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[I did] Some [reading to prep for Expelled]. I read one book cover to cover, From Darwin to Hitler, and that was a very interesting book--one of these rare books I wish had been even longer. It's about how Darwin's theory--supposedly concocted by this mild-mannered saintly man, with a flowing white beard like Santa Claus--led to the murder of millions of innocent people.

Ben Stein#13

EvolutionControversyHistoryBooksReading

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker reads a book linking Darwinism to Nazism and finds it compelling.
In plain terms
I read a book connecting Darwin to Hitler and found it interesting.
What can you take from it?
Books linking science to historical atrocities can be impactful.

Where it applies

  • reading research
  • political debate
  • historical analysis

Putting it to work

  • researching history
  • reading controversial books

Questions to consider

  • How do scientific ideas influence politics?
  • What makes a book compelling?

Another view

The link between Darwinism and Nazism is historically debated.

More from Ben Stein

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  2. Yes, it [making Expelled] has made my belief in that [Intelligent Design] much stronger. It has pointed out something which haunted me ever since I learned abo…

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  3. And for me, it's pretty clear-cut that until we learn some better explanation for how life began, there is a God who always existed and created the heavens and…

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