The Coming of the Third Reich

By: Richard J. Evans

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

There is no story in 20th-century history more important to understand than Hitler’s rise to power and the collapse of civilization in Nazi Germany. With The Coming of the Third Reich, Richard Evans, one of the world’s most distinguished historians, has written the definitive account for our time. A masterful synthesis of a vast body of scholarly work integrated with important new research and interpretations, Evans’s history restores drama and contingency to the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazis, even as it shows how ready Germany was by the early 1930s for such a takeover to occur. The Coming of the Third Reich is a masterwork of the historian’s art and the book by which all others on the subject will be judged.

©2005 Richard J. Evans (P)2010 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"[A]n impressive achievement.... [Evans'] opus will be one of the major historical works of our time." ( The Atlantic)

An important book dreadful narration

This book is the first of a trilogy explaining how the Nazis gained power in Germany. It is an important, well written and accessible book. Unfortunately the alleged narrator (and I use that term lightly) manages to ruin it. He stumbles from word to word as though completely unaware that they are in any way connected to one another in things which we call 'sentences'. He manages to pause in all the wrong places as he drones his way through the book, systematically reducing it from fascinating information to monotonous drivel. Whatever this person does professionally he should return to it. Poor Richard Evans. Great writing, preposterous narration. The four stars go to the book with minus five black holes to the 'narrator'.

A Clear View of Terror

Over the years, I have fancied myself as an amateur expert on WWII and the Third Reich. This tome proved their is so much to learn. This is the first volume that places the Third Reich in and time and space continuum, where factors inside and out of Germany molded the future of the country. A closer look at Bismarck, the effects of WWI on the natinal psyche, the perceived failings of the Weimar Republic, the distressed world-wide economy, inherent German conservatism and nationalism, communist aggitation and latent anti-semitism conspired to make the Thrid Reich.

Read this book and you will understand how a minority party utilizing terror, scape-goatism and an emotional, not intellectual,appeal led Hitler to legal/consitutional power.

Life is breathed into the main characters, deflecting the grainy photos and memories from the past. Some were complex, some were simple and some were conflcited as the played part in this tragic play. The Third Reich was not inevitable, because early on courageous people and forces could have taken a stand against evil and turned the Riech into a historical footnote.

Listen to this story, it is a clear, lively and informative narrative

Supremely through investigation of the Nazi's rise

Tremendously well organized and consistent bring each aspect of the the unparalleled political rise to the forefront.
Each chapter had a clear layout and built on the previous chapter allowing for ideas to build and give a greater understanding of not only the outward appearance but also the inner workings that allowed for such a historic movement to grow and then occupy power.
Without losing context Richard Evans exhibits the truly unbelievable setting the world was in. He shows just how everything and everyone played a role in shaping the atmosphere of the world and in Germany.
Recommend this book if you want to gain a deeper understanding of the Nazi rise and the eventual consequences of what seemed like small events but did eventually lead to the horrific tragedy of what world war 2 would become.

Excellent

Evans presents a highly researched and very thorough history of how Hitler and the Nazis came into power.

excellent narrator

Well read and covers alot. looking forward to the next volume.

i learned alot. it's not preachy but straight forward.

Outstanding

Brilliant synthesis, great narration. Along with Ullrich’s first Hitler biography, the best book I’ve read or listened to on the Third Reich.

Has content I didn't know previously

I read WWII history, and I've read/listened to the "classics" like the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and other books focusing on different aspects of the Third Reich, and this book has content I wasn't aware of before. This is exceptionally detailed, and this first volume embeds the Third Reich in Germany's history. Sean Pratt is an excellent narrator, and he keeps your attention. I highly recommend it. My only complaint is that the maps in the physical version aren't included as a PDF, but that's a quibble.

1920 to 1938 Looks a lot like today

If the USA isn't careful the coup we witnessed in 2020 will end in disaster.

Excellent..

I loved the book… although a little repetitive at times, it explains a great deal about the roots and causes of Naziism.

… and will take the author’s word for it, that it is founded on research…

A good good listen!

Well read

Lots of great info for WW2 and Third Reich enthusiasts. Nice calm reading. I prefer to listen while falling asleep for the night