Hoffer and the True Believer
When president Dwight D. Eisenhower referred to Eric Hoffer's The True Believer in a nationally televised address in the 1950s, the public must have thought that mentioning the works of the "longshoreman philosopher" in a formal address to the nation was an extremely unexpected action. Surprisingly, Hoffer's work would be thoroughly studied and regarded as a superior example of advanced sociological and philosophical thought for years to come. Through intense research and observation, Hoffer delved into many aspects of mass movement. He studied what motivates men form into groups, what provokes those groups to act, and finally how these groups, founded in individuals can control all aspects of life. What motivates a man's need to identify with a cause, despite the fact that risks are always present? Why are masses so effective? Throughout The True Believer, Hoffer responds to these questions with both reflection and insight. He explains historical events while providing the reader with educated conjectures regarding the destination of our current civilization. With World War II concluding, the McCarthy hearings in progress and the Korean War looming, the early 1950's were a very eventf
The true believer who is wholly assimilated into a compact collective body is no longer frustrated. He has found a new identity and a new life. He is one of the chosen, bolstered and protected by invincible powers, and destined to inherit the earth. His is a state of mind the very opposite of that of the frustrated individual (Hoffer, 126). Hoffer wrote The True Believer to challenge people's thoughts and expound on existing bodies of knowledge. He lived a simple life, yet he paid very close attention to his surroundings and drew conclusions based on historical information and his observations of all types of people. Hoffer offers the reader an interesting, yet difficult to believe insight into human nature. The world has changed from a universal society of individuals to a loose conglomeration of definitively separate factions. Ultimately, every human is a "true believer" in something and also a part of a mass movement in some capacity. It is important to remember that: Although Eric Hoffer had humble beginnings and was almost completely self-taught he is a very trustworthy source. Hoffer's extensive use of historical references from a range of time periods and sources establishes his degree of knowledge of mass movements, and shows the reader that he is a reliable resource for information. Even though many of Hoffer's principles seem new and radical, widely accepted Machiavellian undertones shine through. Hoffer only makes statements that can b
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Approximate Word count = 1011
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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