed and cadance was slightly distracting. I found that could be solved by reducing the playback to 0.9x.

Informative and fascinatingly worrying when comparing to the modern MAGA movement

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Just get this book and learn from history how dark we can be. Well told deep dive into the nazi mind.

Amazing

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