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The Nazi Mind

Twelve Warnings From History

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The Nazi Mind

By: Laurence Rees
Narrated by: John Sackville
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

A groundbreaking narrative history of the motivations and mentalities behind the Nazis and their supporters, from the bestselling author of THE HOLOCAUST and President Zelenskyy’s most-read book, HITLER AND STALIN.

How could the Nazis have committed the crimes they did? Why did commandants of concentration and death camps willingly – often enthusiastically – oversee mass murder? How could ordinary Germans have tolerated the removal of the Jews? In THE NAZI MIND, bestselling author Laurence Rees combines history and the latest research in psychology to help answer some of the most perplexing questions surrounding the Second World War and the Holocaust.

Ultimately, he delves into the darkness to explain how and why these people were capable of committing the worst crime in the history of the world. Rees traces the rise and eventual fall of the Nazis through the lens of ‘twelve warnings’ – from talk about ‘them’ and ‘us’ to the escalation of racism – whilst also highlighting signs to look out for in present day leaders.

Rees uses previously unpublished testimony from former Nazis and those who grew up in the Nazi system, and in-depth psychological insights including cutting edge work on obedience, authority and the brain. THE NAZI MIND is a revelatory new way of understanding how so many people committed the most appalling crime of the 20th century.

'I will recommend to everyone' Alastair Campbell

'World-renowned historian Laurence Rees lays out a past that is also eerily a cautionary tale for our future if we are not careful' Anthony Scaramucci

'This disturbing book is timely, relevant and important' Sir Ian Kershaw

© Laurence Rees 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 20th Century Europe Germany Military Modern Politics & Government War & Crisis Crime Scary Thought-Provoking Holocaust War Socialism

Critic reviews

I will recommend to everyone . . . superbly researched and structured. I just wish it was coming out before November 5. Reading how Hitler warped and won over the German people, it is impossible not to see and feel constant resonances with so many of the styles, strategies and tactics adopted by Donald Trump (Alastair Campbell)
Rees is uniquely placed to look at this cautionary tale through a fresh lens . . . This is a brilliant piece of work: learned, compelling and frankly terrifying (James Holland)
Compulsive reading . . . rarely have the tormented questions that accumulate around the conduct of the Third Reich been subjected to such a baleful, brilliant, modern and revelatory interrogation
A fascinating study offering new insights into the psychological forces driving the Nazis - essential reading for anyone seeking answers to the haunting question of how and why Germany became consumed by Hitler’s evil. (Julia Boyd)
The Nazi Mind recounts one by one the chief ways in which Nazism attracted and held its many millions of followers. It is not just an unsparing, detailed reminder of the horrors of the past, based on decades of exhaustive research, but, unmistakably, a challenge to us to check our own no-longer-so-complacent twenty-first century consciences and act accordingly. (Frederick Taylor)
A chilling analysis of a mind perverted by relativism, delusion, cravenness, amorality and downright evil (Allan Mallinson)
At once frightening and scholarly, urgent and profoundly necessary. Here is history as a flashlight illuminating the darker hinterlands of human nature. In excavating deep beneath the surface of familiar history – exploring rich, unexpected sources - Rees shows us that the reign of the Nazis is not a story of monsters, but much more terribly of recognisable humanity. A book very much for our time, and all times (Sinclair McKay)
Chilling, brilliantly researched . . . only Laurence Rees could have written this book (Keith Lowe)
Rees, an expert on the Nazi period, focuses on recalling its hideous highlights
All stars
Most relevant
Very interesting book. I liked the fresh angle of considering the history from a psychological perspective. So many parallels to the world we find ourselves in today. We ignore these warnings at our peril.
Excellent narration throughout. I would really recommend to everyone.

A warning from history.

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There are many factors to a successful (in the beginning) dictatorship. The worrying aspect through listening to this, is that, you don't need many to get started. Throw in one or two sycophants, find something or someone to blame and bobs you uncle Stalin or fuhrer or duce. To a certain degree every human being (certainly politicians) has a bit of it in them. Tell me you don't have an inkling to hate, it's in all of us but luckily, like news, we move on to something else in a few days. When we allow it, and someone, to control us, things turn out rather differently. Extremely brought to life by this book. I think we, as human beings, just can't help ourselves!

All you need is not love but an enemy

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A great book that really digs into the past and uses nazism as a lense to illustrate what is already happening around us today.

A familiar warning from the past made new.

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Laurence Rees’ The Nazi Mind: 12 Warnings from History is a profoundly impactful and meticulously researched work that not only dissects the psychological and societal mechanisms behind the rise of Nazi Germany but also serves as a chilling cautionary tale for our time. Through a compelling blend of historical analysis and narrative, Rees unveils the insidious steps that transformed a democratic society into a totalitarian nightmare. The audiobook, with its engaging narration, amplifies the urgency of the text, making it one of the most powerful books I’ve encountered.
The heart of the book lies in its culmination: the 12 warnings Rees distills from the Nazi era, including tactics like corrupting the youth, stoking fear, and eroding democratic institutions. These warnings are not mere historical footnotes; they are a framework for understanding how societies can slide into authoritarianism. What makes this book particularly resonant today is the eerie parallels we see across the globe. In the Middle East, numerous regimes exhibit these same warning signs—propaganda, suppression of dissent, and the manipulation of fear to consolidate power. These patterns suggest a looming catastrophe if left unchecked, as history has shown the devastating consequences of ignoring such signals.
Even more alarming is the presence of these warnings in the Western world. Great nations, once bastions of democracy, are grappling with polarization, misinformation, and the erosion of trust in institutions—symptoms Rees identifies as precursors to societal collapse. The book forces us to confront uncomfortable questions: Are we paying attention to these red flags? Are we learning from history, or are we doomed to repeat it?
Rees’ work is a clarion call to vigilance. His ability to connect the past with the present without sensationalism is what makes The Nazi Mind a masterpiece. It’s a book that doesn’t just inform but demands action, urging readers to recognize and resist the subtle encroachments of authoritarianism. For anyone concerned about the state of the world, this book is essential reading—a sobering reminder that history’s lessons are only valuable if we heed them.

12 warnings

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A frighteningly prescient account of the targeted hatred, including creating a ‘them and us mentality’, falsifying conspiracy theories to bend the facts of history to suit their fascist and Nazi agenda, undermining and destroying the rule of law, and eliminating criticism are all hallmarks of a ‘would be’ fascist dictator. How relevant this is today! A ‘must read’ for all who cherish democracy! Read of listen to this text and heed the warnings! The things we hold dear are fragile and easily taken away. That is the central message of this text.

The Nazi Mind is relevant to today

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