Book description
"When this book was first published it received some attention from the critics but none at all from the public. Nazism was finished in the bunker in Berlin and its death warrant signed on the bench at Nuremberg." That's Milton Mayer, writing in a foreword to the 1966 edition of They Thought They Were Free. He's right about the critics: the book was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1956. General readers may have been slower to take notice, but over time they did--what we've seen over decades is that any time people, across the political spectrum, start to feel that freedom is threatened, the book experiences a ripple of word-of-mouth interest. And that interest has never been more prominent or potent than what we've seen in the past year. They Thought They Were Free is an eloquent and provocative examination of the development of fascism in Germany. Mayer's book is a study of ten Germans and their lives from 1933-45, based on interviews he conducted after the war when he lived in Germany. Mayer had a position as a research professor at the University of Frankfurt and lived in a nearby small Hessian town which he disguised with the name "Kronenberg." "These ten men were not men of distinction," Mayer noted, but they had been members of the Nazi Party; Mayer wanted to discover what had made them Nazis. His discussions with them of Nazism, the rise of the Reich, and mass complicity with evil became the backbone of this book, an indictment of the ordinary German that is all the more powerful for its refusal to let the rest of us pretend that our moment, our society, our country are fundamentally immune. A new foreword to this edition by eminent historian of the Reich Richard J. Evans puts the book in historical and contemporary context. We live in an age of fervid politics and hyperbolic rhetoric. They Thought They Were Free cuts through that, revealing instead the slow, quiet accretions of change, complicity, and abdication of moral authority that quietly mark the rise of evil.
About the Author
Milton Mayer (1908-86) was the author of What Can a Man Do? And coauthor of The Revolution in Education. He wrote for the Progressive, Harper's, and other outlets.
Freak
This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. This app has turned my household chores into moments of intellectual growth. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. I love the ability to import books from my computer. Itβs so easy. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
Cereal Killer
πΌ Making work hours enjoyable β audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. π»π The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Casanova
I can finally listen to all my audiobooks seamlessly with ListenBook. The customizable playback controls and chapter navigation make it a breeze. The statistics feature is brilliant. I love seeing how much time I spend on audiobooks with ListenBook.
Blackfire
The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options are essential for my audiobook enjoyment and study. Great app for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful! Flawless support for various audio formats. Highly satisfied.
Undergrad
With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. π Dancing to the rhythm of stories while I dance through house chores β pure joy! ππ
Proper
No more fighting over the radio during family trips β we're all hooked on audiobooks now. Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. πΌ Elevating my work-from-home routine with this app's delightful audiobook selection! π»π ListenBook's commitment to a seamless user experience is evident in its sleek design and intuitive controls. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience.
Sexy
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. π Adding excitement to everyday tasks β this app is my partner in productivity! ππ Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys β this app's ease of use is a delight. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice adds a layer of personalization that I never knew I needed. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. I can group related titles for easy access.
Lady In Red
I'm hooked on this app β it's like Netflix for book lovers! π Whether I'm cooking, commuting, or relaxing at home, this app's seamless functionality keeps me engaged in captivating narratives. π§β¨
Romance Guppy
ListenBook has given me the gift of time β turning daily tasks into moments of inspiration. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative way to make each audiobook unique. Perfect for listening to educational content. Highly recommend! ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Widow Curio
Gone are the days of waiting for the right time to read β this app is always ready. Iβm so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app! This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
LocKz
ListenBook's chapters, controls, and filters have taken my audiobook journey to new heights. Audiobook pleasure simplified β this app's functionality is a reader's delight. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like having a personal reading guide. I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
Firecracker
This app's seamless integration with my devices has made audiobook listening a hassle-free experience. πββοΈπ Combining fitness and fiction β this app keeps me motivated during workouts with its engaging stories! πββοΈπ Unlocking a world of literary wonders β this app's extensive format support and user-centric approach have rekindled my love for books. π±π Playback speed and volume controls are fantastic.
Ship Whip
The offline mode is a lifesaver on flights β I'm never without a good story. I'm amazed by the variety of genres available β there's something for everyone. With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch has made audiobook listening a part of my daily routine.
Twisty Freesia
I've found my new favorite way to relax β cuddled up with an audiobook. ListenBook's dedication to providing a top-quality audio player is evident in every aspect of the app. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! This app has completely transformed my daily routine. I can't imagine my commute without it! Iβve tried several audiobook players, but ListenBook stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The equalizer and voice boost features make every book sound amazing. Plus, the dark mode is perfect for nighttime listening. Great job, developers!
Pexxious
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. No more straining my eyes β this app lets me 'read' with my ears! ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. π± It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. ππ₯ Audiobooks made convenient β this app's functionality is impressive.
Lucky Aurora
ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities.
Twix Bond
I've never been so excited about my daily commute β thanks to this app. This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. ListenBook's statistics feature is both enlightening and motivating. It's incredible to see the time I've invested in learning through audiobooks. The audiobook player's silky-smooth playback is like music to my ears. Flawless performance!
Kill Switch
I've rediscovered my love for reading, all thanks to this app's convenience. ListenBook has rekindled my passion for learning. I'm exploring new topics every day. A decent listen overall. The narration was clear, though some character voices sounded similar. The story was interesting but had moments where it dragged slightly. Still, it was a good way to pass the time.
Beo
Frequent updates ensure there's always something new and exciting to listen to. With support for various audio formats, ListenBook ensures I can enjoy my favorite audiobooks without worries. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Cricket
ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. πββοΈπ Running through chapters, literally! This app keeps me motivated on the track. πββοΈπ Tone adjustment is such an innovative feature. It adds a personal touch to narration.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience