The Origins of Totalitarianism
About this book
**Hannah Arendt's definitive work on totalitarianism and an essential component of any study of twentieth-century political history** The Origins of Totalitarianism begins with the rise of anti-Semitism in central and western Europe in the 1800s and continues with an examination of European colonial imperialism from 1884 to the outbreak of World War I. Arendt explores the institutions and operations of totalitarian movements, focusing on the two genuine forms of totalitarian government in her time—Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia—which she adroitly recognizes were two sides of the same coin, rather than opposing philosophies of Right and Left. From this vantage point, she discusses the evolution of classes into masses, the role of propaganda in dealing with the nontotalitarian world, the use of terror, and the nature of isolation and loneliness as preconditions for total domination.
Reader Profile
4.3/5 · 15735 readers · 550 pages · ≈ 10 h 11 m · Challenging
How long does it take to read The Origins of Totalitarianism?
About ≈ 10 h 11 m — 550 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is The Origins of Totalitarianism?
550 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is The Origins of Totalitarianism?
It sits on the Essays, Philosophy shelves.
Is The Origins of Totalitarianism in the public domain?
No — it is still under copyright.
Who are the main characters in The Origins of Totalitarianism?
The main characters include Joseph Stalin (1879-1953), Adolf Hitler (1889-1945).
Where does The Origins of Totalitarianism take place?
It is set in Russia, Germany during 20th century.
Who wrote The Origins of Totalitarianism?
Hannah Arendt.