The True Believer: Thought on the Nature of Mass Movements - Hoffer, Eric

Cover by Tomi Ungerer; As New condition; Originally published in 1951, it depicts a variety of arguments in terms of applied world history and social psychology to explain why mass movements arise to challenge the status quo. Hoffer discusses the sense of individual identity and the holding to particular ideals that can lead to extremism and fanaticism among both leaders and followers. Hoffer initially attempts to explain the motives of various types of personalities that give rise to mass movements and why certain efforts succeed while others fail. He articulates a cyclical view of history and explores why and how said movements start, progress, and end. Whether radical or reactionary, such movements tend to attract the same types of dissatisifed people and use very similar tactics and rhetorical tools. As examples, he often refers to purported political enemies such as communism and fascism, and to the religions, such Christianity in its various denominations as well as Islam. 
As New
Soft cover
Time-Life
1980
Alexandria, VA