Goebbels: A Biography

By: Peter Longerich, Alan Bance - translator, Jeremy Noakes - translator, Lesley Sharpe - translator

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 28 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

As a young man, Joseph Goebbels was a budding narcissist with a constant need of approval. Through political involvement he found personal affirmation within the German National Socialist Party. In this comprehensive volume, Peter Longerich documents Goebbels' descent into anti-Semitism and ideology and ascent through the ranks of the Nazi party, where he became an integral member of Hitler's inner circle and where he shaped a brutal campaign of Nazi propaganda.

In life and in his grisly family suicide, Goebbels was one of Hitler's most loyal acolytes. Though powerful in the party and in wartime Germany, Longerich's Goebbels is a man dogged by insecurities and consumed by his fierce adherence to the Nazi cause. Longerich engages and challenges the careful self-portrait that Goebbels left behind in his diaries, and, as he delves deep into the mind of Hitler's master propagandist, Longerich discovers firsthand how the Nazi message was conceived. This complete portrait of the man behind the message is sure to become a standard for historians and students of the Holocaust for years to come.

©2015 Original material by Peter Longerich. Recorded by arrangement with Random House, a division of Random House LLC. (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Compare and Contrast

The current events of the United States seem familiar to 1930’s Germany. These books on the Nazi leaders, who they were, how the got into power should be a warning for everyone.

Well written and well performed listen so the word won’t forget.

Great study of a truly sick man

I've read several tomes on Nazi Germany. This is definitely a valuable contribution to the analysis of how a civilized nation could succumb to murderous fanatics. The author probes Goebbels' diaries in parallel with news reports, other historical documents and more to try to understand how Goebbels, head of propaganda, could become what he became and do what he did.

Excellent Biography

And Prebble is among the very best narrators! Learned a great deal from listening to Noakes fascinating account of Goebbels' life.

An intimate account

A thorough analysis of the propaganda minister and his relationships. First, about the narration, it is blissfully free from the common mispronunciations that plague most Third Reich audiobooks. Prebble does a wonderful job. This chronicle explores the actions and literary leavings of Goebbels and is so full of direct references that it threatens to be an autobiography. This is expertly balanced by simultaneous reports from other viewpoints that reveal insights that would be lost were one to only read Goebbels’ documents alone. I believe that this book represents real historical scholarship and would be overwhelming had the author less skill. I feel that even a novice to the period would come away with a clear understanding of the man and his time. Highly recommended.

A picture of one of Hitler's most loyal supporters

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would for the history.

What other book might you compare Goebbels: A Biography to and why?

It is just as good, no, better then the 3 volume biography on Hitler.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have. One of his best in my oppinion.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not that I can remember.

Any additional comments?

A must-have for any history buffs like myself.

Interesting

What did you love best about Goebbels: A Biography?

The details of his life,the way it was presented kept me wondering what would happen in the next chapter.

What other book might you compare Goebbels: A Biography to and why?

Can't think of any.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Followers of madness

Any additional comments?

No

An insider’s view, far from objective, of himself, Hitler, WWII, and the failed art of propaganda

This is perhaps the most interesting chronicle of the “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” since the outstanding work of the same name by William L. Shirer from 50 years ago. Not as comprehensive as Shirer’s classic, nor is it objective in any way, “Goebbels: A Biography” is more of an autobiography largely based on Hitler’s Propaganda Minister’s diaries which he safely stored away in a bank to survive the war, and to be used by future generations in praise of his genious and successes. Of course, this was all in his mind and he was not particularly intelligent, nor was he successful in just about anything but his suicide following the murder of his wife and children as the Russians closed in on Hitler’s bunker. Nevertheless, his daily narcissitic entries in his diary, coupled with detailed and well-researched context by the author, give the reader a new and unique view of Hitler, as if you were in the room when the two of them were planning their evil. Although Goebbels was never as close to Hitler as he would have you believe and acted more like Hitler’s puppy dog, he was equally as guilty in the commission of crimes against humanity and would have hung high at Nuremberg had he survived the Russian onslaught.

A Road Map For Radicals

A very personal look at Goebbels and a peek under the covers of Nazism, this biography, based on Goebbels’ diary, is chilling.
Not only do you get a good idea of the motivations of the man and his leader, you also get an uncomfortable feeling that certain factions in the US use this book as a how-to primer on riling the racist base of voters who like a strong leader.
A necessary, uncomfortable book.

Will leave you none the wiser

Listening to this (well produced) audio book leaves the reader struggling to explain how Goebbels ever managed to become one of the most successful and influential practitioners of propaganda the world has seen. The author seems more interested in cod-psychology and value judgements which really tell us nothing about the methodology behind the man's work. By the end you can't help feeling Goebbels succeeded in spite of himself. But if any old venal, fawning and corrupt wretch can achieve this much then why are advertising execs paid so much? I can't believe this is an entirely accurate assessment of the man's diaries.

Good book!

The book is pretty good! What I really liked about the book is that thy author doesn’t just throw in his opinion at every turn, for the most part he sticks to the facts as it is in the diary, and shows some minor skepticism at various parts. Unlike other autobiographies where the author feels the need to input their opinion and tried to play it off as fact! This book was really fair as far as that goes, I highly recommend this book!