Hitler's Philosophers Yvonne Sherratt

“A brilliantly conceived work of genuine scholarship. . . . Fascinating and important.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A powerful portrait of collaboration, and corruption." —John Cornwell, Financial Times

“Fascinating. . . . Describes the fatal intersection of politics and ideas during the Nazi era."—The Wall Street Journal

"Sherratt has done a superb job in showing how significant philosophers . . . betrayed their duty to humanity, and how scores of insignificant philosophers sold their souls for professorial chairs."—Andrew Roberts, Commentary Magazine

"She has the advantage of being able to make use of recent research into Hitler’s library, so we now know what he actually read, and she is in no doubt that Hitler vulgarised the philosophical ideas he imbibed, or twisted them to his own purposes." —Richard J. Evans, Times Higher Education

"Sherratt’s focus on people…is also one of the book’s strengths. The stories she presents of the philosophers who fled Germany – Walter Benjamin, Theodor Adorno and Hannah Arendt – are rich and moving, sometimes amusing and at times unexpected."—John Gray, The Independent

"Hitler’s Philosophers…is a sobering and disturbing tale."—Alasdair Palmer, Sunday Telegraph

"…a moving account of Kurt Huber, mentor to the White Rose resistance movement"—George Steiner, Times Literary Supplement.

"…Sherratt charts chillingly and exactly how the Nazi regime began to indoctrinate and intimidate the universities."—Stuart Kelly, The Scotsman 

"Yet how does one explain why civilized people who do not merely have the capacity for thought, but whose life is thinking, embrace evil? In her new book Hitler’s Philosophers Yvonne Sherratt explores among other things, this conundrum . . . It is, in the end, a peculiarly unedifying story, though exceptionally well told."—Simon Heffer, Standpoint

“Vividly written and often absorbing . . . this book is a significant contribution to understanding both Hitler's hateful world-view and the main sources that inspired his attempt to become the "philosopher-fuhrer."—Vladimir Tismaneanu, International Affairs

"Cultural historians will be absorbed by this study of the easy adoption of the Nazi meme among a coterie of intellectuals who might have been expected to know better. Useful as part of philosophy or ethics curricula."—Library Journal

“It is a fascinating subject . . . Sherratt describes the fatal intersection of politics and ideas during the Nazi era. She draws neat biographical sketches of Heidegger ("Hitler's Superman"), of lesser figures, like Krieck and Bäumler ("Collaborators"), and of Carl Schmitt ("Hitler's Lawmaker").” —The Wall Street Journal