Books like Hitler's Table Talk, 1941-1944

Considering the individual this book chronicles, I would not be entirely surprised if most did not approach it with an objective mind. Its very easy to allow one's prejudices to overtake them when approaching a subject such as this. However, I was encouraged in my years as a History and Political Science student to leave my prior convictions at the door, and to analyze material with an objective and focused mind. Dealing with an individual like Hitler, objectivity in analyzing everything this book delivers is a Herculean task.This book showcases a man who had a solid grasp on many subjects. Discussions pertaining to economics, the environment, being a vegetarian, modernization, culture, and bereaucracy are all present here. I might seem daft in saying this, but if you were to remove his racial policy, the war, and the trappings of Nazism that rotted away at his dictatorial powers, I would honestly see this man as something of a center-leftist. He had some very interesting views on economics and ecology, the latter field was not even much of a certain in his time. It seems a bit disappointing even with an individual like this, that despite his occasional brilliance, he would use his abilities for destruction and repression, not the advancement of German society or mankind. That said, this is not the goofy, idiotic Hitler often portrayed in the media. Most interesting, Hitler makes a few predictions in this book that would ultimately come to pass. He predicted the breaking apart of the old British Empire, the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the push for a united Europe. There is even mention that the side of the impending conflict who lacked access to raw materials would be destined to lose. It seems a bit surreal of him to be accurate about such things, and I can't help but wonder if he envisioned his own grasp at world domination as nothing more than a mad gamble. In this, I could almost make comparisons to Mao Tse-tung, who viewed failure as no option, and success at the cost of millions of lives as acceptable. Disturbing how these minds think similarly.In all, I was quite enthralled with this book, and it is quite the source for anyone interested in studying this man. A complex and interesting figure he is, considering there is much speculation and absorbing interest revolving around him, and its books like this that give us an open window into the inner mechanisms of his mind. Fascinating yet simultaneously unnerving.