Questions About Mein Kampf: Adolf Hitler's Totalitarian Vision—Essential Lessons in Vigilance, Responsibility, and Opposing Evil

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Mein Kampf, please sign up.

Answered Questions (21)

Do I dare read this? I know all of his ideals were twisted, but I do know he was a powerful speaker. I have listened to him speak and although I didn't understand the words, I could feel that he spoke with power. I want to know what his ideals are even though the 'ideals' are wrong. Do I dare?

Mark Hebwood I would not start with that book. The best (in my opinion) road to an understanding of Hitler is Joachim Fest's Hitler biography. I think Fest is an o…moreI would not start with that book. The best (in my opinion) road to an understanding of Hitler is Joachim Fest's Hitler biography. I think Fest is an outstanding scholar of NS Germany and what makes his biography special is that he managed to write it without sentimental bias or moralising subtext - just like a professional historian should, of course, but on the subject of NS Germany, many fail to do so.

If after that, you feel you need further insight, by all means pick it up - but be aware this is a primary text (a historical source), so you'll be left alone with it, and have to provide your own context. To be perfectly honest, I do not think you will be able to do so if you are not an academic historian, so I'd probably not bother.

It gets worse because you really should read this in the original - any translation does not carry Hitler's linguistic style (yes you get the long, convoluted, rambling syntax, but you lose his emotional overtones). Finally, if you are able to read this thing in German, you will then discover to your frustration that there are no good scholarly editions around. But there will be next year - the high-calibre German Institut fuer Zeitgeschichte is at least scheduled to release its massive modern edition next year - the original text (800 pages) will be embedded in 1200 pages worth of commentary... Happy reading! (less)

flag

How does Mein Kampf differ from the Communist Manifesto? Is it important that I read both? And if yes, why is it important. Thank you.

Ron Mein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto? That's like asking how Twain's huckleberry finn and Smith's wealth of nations differ and if you should read bo…moreMein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto? That's like asking how Twain's huckleberry finn and Smith's wealth of nations differ and if you should read both... Mein kampf and the Communist Manifesto are not related to each other in that way. Hitler was Fascist and it would help to understand Communism to understand his animosity toward it. Whether or not it is important to read both... that depends on you. The Communist Manifesto has impacted, and continues to influence, billions of peoples lives and provides a counterpoint to mindlessly backing a capitalist economic system. Mein Kempf, while interesting, very truly is the obvious work of a insane man.

TLDR: Mein Kampf = interesting; Communist Menifesto = thought provoking, enlightening and understanding of different cultures(less)

flag

The day hitler took cocaine and lost his brain?

2 likes · like
5 years ago

Furrydestroyer 420

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

flag

كتاب يضع حياة هتلر منذ الصغر وكيف وصل الى ماوصل اليه

1 like · like
11 years ago

Ron Mein Kampf helps "understand" why a cray person made the decisions he did, but does not really explain his life from childhood. Hitler is dishonest co…moreMein Kampf helps "understand" why a cray person made the decisions he did, but does not really explain his life from childhood. Hitler is dishonest concernning himself and is insane. The "logic" he uses throughout to explain himself helps the reader understand that his is not a sane mind.(less)

flag

A bilingual friend read it in German and said that he had twisted ideas but was a good writer. Are they in English?