If you find yourself wondering how Nazis came to power, how the Holocaust happened, and how German citizens allowed it (and sometimes took part in it), this is the book for you. It’s a history book informed by psychology that explores the snowball effect of Nazi Germany. I appreciate that the horrors are laid bare without bias. That said, because it is laid bare, the depictions of the Holocaust are, at times, extremely graphic. Just be warned that the last half of the book is very gruesome.

I like learning about world war 2 and this was an interesting audiobook. While I like learning about World War Two it is hard listening or reading about it. The atrocities that happened are indescribable and it’s happening again. I hope that in listening or reading I can help people who need it the most, but I hope that I don’t have too. I will if I need to though.

I’ve always struggled with the historical dilemma — how did an entire nation of people allow the atrocities of the Holocaust to happen? I get people will go to extraordinary lengths during desperate times, but this far and by this many people? Rees does an excellent job of placing the reader in postwar Germany and allowing us inside the minds of who it affected most. Not only is The Nazi Mind a history lesson connecting the missing dots, but it’s also a psychological study of what it takes to control a whole society. Rees breaks down the twelve warnings (steps) and it’s impossible not to see the correlation with today’s fractured society. Megalomaniacal tyrants abound and it’s easy to see that we’re only a few missing steps away from a totalitarian society. I’ve seen other reviews complain that The Nazi Mind reads like a textbook. Yes, and no. First, it reads like a scholar who’s studied this topic for many years wrote it. But, it’s not a hard, dry read like others have implied. Rees breathes a realistic breath into a tough subject to cover. I appreciate his approach and recommend others that are interested in doing a deeper dive into the subject to pick it up and give it a go.

This is a well written and engaging audiobook. Rees combines historical analysis, first person accounts, and historical documents seamlessly in order to create a picture of how the Nazis were able to rise to power in Germany and how average Germans could "let something like that happen," when it's so easy not the insist that if you'd been there, you wouldn't have stood by and done nothing.

This is a very timely account, with everything going on in the world right now. I thought this book went into a good amount of depth for a reader like me who didn't know particularly much about how the Nazis were able to rise to power. It was an intense read, but also very engaging and informative.

If you've been reading the books on authoritarianism that have been hitting the market for the past eight years, the facts here won't be new, but Rees is a good storyteller, so if you haven't read everything written by Snyder and Applebaum, this is an excellent place to start. The epilogue was compelling even for those of us reading everything. ARC provided by NetGalley.

The Nazi Mind: Twelve Warnings from History by Laurence Rees (book cover is in image) is the perfect narrative for layperson like me interested in understanding the how cultural conditions and the psychological mindset of the Germans prior to and during WWII led to the rise of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.

The narration by John Sackville was engaging and easy to follow and allowed me to complete the entire audio in one day. I recommend this book to those like me who want to learn abut the history with out being bogged down in academic language.

Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: May 06 2025

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The Nazi Mind is a compelling story for those interested in WWII and the psychology of human behavior. It delves into the 12 warning signs of the Holocaust, exploring the motivations of those who committed atrocities all in the name of Adolf Hitler.

John Sackville narrates the audiobook with a pleasant voice that conveys the gravity of the subject matter. His narration enhances the story, making it engaging and thought-provoking.

Rees has a remarkable talent for weaving together firsthand accounts, historical documents, and expert analysis to provide a comprehensive look into the psychology behind one of history’s most infamous regimes. This book presents a chilling yet insightful exploration of the motivations, fears, and beliefs that fueled the rise and rule of the Nazi leadership. I appreciated the meticulous research and the way Rees draws from interviews and archival material to humanize even the darkest figures in history, making for a gripping, if unsettling, listen.

However, the book’s intense subject matter and sometimes dense analysis may not appeal to every reader. It demands a certain level of emotional and intellectual engagement, which might be challenging for those less familiar with the period. Additionally, the audio format, while well-narrated, can feel overwhelming at times given the gravity of the content.

Overall, "The Nazi Mind" is a compelling but heavy exploration of a critical chapter in human history. I’d recommend it to those deeply interested in WWII, psychology, or political history, but with the caveat that it may not be for everyone.

