wwatts1734's review against another edition
3.0
When we read a history of the Second World War, we normally expect the author to be a general, a statesman, an economist or someone else who holds a place near the reins of power. But this book, which is a must-read for those interested in Nazi Germany, was written by a philosophy professor. Dietrich Von Hildebrandt was a Phenomenologist philosopher, a student of Edmund Husserl. He was the son of a German Protestant sculptor who spent his childhood in Florence, Italy, but in adulthood he studied Philosophy under a Jewish Professor and ultimately converted to Catholicism. All of this background comes to play in Von Hildebrandt's thinking. He is a militantly devout Catholic and a man who hated anti-Semitism, not simply because he was Catholic, but because he had some deep friendships with Jews throughout his life.
As we read Hildebrandt's diary entries and his journal articles, we come to see why it is not an exaggeration for the Nazi ambassador in Vienna to claim that Hildebrandt is the number one enemy of National Socialism in Austria. While many others can be bought into depraved ideologies through the process of investing them in the system and immersing them in it's perverse ideas, the philosopher is a man whose thoughts are anchored on higher principles. This is why tyrannical regimes everywhere denigrate philosophers, claiming that they are worthless thinkers and useless parasites of the state. Far from being useless, philosophy is the core of rational thought, and those who have mastered it are the least likely to be suckered into the propaganda of a totalitarian regime. In the 1930s Hildebrandt went far beyond simply refusing to buy into National Socialism. He openly opposed them, to the point that as early as 1923 the Nazis targeted Hildebrand as an enemy. Hildebrand went on to leave Germany for Vienna when Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and when the Nazis took power in Austria Hildebrand barely escaped. In the pages of this book we read about his relationships with leading thinkers in Europe during this time, both those who supported the Nazis and those who opposed them. One of the things that fascinates the reader in this book is the slow turning of opinions as the revolting doctrines of the Nazis became more and more acceptable as the Nazi hold on power firmed up. In this era of Donald Trump and his takeover of the Republican Party we see this same melting of attitudes, the lack of tenacity that allows the thinker to compromise with evil in order to get along with the new order.
So why did I rate this book with only three stars? If this book were entirely the thoughts of Hildebrand I would have given it a five. Hildebrand's writings, even in translation, are incredible. But Crosby's background writing and notes are very minimal and poor. If I could separate the two, I would give Hildebrand's contribution to this book 5 stars, and Crosby's contribution 2 stars. Most readers in the English language are unfamiliar with Hildebrand and the crowd that he was a part of in 1930s Germany, and simply stating that so-and-so was a German bishop or an Austrian politician is not helpful. Also, it amazes me that more of Hildebrand's articles and books are not available in English. I wonder why that is?
Overall I would recommend this book for students of the history of Nazi Germany as well as fans of 20th Century philosophy.
As we read Hildebrandt's diary entries and his journal articles, we come to see why it is not an exaggeration for the Nazi ambassador in Vienna to claim that Hildebrandt is the number one enemy of National Socialism in Austria. While many others can be bought into depraved ideologies through the process of investing them in the system and immersing them in it's perverse ideas, the philosopher is a man whose thoughts are anchored on higher principles. This is why tyrannical regimes everywhere denigrate philosophers, claiming that they are worthless thinkers and useless parasites of the state. Far from being useless, philosophy is the core of rational thought, and those who have mastered it are the least likely to be suckered into the propaganda of a totalitarian regime. In the 1930s Hildebrandt went far beyond simply refusing to buy into National Socialism. He openly opposed them, to the point that as early as 1923 the Nazis targeted Hildebrand as an enemy. Hildebrand went on to leave Germany for Vienna when Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and when the Nazis took power in Austria Hildebrand barely escaped. In the pages of this book we read about his relationships with leading thinkers in Europe during this time, both those who supported the Nazis and those who opposed them. One of the things that fascinates the reader in this book is the slow turning of opinions as the revolting doctrines of the Nazis became more and more acceptable as the Nazi hold on power firmed up. In this era of Donald Trump and his takeover of the Republican Party we see this same melting of attitudes, the lack of tenacity that allows the thinker to compromise with evil in order to get along with the new order.
So why did I rate this book with only three stars? If this book were entirely the thoughts of Hildebrand I would have given it a five. Hildebrand's writings, even in translation, are incredible. But Crosby's background writing and notes are very minimal and poor. If I could separate the two, I would give Hildebrand's contribution to this book 5 stars, and Crosby's contribution 2 stars. Most readers in the English language are unfamiliar with Hildebrand and the crowd that he was a part of in 1930s Germany, and simply stating that so-and-so was a German bishop or an Austrian politician is not helpful. Also, it amazes me that more of Hildebrand's articles and books are not available in English. I wonder why that is?
Overall I would recommend this book for students of the history of Nazi Germany as well as fans of 20th Century philosophy.
leelulah's review against another edition
3.0
Read for the Literary Life Challenge 2020. 20 for 2020
8. A Biography or Memoir
I was way more interested in the essays but at least the memoirs helped me to get into his life. His arguments are very persuassive and worth pondering over.
8. A Biography or Memoir
I was way more interested in the essays but at least the memoirs helped me to get into his life. His arguments are very persuassive and worth pondering over.
emmi_louise's review
5.0
Woah, this book has been life changing. It is so incredible to read the works of a magnificent writer with such an incredible mind. Dietrich Von Hilderbrand has truly impacted the world with his writing and I definitely intend to explore more of his works as soon as I can get my hands on them. I could not recommend this book enough.
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