The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (Paperback)

~ Erich Fromm (Author) "I will forgo presenting here a history of instinct theory as the reader can find it in many textbooks..." (more)
Key Phrases: vital impotence, malignant incestuousness, necrophilous person, New York, World War, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If any single work could bring mankind to its senses, this book might qualify for that miracle. . . . This book is the product of one of the most penetrating, most mature minds of our time."--Lewis Mumford

"In this perhaps most important of his pioneering theoretical works, the distinguished author writes with brilliant insight in attempting to break the deadlock in the struggle between the instinctivism of Konrad Lorenz . . . and behaviorist B.F. Skinner. He moves toward a provocative conclusion which involves a critical revision of Freud's theory of a "death instinct" in man. . . . Fromm's studies of Stalin and Himmler, and especially his penetrating psychobiography of Hitler, fascinatingy support his thesis."--Publisher's Weekly

"Rich and provocative . . . a major book from the pen of a major writer."--the Washington Post Book World

"Fromm is an original thinker. . . . His analysis of the causes of destructiveness is unique, and he has an enviable skill in the lucid presentation of intricate material."--Atlantic Monthly

"By far the best book I have ever read on the subject and by far the most absorbing."—Ashley Montagu

"A work of broad scope and prodigious scholarship . . . immensely instructive and stimulating."
-- Review

Review

"If any single work could bring mankind to its senses, this book might qualify for that miracle. . . . This book is the product of one of the most penetrating, most mature minds of our time."--Lewis Mumford"In this perhaps most important of his pioneering theoretical works, the distinguished author writes with brilliant insight in attempting to break the deadlock in the struggle between the instinctivism of Konrad Lorenz . . . and behaviorist B.F. Skinner. He moves toward a provocative conclusion which involves a critical revision of Freud's theory of a "death instinct" in man. . . . Fromm's studies of Stalin and Himmler, and especially his penetrating psychobiography of Hitler, fascinatingy support his thesis."--Publisher's Weekly"Rich and provocative . . . a major book from the pen of a major writer."--the Washington Post Book World"Fromm is an original thinker. . . . His analysis of the causes of destructiveness is unique, and he has an enviable skill in the lucid presentation of intricate material."--Atlantic Monthly"By far the best book I have ever read on the subject and by far the most absorbing."—Ashley Montagu"A work of broad scope and prodigious scholarship . . . immensely instructive and stimulating."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks (February 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080501604X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805016048
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,771 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #1 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Aggression
  #20 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology
  #41 in	Books > Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Butler did it!, January 30, 1998

By	[e-mail] (USA, CT) - See all my reviews

Fromm's text discussing and analyizing human destructiveness through comparisson and psycholanalysis. From Konrad Lorenz to B.F. Skinner to Stanley Milgram. Covering agression theories; behaviorism; narcissism; and necrophilia. Giving fairly objective views of all and conluding with a wonderful psychoanalysis of Adolf Hitler defining his as a malignant necrophiliac. (Need to be read to fully understand those implications; can be misleading). The book was written well enough for just about anyone to read without it ever becoming dry. Invaluble reference as well! A very thorough read without being overwhelmed, Fromm has definately understood, probably better than most, human nature and human destructiveness.

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a destructive culture, not a destructive species, September 1, 2003

By	Derrick Jensen (Crescent City, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I encountered this book in 1988 or so, and it changed my life. It is I think Fromms best and most important book. This is the book that first let me know that the violence of the dominant culture is not biological in its origin.

The book is centered around the question, obviously, of why humans commit atrocities. Fromm begins this book by exploring many of the theories, such as the notion that we are biologically overdetermined to be so violent. But he conclusively shows that cannot be the case. He then gives examples of nonviolent cultures, and explores why these cultures are the way they are. He then concludes with a powerful and detailed exploration of Hitler, showing how Hitler manifests the essence of this awful civilization that is killing the planet. A powerful book that helped form the foundations of my thinking.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Human Nature Defined - For Those Daring Enough to Look, July 5, 2006

By	Zarko Berberski "zb_z" (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Whichever path through this masterpiece you take, you will need to keep reminding yourself that you entered the land of the brave and you need to go through things that may be too recognizable to accept without resistance. But when you do, it will make you a better person. Then, you may need to be brave enough to forget the part of what you read if you start recognizing too many rationalizations in your everyday walk and talk of life.

This work has amazing composition that allows you to read it in different ways. You can skip the whole Part I, if you don't have time and you know that Fromm knows what is he attacking and why, and you can skip big case studies, if you don't have time and don't particularly care for the brains of Stalin and Hitler :-). And still you will get the whole and earth-shattering definition of the human nature and how and why a human can get hurt so easily and can hurt others so easily.

Or, you can start with big case studies, if that is what motivates you to read, and in order to read through them you will have to read the rest, probably with your own pattern of chapters.

Or, you can start from the page one, to see how deeply wrong currently popular behavioral theory is and take it from there in a linear fashion.