Adolf Eichmann’s Early Life: His Unremarkable Beginnings

a traveling salesman in a coat and hat in 1930s Germany walking along a road in the business district of a town

How much do you know about the early life of one of history’s most notorious war criminals? What led Adolf Eichmann to become a key figure in the Holocaust? In her book Eichmann in Jerusalem, Hannah Arendt explores Adolf Eichmann’s early life and his rise to power within the Nazi Party. She argues that Eichmann was an unremarkable man who went on to commit atrocious crimes. Read on to discover how a failed student and salesman became the so-called “expert” on the Jewish question, shaping the course of history in unimaginable ways.

What Is the Banality of Evil? Eichmann’s 3 Pathetic Motives

a silhouette of a Nazi officer watches as a train pulls away as the sun sets

What is the banality of evil? How can ordinary people commit extraordinary atrocities? What were Adolf Eichmann’s last words before he was hanged? In her book Eichmann in Jerusalem, Hannah Arendt explores the motivations behind Adolf Eichmann’s crimes in the Holocaust. She argues that his actions were driven by mundane factors rather than inherent wickedness. Discover how a desire for success, a sense of duty, and social conformity led an unremarkable man to participate in one of history’s greatest horrors.

Adolf Eichmann’s Trial, Verdict, & Execution (Hannah Arendt)

a balding man, seen from behind, sitting in a courtroom in the early 1960s and facing four men across the room

What exactly was Adolf Eichmann on trial for? What was the outcome, and was justice served? In her book Eichmann in Jerusalem, Hannah Arendt discusses Adolf Eichmann’s trial. She shares her reasons for thinking that the trial—although it delivered the correct verdict—was in many respects illegitimate. She also offers an assessment of Eichmann’s final words. Continue reading to learn about Adolf Eichmann’s trial, verdict, and execution.

Kanner and Asperger’s Autism Research: The 4 Major Differences

Two boxing mitts with names on them that read Kanner and Asperger

What were the differences between Kanner and Asperger’s autism research? Whose research came out on top? In the post World War I era, there were two famous doctors studying autism: Leo Kanner in the US and Hans Asperger in Austria. In his book NeuroTribes, Steve Silberman compares the two men’s approaches and points out the differences. Here’s a look at the differences in the autism research.

Bernard Rimland’s Autism Research: A New Perspective

A vintage image of a vaccine needle and bottle on a wooden table in a doctor's office

Who was Bernard Rimland? How did his autism research change how some saw the disorder? What were some of the problems with his theories? Bernard Rimland was an American psychologist in the mid-1900s. It was thanks to Rimland that parents were no longer blamed for causing autism, however, Rimland also promoted the idea that vaccines caused autism. Continue reading to learn about Bernard Rimland’s research and its impacts.

Michelle Cunningham: From Introvert to Network Marketing Pro

A pyramid in a pink desert with a star shining at the point

How can an introvert become a networking professional? How did Michelle Cunningham use her introversion to her advantage? Michelle Cunningham, author and marketing expert, came from humble beginnings. Despite being introverted and shy, she pushed herself out of her comfort zone to rise to the top of a multi-level marketing company. Here’s Cunningham’s story, as told in Do It Anyway, Girl.

Diagnosed Psychopaths: Jon Ronson Talks to Tony and Toto

Journalist Jon Ronson talking into a microphone

Can someone be misdiagnosed as a psychopath? Why are mental health evaluations so complex? British journalist Jon Ronson spoke to Tony, a Broadmoor inmate, and Toto, a former leader of a Haitian paramilitary group, in his book The Psychopath Test. One is a diagnosed psychopath who might not actually fit the bill, and the other was released from an institution. Keep reading to learn about Ronson’s meetings with Tony and Toto.

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program: A Success Story

A doctor talking to a homeless man.

What’s the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program? Who supported the program in its earliest days? In 1985, Dr. Jim O’Connell founded the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. The program was able to rapidly grow thanks to the support of many politicians and partnerships with hospitals in Massachusetts. Check out how the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program came to fruition.

Gang Leader for a Day: JT’s Role in the Gang & the Community

a man in a hooded jacket walking on an urban street at night in falling snow, city and vehicle lights shine in the background

What’s it like to lead a gang? Why would a gang leader take a sociology student into his inner circle? In Sudhir Venkatesh’s book Gang Leader for a Day, JT’s story provides a rare glimpse into the hidden realms of the Chicago underworld. The leader of the Black Kings gang forms a surprising bond with Venkatesh, who’s conducting immersive fieldwork. Continue reading for a fascinating sketch of a real gang leader who holds sway even beyond the Black Kings.