Trump’s campaign strategists probably read this book—and maybe Biden’s should too

We’re living in a political moment with a high degree of fanaticism. People are justifiably frustrated with our government and are thus vulnerable to people advocating for or representing radical change.

Populist leaders like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have aroused this behavior and Trump has retained this level of fanaticism through his time in office. His true fans have never wavered in their support of him, no matter what mistake he’s made, and will do anything to make sure he’s re-elected this fall.

Even though he was writing this book when Stalin still lead the Soviet Union, Eric Hoffer gets to the root of this political fanaticism in his book True Believer.

The book reads like it could have been written last year and if governments are still a thing and people are still human in a hundred years, it will be relevant then too. This is the kind of book that reminds you of the power of a good book. After reading it, I believe it would be difficult to become a true believer yourself. It is full of powerful and interesting quotes and here are some to get you to read the book.

Many who join a rising revolutionary movement are attracted by the prospect of sudden and spectacular change in the conditions of life people with a sense of fulfillment want to keep the world as it is, while the frustrated favor radical change a mass movement attracts and holds a following not because it can satisfy the desire for self-advancement but because it can satisfy the passion for self-renunciation a man minds his own business when it is worth minding, when it is not he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs and minds other people’s business

To ripen a person for self-sacrifice he must be stripped of his individual identity and distinctivenesswhen we lose our individuality we find a freedom to hate, bully, lie, torture, murder, and betray without shame and remorse.

A movement is pioneered by men of words, materialized by fanatics, and consolidated by men of action.