Hitler's Table Talk

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary book
Review: If you are reading these reviews, then you probably have at least some curiosity about history and politics. Let us therefore dismiss those among the reviewers who need to get their pro/anti-Hitler angst off their chests.

What upsets me about this book is to see just how much propaganda swirls through our own school systems. What? A drooling, raving, lunatic overpowers a whole nation with a small gang of thugs? A fool with an IQ of 16 tricks the whole German population? Any intelligent person will ask: "Is this possible?"

Quote: "The other parties had practically no paying members. We, with our two and a half million members, banked two and a half million marks every month."

Hitler employed rough methods in his rise to power, but when he was alone in prison, he persuaded most of the prison staff to his cause. He developed massive grass-roots support. How? Why?

Time for a mini-education. The term 'right wing' is often applied to libertarians. This always amazes me. Hitler was 'right wing' - he believed in AUTARKY (and autarchy) - the OPPOSITE of free-market liberalism. He sought to make 'Greater Germany' self-sufficient - to terminate imports, to break away from the international trading system, to get rid of the 'thieving capitalists', to get more agricultural land and coal fields and iron ore mines and rivers (hydro power) and oil wells and forests. Hitler wanted to construct 'Island Europe' - a European Union - to challenge the British Empire and the United States of America (which he considered a corrupt and morally degenerate trade-bloc). He wanted Europe (an Anglo/Nordic/Germanic Europe) to be the dominant power in the world.

His party was called the National Socialist German Workers Party. He was a nationalist and a socialist and a big supporter of the working man. If he were alive today, he would have LED the 'Battle of Seattle'. His motto was 'fair-trade' not free trade and 'our people first'. He hated international capitalism. Get it?

This was not such a strange idea during the Great Depression (and concomitant international trade war). The Japanese wanted a similar autarky (the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere); the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also constructed an autarky. There were many in America who thought (and still think) that America would be much better off without international trade links. Remember the Japan-bashing of the 1980s? Well, in 1933 the whole Liberal International tradition was in bad shape. Millions were unemployed. Autarky and socialism looked like a great solution.

Even so, not just anybody can organize a political party. Not just anybody can marshal the political currents to his advantage. How many 'men of the hour' blew it when their time came? No, Hitler was no imbecile. He was no ragamuffin or fifth-rate politician. He was smart and popular and he worked very, very hard to accomplish his goals.

This book, then, contains his thoughts and reflections. He speaks candidly on almost every subject under the sun. What is particularly fascinating is his grasp of certain subjects but complete misunderstanding of others. He obviously never studied economics!

Whoever reads this book will instantly recognize how many of Hitler's ideas are alive and well in Europe and America today. He was a fervent anti-smoking, vegetarian, healthy lifestyle, clean-living, moralistic, environmentalist kind of guy. Much of the film "Triumph of the Will" is about men washing and doing exercises in the open air. Hitler passionately sought to construct a 'better society' - a fit and healthy society with high moral values. He was deeply concerned about the nations' health - physical, moral, economic, and spiritual. He was out to 'do good' for the people - and save them from 'foreigners', 'international capitalists', and 'terrorists' (within and without).

No, he was no lunatic. In fact, he was charming and sincere. He cleverly manipulated people's tribal instincts and their desire for health, safety, and security. To many at the time, he was a hero.

My fear is that many readers of this book may still consider him a hero. To counter this problem, Amazon should offer this book with "Pop Internationalism" by Paul Krugman. Read both. Don't go through life without some understanding of economics in addition to politics.

Remember, it's not the sloppy, unshaven guy with sunglasses who cons you out of your life savings. It's the 'really nice man' who was trying to help.

Rating:
Summary: The most insightful Hitler book
Review: Mein Kampf, and to a lesser extent Hitler's Second Book, were declared obsolete and terrible by the author himself (see Hans Frank's memoirs, or Speer's, among others). For insight into Hitler's personality and thoughts, this is by very, very far the best book available. The conversations were surreptitiously recorded by a notetaker during Hitler's conversation sessions with various visitors and his staff. Some entries are verbatim, while others are summaries of Hitler's comments. Obviously Hitler said many things to many people, which means one has to be extra careful in determining what he really believed. His thinking also changed over time, and, like most people, was not always consistent, which makes the task of understanding his thought all-the-more difficult. But this book is by far the most useful source for any understanding of Hitler. The comments were in private conversations, (Hitler usually did not know Bormann was having them recorded), and they are often unguarded ruminations. Of course to those without a real interest in history, the book might seem long and tedious. Hitler had a tendency to say brilliant things one minute, and then trail off into rantings about nonsense the next, so the book is not for everyone. Anyone interested in Hitler for any reason should read this book, and anyone who hasn't read it can't have much of value to say.

