The Third Reich: A Layman's Guide

by Scott Addington

Twelve years. That is all the Third Reich lasted, but despite being relatively short lived, the reverberations of the cruel oppression, the blatant abuse of power, the manipulation of a generation, the earth shattering war and the evil genocide can be still be felt today in the twenty-first century. How did a seemingly anonymous Austrian-born army corporal who, apart from winning the Iron Cross First Class during the First World War, hadn't really achieved anything of note with his life, end up not just gaining the top seat in Germany, but was able to exert such control over his subjects that they would willingly follow him anywhere, even to the brink of self-destruction? As with other 'Layman Guides' this one covering The Third Reich has been written specifically for people who have little of no knowledge of the subject and it will act as an ideal introduction to a subject which can be quite daunting to some readers. The style of writing is more like an informal chat over a cup of tea/coffee rather than a heavy historical text and the story flows naturally, albeit without mountains of detail. The chapters are purposefully short and sharp - perfect for dipping in and out of when ever the fancy takes you. For anyone looking for an entertaining and informative overview of the Third Reich, this Layman's Guide provides just enough detail to gain a good grounding of knowledge and understanding , without the reader becoming overwhelmed in detail and complexity.

Genres: Nonfiction

180 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the history of Nazi Germany.

[Connie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this great read! There are things about the end of WWI, the feelings of the Germans, how an Austrian was able to take over a country, and so much more that goes into WWII. From beginning to end, you will not want to put this book down until the very end. His "layman's guide" (as Scott Addington describes his take on history) has a very unique writing style that makes history come to life! It is not just dates, names, and so forth. He will make anyone, even those who dislikes history, want to read more books of his! This is a fast read because it is so interesting. However, it also informs the reader what we may not have known about Germans and how Hitler had so many people under his thumb. It is not a holocaust book at all. Mr. Addington focuses on the Third Reich. You will absolutely love this book! I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

[Tim Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short and written in an engaging (and sometimes funny!) style this taught me loads. We all know about the Third Reich, and I have read one history book on the period (Nazi Wives: The Women at the Top of Hitler's Germany), and The Third Reich: A Layman's Guide gave me much needed context, the whats and whys, of the regime. Given that the Third Reich is talked about so much I was surprised by how much I learnt from this very quick read. A fantastic book.

[Christi-Ann Pierantoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good content

This is a short book, but a very good one. It's obvious that Mr. Addington did a lot of research into the topic, and tried his best to make it accessible to the average reader. However, his writing style was a bit too 'familiar', and he used too many slang phrases that really only a person familiar with British English would know. I was able to figure out what Mr. Addington meant, but it interrupted the flow of the book, and he was therefore docked one star. It's still a very good book, and I recommend it.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor writing

Little concept of grammar; ignores punctuation ruled; incomplete sentences; run-on sentences; misuse of words. The poor writing interferes with comprehension and enjoyment.

[Benjamin Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I enjoyed this book immensely it turned a dry subject and Filled it with interesting information. Definitely a Good Substitute for The lack of Material in American Schools

[Eiain · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not enough books like this on the market. Scott Addington has produced a book that gives the layman a full guide to the Third Reich, from the start to the final moments at the Nuremberg trials including the sentence that each of the Nazis received. This guide deals with everything that we read in the history books but rather than bore you to death, it gives short accurate accounts of what was going on throughout the 14 years of their tyrannical rule. Full of facts and interesting details that keep the reader captivated.

If you want to know about this subject, but think that you just cannot face the mounds of details and research, then do not worry as Scott has done all the hard work for you. It reads like a friend is educating you and not like a traditional textbook that you get part way through and discard.

Scott has researched the materials very well and presents it to us in easy to swallow parts.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for those looking to hear about the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The book delivers as described in the title "A Layman's Guide". I would recommend it to anyone who does not want to go read four or five books on Hitler. The author does a great job describing the historic events that transpired during this time in a story-like manner. I did notice a few spelling and/or grammatical errors in the book but nothing that took away from the content. I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written,enjoyable

A good look at the Third Reich. Concerning itself primarily with the military. A great starting point for readers interested in German history.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm only now starting to get interested in history and I really enjoy Scott Addington's style of writing. Learning the basics first really suits me as I think I would give up with an epic tome.

[Milan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to this dark part of human history. After this book, as the author also suggested, read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer.