fanatics

The book explores some of the common features of mass movements, with an emphasis on the personalities of the rabble who have fallen into fanaticism. The long-term life experience of dealing with the lower classes made the author discover that those who actively participate in mass movements are often frustrated. They see their lives as hopelessly failed, yearn to escape from themselves and seek rebirth, feel good about entrusting their lives to some sacred cause, and bury individual responsibilities, fears, and inadequacies in a uniform collective life. The leaders of the movement deliberately cultivated the guilt of the participants and called for self-sacrifice in order to be redeemed.

Since its publication in 1951, "The Fanatic" has been regarded as a classic in the field of social science. It has sold more than 500,000 copies in a short period of time and has been translated into more than 10 languages. It is a must-read for the political departments of many universities. The book is full of sparks of wisdom and sharp metaphors, and its style is exactly like the essays of French thinkers Montaigne and Pascal. So far, his aphorisms are still being quoted and compiled.