Thank you to Laurence Rees, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley/Hachette for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

This book was a really informative refresher to how the Nazis persuaded civilians with little effort to commit crime against humanity. Listening to this book in 2025 forced to me to think even more critically than I would have in previous years and make comparisons to current events. Certain chapters, especially the early ones, were really dense and not very provocative. Then, there were sections that were fascinating, relevant, and downright terrifying. I actually listened to a couple of chapters several times. I particularly appreciated the psychological analysis of Nazis and Nazi collaborators. As someone from a history undergrad background, I really appreciated the analysis of German women’s participation in atrocities. This is not something that is explored enough in history classes and there’s so much to unpack as to why this and how this happens.

I've been slowly making my way through this book as I know how necessary a book about this topic always is but mindful of my mental health, so taking it in small doses seemed best.

While some might consider the lessons this book draws attention slightly derivative of other history books written on the topic, I think what this book does brilliantly is explore the Nazi mind and explain not only how the German population of the era could fall under the spell of a charismatic leader but also how Nazi commanders could start justifying atrocities committed against the Jew and other ethnicities.
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The extracts from interviews and the Nuremberg trial are hard hitting. However, I have to say I'm not amazed that some of these former Nazis admitted openly to not feeling a shred of remorse. Given that this is not the first book on the topic of Holocaust, I have already been exposed to the pernicious and dehumanising effects of the mentality of 'us against them '.

Another point in favour of this book is how timely it is because society is recurrently in danger of falling in the same traps.

Thank you to Laurence Rees, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

The Nazi Mind takes a fascinating deep dive into the psychology behind the who’s, what’s and how’s of the atrocities that took place leading up to and during WWII.

I thought the narrator did a great job. I also loved that this was a perspective you don’t normally get —
Still factual, but from the perception of the mind, rather than opinion or cold hard facts.

I’d highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII and wants to learn more about the psychological impact that occurred during this time.

*A big thank-you to Laurence Rees, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
I have read several books by Mr Rees, and apprecite his clear explanations of the problems he tackles. The Nazi Mind is another attempt to analyze motivations both ordinary Germans and those who had power and influence had to back the Nazi rule. This book offers warnings for us all who still believe that what happened then cannot be repeated.
Highly recommend to those who want to understand.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for this advances arc audiobook.

Narrator: 5 stars - The narrator made this story even more compelling and kept me interested all through. I am not one who read or listen to lots of non fiction, it is not my usual preference but this was one of the best narrated audiobook.

This is a non fiction story based on how Hitler came to power and how WWII happened. It showcase how, at many times, this could have been prevented (eg Hitler was incarcerated after their COUP attempt but managed to be out quite quickly). It's based on factual data and psychological aspect mixed with how they were able to manipulate through misinformation, scare tactics and full blown Semitism, thousands if not millions of people.

This story is actually truly scary as I feel we are in 2025 reliving every steps that occurred after WWI that lead to WWII. A person cannot read/listen to this story and not see the correlation with MAGA movement. The question is: Will we do something to prevent this movement to rise and become the exact replica of WWII or Will we close our eyes and ignore the warning signs like in 1926?

The Nazi Mind gives a detailed account of psychological motivations behind Nazis and those who would justify their own actions within the time period.

Audiobook Review: The Nazi Mind by Laurence Rees
Narrated by Derek Perkins

I received this audiobook from NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover and read new authors and share my thoughts.

This was my first book by Laurence Rees, and as someone who has a deep interest in the history of World War II and the Holocaust, I found The Nazi Mind to be a powerful and insightful listen. Just when I think I’ve read or heard it all on this topic, another book like this comes along and teaches me something new.

What stood out to me most about The Nazi Mind was its exploration of the psychological and ideological foundations behind the Nazi party and its followers. Rather than focusing solely on battles, timelines, or key figures, Rees delves into what drove ordinary people to support, follow, and participate in one of history’s most horrifying regimes. The book draws from firsthand interviews, survivor testimonies, and decades of historical research to examine not just what happened, but why it happened—on a deeply human level.

The narrator, Derek Perkins, did a fantastic job delivering this heavy and emotional content. His voice was steady and clear, and there were moments when I could truly hear empathy and emotional weight in his tone, which made the listening experience all the more impactful.

Overall, The Nazi Mind is a thought-provoking and necessary read for anyone seeking to understand the psychological mechanisms of mass manipulation, fear, and ideology during one of history’s darkest times. I highly recommend it to readers of WWII history, and I’m grateful to have been introduced to Laurence Rees through this audiobook.

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this excellent work.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchett Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen and review this book. All opinions are my own.

