Non-Fiction

raccoon

(31,470 posts) Mon Feb 19, 2018, 05:09 PM Feb 2018

I just finished Berlin Diary by William Shirer.

I recommend the book. His style is easy to read. In his capacity as a broadcast journalist in Nazi Germany, Shirer saw so many influential people and gives his opinion about them. He tells of the lead up to war and then the early years of the war. (He left early in the war.)

It is quite interesting – – and somewhat unsettling. As some of it reminds me of things going on now.

6 replies

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I just finished Berlin Diary by William Shirer. (Original Post) raccoon Feb 2018 OP

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich bdtrppr6 Feb 2018 #1

That was the first history book I read as a child. NNadir Feb 2018 #5

Wow a flashback. I read that in the 1970's OhNo-Really Feb 2018 #2

"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" longship Feb 2018 #3

I read the Rise and Fall in the 60's. rickford66 Feb 2018 #4

I recall reading this after Rise and Fall.... kairos12 Apr 2019 #6

bdtrppr6

(796 posts)

1. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon Feb 19, 2018, 05:21 PM

Feb 2018

is surprisingly readable. True journalism. I've been reading it again off/on since the current disaster began and I'm amazed that it's clear and concise, easily understood, especially since it's 1000 pages.

Readable and seems to be a road map for us currently.

NNadir

(34,710 posts)

5. That was the first history book I read as a child.

Reply to bdtrppr6 (Reply #1)

Sun Feb 25, 2018, 12:12 PM

Feb 2018

It informed my entire life to realize that insane people in power can cause vast destruction.

The "fly on the wall" descriptions pulled from his research certainly is relevant to these times in the United States, as venal, corrupt people with ever more insane notions ratchet up as they learn with what they can get away.

OhNo-Really

(3,996 posts)

2. Wow a flashback. I read that in the 1970's

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon Feb 19, 2018, 05:21 PM

Feb 2018

I think I have read most of his books. Lifelong history buff here. Check out his other books too. Great writer

longship

(40,416 posts)

3. "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich"

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon Feb 19, 2018, 05:25 PM

Feb 2018

Also by Shirer. He was sort of out of Edward R. Murrow's stable at CBS Radio.

It's a compendious history. I've never read Berlin Diary. I imagine there will be some duplication though.

However, Berlin Diary was published in 1941 and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich was published in 1960. The latter covers the entire war and is over 1,200 pages.

rickford66

(5,670 posts)

4. I read the Rise and Fall in the 60's.

Reply to longship (Reply #3)

Mon Feb 19, 2018, 07:00 PM

Feb 2018

I doubt a living Republican has ever read it.

kairos12

(13,256 posts)

6. I recall reading this after Rise and Fall....

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Sat Apr 20, 2019, 12:19 PM

Apr 2019

Quite a read. Hopefully, not prophetic.

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