Rating:
Summary: hmmm...
Review: Ok...this book reads like the frisky blatherings of an intellectually stunted high-school civics teacher on amphetamines...a lotta amphetamines. As for stars, I don't quite think they're applicable in this instance. For example, a terrible highway accident most surely captures our attention. But I wouldn't give it any "stars" for entertainment value. I suppose "Hitler's Table Talk" is useful to students of the Nazis, however, in that after one reads the book they no longer think such thoughts as, "Now what kind of a person would do such a mad thing as that?!"

Oh WOW Hitler's gears weren't meshing!

Rating:
Summary: Say Ja to this! Of great historical and gossip interest!
Review: SAY JA! TO THIS BUCH! This is Der Guy who Invented the Third Reich, Live, Unplugged and Uninhibited! Adolf never thought any of this would be published in unexpurgated form! Millions of Germans said Ja! to Adolf Hitler in elections, now, you too can have a glimpse into the unguarded, true mind of the Guy Who Caused WWII as Der Fuehrer plays genial host at his dinner and teatime soirees, regaling his guests with his views on Everything from strategic plannings, why air-cooled engine is preferable to water-cooled engines for cars , to virtues of vegetarianism, to SS breeding schemes, to his vision of a new Racial-based Europe, to detail plans of his continent-spanning ultra-wide track rail system, of how the 6-lanes continent-spanning autobahnen will become the arteries of the New Greater Germanic Reich reaching deep into the Russian heartland, of his plan for Moscow once he overruns it, of how he tried to turn his dog into a vegetarian, of his idee fix of how vegetarianism is linked with the greatness of the Roman Empire, of his taste in women (and men!), and of course, his casual, chilling allusion to how he intends to deal with the Jewish Question. And much much more! An incredibly ecletic mix of topics and trivia, some funny, some chilling, some pathetic, all deeply engrossing! THIS is the Whitehouse Tapes equivalent of Bechtesgaden and the Reichkanzlei! You may hate the guy, you may think he is evil, you may think he is a Corporal playing General and losing it all for the Third Reich, but you cannot deny he is interesting! BUY THIS BUCH NOW!! You won't regret. The world doesn't need the fake Hitler's Diary, this is far far BETTER !!

Rating:
Summary: Inside the mind of a destructive genius.
Review: This book is amazing. It lets one venture inside the mind of the most destructive and iconoclastic figure of the twentieth century. It is amazing how much I found myself agreeing with Hitler. His views on the sad state of Christianity displayed his amazing foresight, and his outright hatred for the Jews was disgusting. The more I read, the more I realized Hitler's genius. However, it was a genius that lacked humanity and compassion. His lack of emotion was conspicous throughout the entire book. It is a shame that this book is out of print, because it sheds so much light on Hitler's thinking: he was ingenious, systematically logical, forthright, and completely devoid of anything reomotely resembling humanity. Highly recommended.

I also recommend the following books that shed light on Hitler's mind and thought patterns: Mein Kampf amd Hitler's Second Book: The Unpublished Sequel to Mein Kampf.
The following are great works on Nazi, Germany: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Hitler's Henchmen, and Hitler: Diagnosis of A Destructive Prophet.
I also recommend that one reads Eugenics: Amercia's Campaign to Create a Master Race to see where Hitler got many of his ideas from.

Rating:
Summary: What's BORING?!
Review: This book is one of the many hundreds of books on Hitler in normal bookstores. This book is typical of the obsession, unhealthy, with Hitler. What's next, a book on Hitler's bathroom reading material, a book on Hitler and his garden? Do we really need to know what Hitler rambled over lunch while chewing on some Schnitzel? This book records in mind numbing detail the boredom and stupidity and nuttiness of Hitler while he relaxed with his `boys' and driveled on about the destruction of Europe while musing about how great the German sausage tasted.

