Originally Posted by
want my Slimjim
What I would like to address here are the various ways to approach the reading of Mein Kampf, once one has chosen a translation.
Mein Kampf, of course, may be read like any ordinary book, by beginning with page one of the first chapter, and proceeding through to the end.
The first chapter, "In the House of My Parents," is short and moves quickly. The next two chapters, however, "Years of Study and Suffering in Vienna" and "General Political Considerations Based on My Vienna Period," can be tough going for those who are new to National-Socialism. Detailed discussions on topics such as the past mayors of Vienna, can be difficult and off-putting for someone who does not have a grounding in such topics.
Alternately, one may approach Mein Kampf by reading cetain key ideological chapters first. In this way, the reader can get right to the heart of Hitler's thought, and see how it applies to the world today.
The two chapters that are most crucial in understanding the National-Socialist worldview is "Nationalism" (Volume I, Chapter 11) and "The State" (Volume II, Chapter 2). "Nationalism" discusses the core of NS nationalist theory; "The State" describes the ideal type of society which we National-Socialists are struggling to build.
A third approach to Mein Kampf is to read the chapters dealing with the early history of the NS movement, and with practical aspects of building the Movement.
"The Beginning of My Political Activity" (Vol. I, Chapt. 8)
"The German Workers' Party" (I:9)
"The First Period of Development of the National Socialist German Worker's Party" (I:12)
"The Struggle of the Early Period--The Significance of the Spoken Word" (II:6)
"The Struggle with the Red Front" (II:7)
"The Strong Man is Mightiest Alone (II:8)
"Basic Ideas Concerning the Meaning and Organization of the SA" (II:9)
"Propaganda and Organization" (II:11)
Utimately, you want to read every word in the book. But it is a long, serious, complex book, and each reader will have to decide which way to approach it is best for him or her.
Mein Kampf is not light reading, nor is it designed for casual entertainment. It needs to be studied carefully, and the reader should go over key passages again and again until their full meaning and implications sink in.
"My Struggle" can be a struggle indeed--but one that greatly repays the effort one puts into it. In the end, truly grasping Mein Kampf is the equivalent of earning a graduate degree at a major university!