Eric Hoffer

Eric Hoffer (July 25, 1902 – May 21, 1983) was an American philosopher and social critic known for his thoughtful ideas about society and human behavior. Coming from a working-class background, Hoffer wrote ten books during his lifetime, sharing his deep insights with the world. His first book, The True Believer, published in 1951, became widely recognized as a classic and was praised by both scholars and everyday readers.

Hoffer's writing often explored big questions about change, belief, and what moves people to support movements or leaders. Although he wrote many books, he considered The Ordeal of Change (1963) to be his finest work. In February 1983, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest awards in the United States, for his contributions to thought and literature.

Today, Hoffer's ideas continue to be studied and discussed. The Eric Hoffer Book Award, an international literary prize, was created in his honor to recognize outstanding writing. Additionally, the University of California, Berkeley awards an annual literary prize named jointly for Hoffer, keeping his legacy alive for future generations of readers and thinkers.

Early life

Eric Hoffer was born in 1902 in The Bronx, New York City, New York. His parents were immigrants from Alsace, then part of Imperial Germany. By age five, Hoffer could read in both English and German. Sadly, he lost his sight at age seven after a fall with his mother, who later passed away. His eyesight returned when he was 15, and he took advantage of this by reading a lot.

Hoffer's father passed away when he was a young man. After his father's death, Hoffer traveled around the country for ten years, sometimes working at odd jobs. He eventually found himself in Los Angeles, where he continued to read and write. He worked as a migrant worker in California and even prospected for gold in the mountains. During the winter, he read works like the Essays by Michel de Montaigne, which greatly influenced him. Hoffer also developed a deep respect for America's underclass.

Career

Eric Hoffer wrote several books and articles based on his own life experiences. He worked as a longshoreman in San Francisco and later became a teacher at the University of California, Berkeley. He was known for his thoughts on society and shared many ideas through his writing. Hoffer received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983 for his contributions.

Working-class roots

Eric Hoffer was deeply shaped by his modest and working-class background. He often wrote in quiet moments, such as waiting in railroad yards or fields, away from busy towns. He described his writing as growing naturally from his life experiences, like a branch from a tree. Though some called him an intellectual, Hoffer always saw himself first as a longshoreman, and he was sometimes dubbed a "longshoreman philosopher."

Personal life

Eric Hoffer was an only child and never married. He had a child named Eric Osborne with Lili Fabilli Osborne, who was born in 1955. Lili raised Eric with her husband, Selden Osborne, and Hoffer stayed friendly with them.

There were some questions about Hoffer’s early life. He spoke with a Bavarian accent and said he was from the Bronx, but others were not sure this was true. Even today, few details about his youth are known.

Books and opinions

The True Believer

Main article: The True Believer

Eric Hoffer became well-known with his first book, The True Believer, published in 1951. In this book, he looks at how large groups of people join movements for big changes, like revolutions or new religions. He says these movements attract people who feel unhappy with their own lives and want to escape their problems by joining something bigger.

Hoffer thought that what matters most in these movements isn’t the specific ideas, but the chance to feel part of something important. He believed that people join these groups not to improve their own lives, but to escape from feeling alone and unimportant.

Later works

After The True Believer, Hoffer wrote about many topics, including Asia and the United States’ role in world affairs. In his book The Ordeal of Change from 1963, he talked about why people in Asia were unhappy, saying it was more about wanting pride than about government problems or outside influence.

During the Vietnam War, Hoffer had mixed feelings. He thought the war might be needed to avoid a bigger conflict, but he wasn’t sure how well the United States was handling it. Later, in The Temper of Our Time from 1967, he suggested that the United States should sometimes stay out of other countries’ problems, letting them solve their own issues.

Papers

Eric Hoffer's papers, including 131 notebooks he carried, were acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 2000. These papers fill 75 feet of shelf space. Hoffer often used a style of writing called aphorisms, which are short, meaningful statements. His unpublished notebooks, from 1949 to 1977, contain important ideas, though not much has been published from them. In July 2005, fifty of his aphorisms about human talents and the creative process appeared in Harper's Magazine.

Published works

Eric Hoffer wrote ten books during his lifetime, exploring ideas about society and human nature. His most famous work, The True Believer: Thoughts On The Nature of Mass Movements, was published in 1951 and became a classic. Hoffer also wrote The Ordeal of Change in 1963, which he considered his best work. Other notable books include The Temper of Our Time from 1967 and Truth Imagined published in 1983, the year he passed away. Each book offers unique insights into the world around us.

Interviews

Eric Hoffer participated in several notable television interviews. In 1963, he was interviewed in a twelve-part series by James Day for KQED in San Francisco titled Conversations with Eric Hoffer. Later, he appeared on CBS with Eric Sevareid for "Eric Hoffer: The Passionate State of Mind" in 1967, which was rebroadcast in November of that year because so many people wanted to see it again. He also had another conversation with Sevareid on CBS called "The Savage Heart: A Conversation with Eric Hoffer" in 1969.

Awards and recognition

Eric Hoffer received many honors for his work. In 1971, he was given honorary doctorates from Stonehill College and Michigan Technological University. In 1978, a bust of Hoffer was created by sculptor Jonathan Hirschfeld and placed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

In February 1983, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan, the highest civilian honor in the United States. After his passing, a skygate was unveiled in San Francisco in September 1985, with a dedication speech by Eric Sevareid.