This book is really just not worth it unless your writing the next in depth biography of Hitler and even then the detail is too much. This book would be fine as a reference stowed away in the catacombs of German studies 1939-45 but its useless as a book to read and find interest in.

Rating:
Summary: Unnecesary
Review: This book is one of the many hundreds of books on Hitler in normal bookstores. This book is typical of the obsession, unhealthy, with Hitler. What's next, a book on Hitler's bathroom reading material, a book on Hitler and his garden? Do we really need to know what Hitler rambled over lunch while chewing on some Schnitzel? This book records in mind numbing detail the boredom and stupidity and nuttiness of Hitler while he relaxed with his 'boys' and driveled on about the destruction of Europe while musing about how great the German sausage tasted.

This book is really just not worth it unless your writing the next in depth biography of Hitler and even then the detail is too much. This book would be fine as a reference stowed away in the catacombs of German studies 1939-45 but its useless as a book to read and find interest in.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down..
Review: This is a rather large book, but I devoured it literally overnight. The intelligence Hitler displays in his conversations is almost overwhelming. Even his harshest critics cannot deny what a brilliant mind he had. A self-educated man, he possessed knowledge of a broad range of subjects, sometimes knowing even more about certain things than men who were educated at universities. Before I read this book, I knew he was smart. After having completed the book, I was convinced of his genius.
There are 3 books which I personally consider "essential reading" to students of Hitler's life. The first is an out-of-print masterpiece written by August Kubizek (and the fact that it is out of print in the USA is really an indicator of the general public's blissful ignorance when it comes to matters of the TRUTH about Hitler's early life). The second is "Mein Kampf". Last but not least is "Hitler's Table Talk". I also strongly suggest to all bilingual readers out there to read this book (entitled "Hitlers Tischgespraeche") in the original German, as Henry Picker offers some really insightful remarks on the Fuehrer as a person. Hitler's Table Talk promises not to disappoint!

Rating:
Summary: He was "strange"... and that's being kind
Review: Though they weren't necessarily always rational, he definitely had ideas. What is extremely shocking is the contradiction between what we are taught about Hitler in our schools and what, in fact, the reality was. Truth be told, he was not the raving, ranting, foaming at the mouth lunatic we all believed him to be. He is a shockingly calm, cool and coherent thinker. In this book, he espouses views on everything from dogs, his reverence for Il Duce and all things Italian, world domination, british arrogance (one of the things we agree on), his plans for the domination of Russia, his dislike for Stalin, and his contempt for classism. In some of of his views, I find hypocrisy. He had contempt for classism yet, he believes the Germans should be elevated above and served by everyone else. He hated Josef Stalin with a passion and felt that the Russians were useless, yet, he had a begrudging respect for Stalin, at the same time. It's when he starts taking about the "inhumanity" and "lack of compassion" in others that the laughs begin. Not once did he mention the nazi's actions as the war progressed. He was obsessed with WWI and the fact that he didn't want to be like Kaiser Wilhelm, whom he considered to be a weak leader. WWI shaped Hitler and his thought patterns. Let me say, I do not agree with what this man did but, he is never portrayed accurately. If you want to get a glimpse into the real Adolf Hitler, this book is a great place to start. It is a VERY tough read, but well worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: What an outsatnding piece of history we have before us. Hitler speaks his mind in an open conversational forum, during dinners from 1941-1944, the peaks of his power. His aides had the foresight to take notes during his conversations and now they are printed for the public to read. Everyhting is revealed. His mind is totally revealed. He can be a insightful man, a genius, a man with a crystal ball, a original thinker, a leader.....yet he exposes himself as a madman, making sweeping generalizations, ridiculous statements, broad dumb judgements and completely insane theories page after page. He will strike you as a lunatic,a ranting politician, yet has a side thats artistic, human, caring. No history library collection should be without this masterpiece.It is easy to read, very entertaining, fascinating, and full of surprises on every page...for example, Hitler praises Jews several times in his talks, discusses eliminating taxes for the poor and farmers, and predicts the air-cooled engine will be the greatest selling car ever (It is! the VW bug became the #1 selling car in history in the late 60's and still is). Endlessly intersting, fast paced. A great read indeed!!