Customer Reviews

Introducing Fascism and Nazism

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

Fascism and Nazism have always seemed so horrific to me that I have put off learning about them. I picked up this book to get past that. It is a brief introduction to European and Japanese fascism that covers the basic history, philosophy, and politics of fascism in the 20th century. The stark black-and-white illustrations by Litza Jansz bring the book to life and are well integrated into Stuart Hood's text. The book covers the origins of fascism in the 19th century through to the re-emergence of neo-fascism at the dawn of the 21st century. This is a well-done entry in the Introducing series and recommended as a first book on the topic.

This shrill Leftist whinge of course comes out pro-Capitalist in the end (a compromize which indeed everyone ends up making); and for one reason or another fails to locate the place from which Fascism can be seen to be a unified ideology (even if even then some of its own internal logic is self-contradictory to a point that militates against its legitimate application).

You could probably learn more about fascism from watching a Hogan's Heros episode than reading this. The authors obviously spent too much time drawing their scary comic book looking nazis to do any research on the actual topic. For example on the section about Spanish Fascism it states that the founder of the movement was assassinated. This is just incorrect. He was arrested by the Republican Spanish government and executed on charges of subversive activities. It goes on to say that the Falange (Spanish fascists) were supported by the rich corporations to defend the "ruling class". While support from business was somewhat the case for the Nazis in Germany and Fascists in Italy it was not at all for Spain. The Falange were as radical in their rhetoric against capitalism as were the communists and utterly despised by capitalists and traditional conservatives. The book goes on page by page giving little insight into fascist and national socialist thought or history besides that its "really bad". Save your money and go buy a real book on the topic

Geez..I never knew that the goal of the Nazis was to oppress women..thanks for telling us this Stuart. This book is a piece of stupid politically-correct tripe. Avoid!

This book clearly has some intelligent and insightful ideas, however most of it is ambiguous and biased junk. A book of this kinn should be based on fact and accurate history, not on speculation, and personal interpretation. Whats stood out to me most in this book is the description that Hood gives of Auschwitz. His charecterization is an insult to all of those who perished fighting against the Nazi war machine. Hood should have visited the camps before he went on this tirade of injustice.

I'm familiar with the history and machinations of Nazism, and thus the main draw of this book for me was its dealing with Fascism (other than German-based fascism).

If you want "quick guide" to start you off on a better understanding of political-corporate motivations and who the real enemy is, then this is a must-read for you.

Of primary use to me was the book's information on Fascism in pre-WWII Japan, and the "miraculous rebuilding" of Japan post-WWII.

This book is a vital and worthy "stepping stone" to further sociopolitical studies. It provides a solid base from which to start, and more than adequately gives an "overview" of just what is really going on -- and has been going on for a very long time -- behind the closed doors of the wealthy, connected, and the corporate. The book also strongly and uncompromisingly points out -- and the points out again -- just who and what the real criminals are.

I'm changing my political affiliation after reading this book, and have finally come to see the truth of what a friend of mine -- whose political views and sentiments I'd previously brushed off as "overboard and paranoid" -- has been trying to tell me for years.

Sociopolitical matters can be frustrating for those starting out trying to understand, and who don't wish to pursue a formal academic study of same. This book "tells it like it is," and any lingering confusion vanishes in its stark honesty.