Eric Hoffer

The True Believer

1. IDEA 1

   Mass movements share a pattern

   Hoffer, a self-taught dock worker and philosopher, argues that mass movements, whether religious, nationalist or revolutionary, share common features. He focuses on the psychology of the people who join them.

2. IDEA 2

   Frustration drives people to join

   Hoffer argues that movements attract people who feel frustrated with their lives and want to escape themselves. Joining offers a new identity and purpose. A person who is content with their own life, he says, is less likely to be drawn in.

3. IDEA 3

   Movements can replace one another

   Hoffer suggests that mass movements are often interchangeable. A person drawn to one movement might just as easily have joined a very different one. In his view, the shared pull of the group matters more than its particular creed.

All 8 ideas from The True Believer →