Did Adolf Hitler Read a Book a Night?
Despite popular belief, the claim that Adolf Hitler read a book a night is entirely false. Hitler's primary interest was not in literature but in films and monologues.
Hitler's Entertainment Preferences
While Hitler enjoyed films, one of his favorite movies was The Lives of a Bengal Lancer. This film depicted the British rule over India with a small number of soldiers, which Hitler regarded as an ideal model for Germany’s colonization of Russia. He also enjoyed the film The Great Dictator starring Charlie Chaplin and found the humor in it amusing.
Hitler's Habits and Monologues
Beyond his interest in films, Hitler had a keen habit of indulging in monologues, often at the Berghof, a retreat where he entertained guests. He would often tell the same stories repeatedly and discuss various topics, such as the perceived villainy of the Jews, his plans for a Germanic Europe, and an Aryan Jesus. One of his quirkiest habits was going to bed at absurdly late hours. However, it is clear that reading a book a night was not one of his daily routines.
Challenges in Uncovering Hitler's Truth
Discovering the truth about Adolf Hitler's habits is a difficult task. The Nazis, being the first to recognize the importance of public image, deliberately presented Hitler as a superhuman. Similarly, the Soviet propaganda also sought to create an image of Stalin. Due to this manipulation, many lies still persist.
It is noteworthy that Hitler was responsible for burning and banning a significant portion of German literature and philosophy. This amounted to a form of ideological censorship intended to promote his own ideas. Consuming hate and intolerance daily, while trying to ignore everything else, would not produce a learned individual.
Habits Contrary to Reading
Hitler's approach to reading was more aligned with selective reading rather than thorough cover-to-cover engagement. In his own admission from his book Mein Kampf, he states, 'I know many people who read much but whom I would not describe as well read. They merely memorize facts and are unable to distill the essence of a newspaper article or book from the trivia.' Hitler's method involved reading the table of contents first, then turning to the conclusion. If he deemed a book valuable, he would peruse those parts he considered pertinent to his interests, primarily political and military affairs.
Through this selective reading approach, Hitler created the image of an intellectual without actually displaying extensive erudition or genuine knowledge. This method allowed him to present himself as knowledgeable on certain topics while avoiding an in-depth engagement with literature.