Summary:
The book analyzes the psychological causes behind fanaticism and mass movements, exploring how discontent, the promise of a glorious future, and the creation of a unified collective can drive individuals to fervent participation. It delves into the mindset of the "true believer" and the stages of development that mass movements typically undergo, from inception to eventual decline.
Key points:
1. Mass Movements: Hoffer says mass movements like revolutions are driven by frustrated individuals seeking identity, not necessarily the poor or oppressed.
Books similar to "The True Believer":
Market Rebels
Hayagreeva Rao
The Crowd
Gustave Le Bon
Cascades
Greg Satell
Outwitting the Devil
Napoleon Hill
Purposeful
Jennifer Dulski
The Enemy Within
David Horowitz
Uprising
Scott Goodson
Blueprint for Revolution
Srdja Popovic|Matthew Miller
Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets
William Bonner|Lila Rajiva
Crowds and Power
Elias Canetti