In the garden of beasts
by Erik Larson · first published 2011
70% recommend30% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A narrative history of the American ambassador to Nazi Germany and his family in the 1930s. It is highly entertaining and well researched, and it offers a good read for context on the years before WWII.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The bestselling author of "Devil in the White City" turns his hand to a remarkable story set during Hitler's rise to power. The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America's first ambassador to Hitler's Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
The years of Lyndon Johnson
Robert A. Caro
Recommended by 20 · mentioned by 2220 recommend · 22 mention20 recommend · 2220 recommend
2015–2023Team of Teams
Stanley A. McChrystal, Tantum Collins, David Silverman, Chris Fussell
Recommended by 17 · mentioned by 1817 recommend · 18 mention17 recommend · 1817 recommend
2009–2026World War Z
Max Brooks
Recommended by 27 · mentioned by 5627 recommend · 56 mention27 recommend · 5627 recommend
2016–2026How Asia Works
Joe Studwell
Recommended by 36 · mentioned by 5136 recommend · 51 mention36 recommend · 5136 recommend
2007–2026The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 996 recommend · 99 mention6 recommend · 996 recommend
2016–2025Shoe Dog
Phil Knight
Recommended by 77 · mentioned by 10377 recommend · 103 mention77 recommend · 10377 recommend
2010–2026Freedom™
Daniel Suarez
Recommended by 60 · mentioned by 8260 recommend · 82 mention60 recommend · 8260 recommend
2008–2026Code
Charles Petzold
Recommended by 243 · mentioned by 287243 recommend · 287 mention243 recommend · 287243 recommend
By invoking Nazi analogies to make your point, you're actually doing a disservice to your argument. I just finished reading the NYT best-seller In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin [1]. It made me think that, notwithstanding Godwin's Law [2], citizens should continue to be mindful of what can happen in a 'civilized' society.…
on “The Google Wallet, a lifetime log of your purchases” ↗The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine - Michael Lewis. A highly-entertaining insider's view of the mortgage/financial debacle. http://www.amazon.com/Big-Short-Inside-Doomsday-Machine/dp/0... In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin - Erik Larson Highly entertaining non-fiction that reads like fiction. Accounts of the build-up to hitler's Germany like you're actually there. http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Beasts-Terror-American-Hitlers/...
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012” ↗Books I've give away this year: - "In the Garden of Beasts", Erik Larson: An excellent history of diplomatic relations between the US and Germany leading up to WWII. - "Dune", Frank Herbert: Most of you are probably familiar with this book.
on “Ask HN: What book did you read in 2016 that was so good you gifted it to others?” ↗…known as the Russians.. some others-- The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt The Food Explorer by Daniel Stone anything by Erik Larson but especially Isaac's Storm (about the Galveston hurricane of 1900) and In the Garden of Beasts (about the American ambassort to 1930s Nazi Germany) Travels with Herodotus and Shah of Shas by Ryszard Kapuscinski The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum Parisians by Graham Robb
on “Ask HN: What are your favourite history books?” ↗…environment they get developed and the consequences for society. It’s very well researched, although as with every book that’s written by a non-tech person it has its flaws. But overall enjoyed it a lot. In the garden of beasts, by Erik Larson The story of the US ambassador to Germany while Hitler was in power. You get a first hand glimpse of the environment and the atmosphere of the era, as also the intricacies of the Nazi…
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best books you have read in 2022?” ↗Couple of good books to read (or listen to) for context: “In the Garden of Beasts,” Larsen “The Coming of the Third Reich,” Evans
on “Beer Hall Putsch” ↗…was not so much a broad overview, but rather a closer look at the American ambassador and his family in Germany in the 1930s. I can wholeheartedly strongly recommend it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Garden_of_Beasts
on “Why the Wuhan lab leak theory shouldn't be dismissed” ↗…responsible for paying for a good part of their formal duties as Ambassadors(eg throwing parties, travel, etc). So historically, having wealthy people in the role was a requisite. I gleaned this from reading "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson [2]. The bits I have cobbled together suggest there is an interesting history surrounding the practice of selecting and acting as a US Ambassador. [0] https://2001-2009.state.gov/outofdate/bios/t/53349.htm…
on “EU Commission to staff: Switch to Signal messaging app” ↗…years, then get married, have kids - and need a real income. And now the next hiree has to go to all the trouble of re-establishing relationships with donors. I just read a reasonably interesting book (In the Garden of Beasts) about an academic who became FDR's ambassador to Nazi Germany. One of the points that the author repeatedly makes is that such positions were very much the preserve of the wealthy, who were expected…
on “People from elite backgrounds increasingly dominate academia, data shows” ↗The book about pre-war Berlin, "In the Garden of Beasts" recounts the experience of American Ambassador to Germany, William Dodd. As ambassador he and his family had many direct encounters with the German government of the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Garden_of_Beasts
on “A Nazi Critic and a Gestapo Spy” ↗