The Origins of Totalitarianism

Dear Reader,

Thank you for an excellent conversation yesterday. I know we covered a lot of ground and some of the hardest pages in the book.

Next week we move on to Imperialism, and the central chapter of Origins that ties Arendt’s argument together. It’s the glue that holds the pieces of the mosaic in place (to borrow a metaphor from Walter Benjamin).

We’ll be discussing: “The Political Emancipation of the Bourgeoisie”

I am attaching two handouts for you, one covering the material from the past two weeks and one setting up the material for the next two weeks.

Until soon,

Sam