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The Psychology of Totalitarianism

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The Psychology of Totalitarianism

By: Mattias Desmet
Narrated by: Dan Crue
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About this listen

We bear witness to loneliness, free-floating anxiety, and fear giving way to censorship, loss of privacy, and surrendered freedoms. It is all spurred by a singular, focused crisis narrative that forbids dissident views and relies on destructive groupthink.

Totalitarianism is not a coincidence and does not form in a vacuum. It arises from a collective psychosis that has followed a predictable script throughout history, its formation gaining strength and speed with each generation—from the Jacobins to the Nazis and Stalinists—as technology advances. Governments, mass media, and other mechanized forces use fear, loneliness, and isolation to demoralize populations and exert control, persuading large groups of people to act against their own interests, always with destructive results.

In The Psychology of Totalitarianism, world-renowned Professor of Clinical Psychology Mattias Desmet deconstructs the societal conditions that allow this collective psychosis to take hold. By looking at our current situation and identifying the phenomenon of “mass formation”—a type of collective hypnosis—he clearly illustrates how close we are to surrendering to totalitarian regimes.

©2022 Mattias Desmet (P)2022 Dreamscape Media, LLC Political Science Politics & Government Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Mental Health
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Wow! What an incredible book. I thought I might get an interesting psychological explanation of the last few years but I go so, so much more. This book weaves psychology with philosophy, history, sociology, religion, the esoteric and even quantum physics and it does so flawlessly. And it gives Hope as we head into a frightening new chapter of this mass formation. We'll done Mr Desmet!

Mind blowing and brilliant!

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The author writes with such exquisite clarity about the dangers of scientific reductionism and the technocratic world view, and the remedy, which is right in front of our faces with every interaction we have with each other. I loved and saw the infinite potential in his concept of the Art of Full Speech with regard to truth telling and real engagement with the mystery of the creative process of life itself.. Please read... this is one if those books that can truly change the world.

Simply Brillant

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Loved it. Not sure that the people who should read it will, but if they do, they will be given the opportunity to scratch the surface of modern human society. Thoroughly interesting. Perhaps my favourite Audible book. Will definitely look for more by the same author.

Broad, interesting, incisive

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This book has given me a different way to look at the current events that i considered a conspiracy. Well written, easy to comprehend.

Explains alot

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This book is well timed. While there may be many more years ahead of us before the collapse of the totalitarian ideology we are experiencing it is books like this that could help humanity fast track that process.

Clarity and truth

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This is a book of tremendous importance to me personally as it navigates it's way through the perils of the imagination and the intellect and summons us to live authentically.

Most helpful on disciplined & imaginative thought

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An interesting listen with many of my own thoughts confirmed. A must read for those wanting to become aware of what is going on within governments and other authorities

Many thoughts confirmed

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Great book. Highly recommend. Truth is the light and the way forward out of totalitarian madness. Facebook clearly explains why.

Read this book in 2020 before the Covid madness

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Wasn't quite sure what I was expecting but I certainly wasn't expecting what I got. A deep insight into the psychology of the world in its current socio-political form. I think this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to gain a fundamental understanding of why the world is the way it is and where it is heading.

Phenomenally deep insight

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Having listened to Desmet in several long form discussions on Mass Formation, I thought this book was the written form of that thesis. I was wrong. Desmet has laid out an overarching thesis, that includes Mass Formation but includes much, much more than that. I finally understand what Totalitarianism means, and what gives rise to it. It is a must read to understand this new world that global covid policy has given us.

A Classic.

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