The Nazi Mind is a great read, especially if you're interested in WWII and the psychology behind what motivates people to do what they do. The Holocaust is the most devastating time in history for genocide and this books delves into the 12 warning signs of what was about to happen when Adolf Hitler became dictator and the minds behind those that committed the ultimate atrocities in the name of Hitler.

Laurence Rees does a great job with outlining facts and telling a story that, while quite sad and brutal to listen to, is also very intriguing. I could tell while listening to this that Rees did a lot of research and he did a wonderful job of translating history into a, sort of, criminal profiling-type read for Nazis.

I would absolutely listen/read anything else by Rees in the future and look forward to seeing what he comes out with next as well as what Hachett Audio releases in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced audiobook of The Nazi Mind.

I have read a number of Laurence Rees books previously and he is an expert in this field. As usual from him, this book has been thoroughly researched and is very thought provoking. The author links the way Nazi propaganda was used to appeal to and to win over many, even though it was so self-evidently wrong.

I found the information about the way the brain develops very interesting. This was something I had not considered previously and the author used this to great effect in his developing his hypothesis.

The way the cult of Nazism was sold, with the "them and us" way of differentiating resonates to some degree with the personality politics we see today. The author does seem to play on this.

This audiobook is expertly narrated by John Sackville. I will certainly look for his work again.

An excellent book but certainly not an easy read purely due to the subject matter.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Obviously, there are quite a few trigger warnings for this book. Some of the many include genocide, concentration camps, torture, rape, suicide, plus homophobia, antisemitism, racism, ableism, fascism, and a whole lot more.

I think it’s vitally important to study history to learn lessons from the past. Most people would say that’s so we don’t repeat some things. But somehow, neo nazis still exist, the KKK still exists, and fascism is back, at least here in the United States.

What I liked about this book is that it’s written in a way that’s accessible and not textbook-like. That’s not saying that the subject is oversimplified, but rather a comfortable middle ground. There are twelve psychological and political warnings here, and it’s not a stretch to see what’s happening in our part of the world right now. There are so many similarities, it’s frightening.

Despite the accessible style of writing, it’s still a hard topic to study. Generally speaking, I don’t study the atrocities of WWII because I studied it so much in high school and college, and I had excellent teachers who didn’t sugar-coat anything and use both-sides-ism. But I do think it’s important to read books like this so we, the resistance, know how to fight back.

This audiobook is narrated by John Sackville. He has a very pleasant speaking voice, yet it has the gravity that is needed to talk about these horrible topics in detail. I would definitely listen to something other books narrated by him.

I'm just...overwhelmed. More horrible details are discussed which will have you questioning the humanity of the everyday German public during the Reich.
I am very of German heritage with known relatives, a great uncle that was in the Lüftwaffe. Nazi, Nazis in my extended heritage. How could anyone of the blood we share been so cruel, so inhuman?
All for blood guilt and conspiracy theories about Jewish people that were routinely referenced as
"rats", as vermin, as...diseased...I'Il stop there; I just can't understand it.
But the Nazi mind was most Germans of that time.
The Stanford Zimbardo experiment, the Stanley Milgram study...Its our human nature I'm so sorry to say.
And if you're at Sinclair Lewis' "It Can't Happen Here" stage you'd be so very wrong.
I'm going on too long. This is an important, stunning work of scholarship. Recommended but listen...Guard vour heart. That's the takeawav.

As a German, I feel a deep responsibility to engage with the darkest chapters of our history—and to ensure that they are never forgotten or distorted. Laurence Rees’s The Nazi Mind is a vital, sobering, and immensely thought-provoking work that I found both compelling and deeply disturbing. In these uncertain times, as we witness the troubling resurgence of fascist ideologies across the world, this book feels especially urgent.

Rees does not merely recount events; he interrogates the psychology behind them. Through chilling testimony and rigorous research, he explores how ordinary people came to embrace—and even justify—extraordinary cruelty. The book asks difficult questions without offering easy answers, and for that reason, it lingers in the mind long after listening.

The narration by John Sackville is excellent. His voice brings a steady gravity to the material, respectful of its weight without becoming overly dramatized. He guides listeners through harrowing territory with clarity and compassion, which is no small feat given the subject matter.

The Nazi Mind is not an easy listen, nor should it be. But it is an essential one. I am grateful to NetGalley and The Hive for the opportunity to experience it in audiobook form, and I urge others—especially fellow Germans—to read or listen. Remembering is not enough; understanding is crucial.