Available Now
Hitler's Philosophers
A critically acclaimed exploration of the intellectual climate in Nazi Germany, Hitler's Philosophers tells the story of the minds that shaped a regime and those who risked everything to resist it. Yvonne Sherratt's narrative history makes thinkers' lives vivid, accessible and deeply moving.
Praise for the Book
“A fascinating, disturbing and necessary book...” John Gray, The Independent (Independent Book of the Week)
“…a moving account of Kurt Huber, mentor to the White Rose resistance movement.” George Steiner, The Times Literary Supplement
“In this well‑researched book… Sherratt has done a superb job in showing how significant philosophers such as Heidegger and Schmitt betrayed their duty to humanity…” Andrew Roberts
“It is a fascinating subject… Sherratt describes the fatal intersection of politics and ideas during the Nazi era… neat biographical sketches of Heidegger, Krieck, Bäumler and Carl Schmitt.” Ian Brunskill, The Wall Street Journal
“A powerful portrait of collaboration and corruption.” John Cornwell, The Financial Times
“Hitler’s Philosophers… is a sobering and disturbing tale.” Alasdair Palmer, The Telegraph
“The chapters on Jewish German thinkers are compelling… Her book is a useful reminder of the depths to which supposedly civilised people can sink when confronted with the temptations of power.” The Times
“Sherratt dedicates brilliant pages to Walter Benjamin, Hannah Arendt, Theodor Adorno and the resilient Kurt Huber…” El País
“The great merit of this essay is… demonstrating that Germany was based on concepts widely held in German society.” La Stampa
“Among the book’s virtues… evidence that odious racial prejudice — the core of Nazi ideology — was not merely the province of mediocre hacks… Another virtue of the book is Sherratt’s treatment of Heidegger.” The Washington Independent Review of Books
“A vivid, often cinematic and deeply disturbing account… Sherratt is at her best when tracing the personal trajectories of her subjects.” Stephen Mulhall, Literary Review
“Exceptionally well told… Dr Sherratt provides compelling studies of the philosophers who fled or died rather than play along with Hitler.” Simon Heffer
“A brilliantly conceived work of genuine scholarship… Fascinating and important.” Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
“Outstanding and disturbing.” The Mail on Sunday
“A thoughtful, thought‑provoking book.” Timothy W. Ryback, author of Hitler’s Private Library