 "Not totally accurate but a decent translation" | 2009-10-12 |
| - Reviewed By powerwriter |
Many say this translation, The Manheim, though filled with anti-Hitler footnotes, remains truest to the original.
Houghton Mifflin published a translation by Ralph Manheim in 1943 to avoid having to share their profits with Reynal & Hitchcock. They also wanted to offer a more readable translation. The Manheim translation was first published in England by Hurst & Blackett in 1969.
There are numerous errors in this translation, however. And it doesn't identify a number of important references. Moreover, it omits examples or even mistranslates common sayings of Hitler.
When Manheim was unsure of a word (for example Sheepshead meaning the Bavarian card game), he left it untranslated in the original German.
Some passages are also missing from the Manheim translation, most likely due to the fact that he could not translate them or did not understand them.
Finally, Manheim's translator's note in the front of his translation show his is a biased translation.
Little needs to be said about the words of Hitler. I enjoy reading Mein Kampf. That certainly is not an endorsement of the man or his movement. Mein Kampf is an interesting look into the mind of this man and it is interesting how we can see some of the same characteristics running in numerous people in office today. If we don't know history, we're apt to repeat it.
Indeed, Hitler might even have won a Nobel Peace Prize based on his promises and the excitement he created in people before they really got to know him had the prize been given in those days! Certainly such greats as JFK and Churchill gave him glowing compliments.
Why did people follow Hitler? Knowing what we do now, it's easy to think the German people were stupid. The truth is the country had suffered a severe punishing war and hyperinflation -- money was worthless. They needed a real leader.
Hitler promised everyone everything. He was just the "right" person for that particular time. If times had been different, he would not have risen to power in all likelihood.
I find Hitler part genius, part psychopath.
The book -- no matter what translation -- is a must-read. It's a classic. It's a book that gives you insight into one of the most important minds of the 20th Century and in all of history.
Why should you read any translation of Mein Kampf? Sun Tzu said you must know your enemy. We read about those we regard as dangerous, or wrong or criminal in order to avoid that type of individual ever encroaching into power again. We also read to understand that person in relationship to the times in which he lived.
Just as Hitler knew his dreaded enemy, the Communist Party and Karl Marx, we should know Hitler, the Fascist dictator. Hitler didn't take on an issue or an enemy without knowing it inside-out. In that regard, he was brilliant. He knew what he was fighting. He knew the enemy.
I recommend Mein Kampf (The Ford Translation) to you. Although I do find the Manheim translation better than most previous to Ford. I also recommend Mein Kampf Official Nazi Translation to you.
- Susanna K. Hutcheson |
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 "poor edition: lazy, sloppy translation" | 2009-09-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3DOGA4I1SYIRD |
I'm reviewing this particular edition of Mein Kampf, not the book itself or Hitler's arguments. If you just want to understand what Hitler's philosophy was, this is fine and inexpensive.
HOWEVER, I bought this for research purposes, and have found that the translation is sloppy. Moreover, it is full of typos and I find it difficult to believe it was even proof-read before going to print. For example it has Hitler referring to a battle in "1948", when it is obviously 1848. Another example: "It would be a stake to think that the followers of various political parties...". Surely that should be "mistake", not "stake". Unfortunately this edition is riddled with errors such as this, which is only a reflection of lazy translation and proofing. As a result, I can't be 100% sure that it is accurate, so will have to cross-reference with another edition. |
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 "I agree with the previous reviewer." | 2009-07-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2OCW6Y15CF40 |
I have to agree with the previous reviewer and say the Manheim translation is quite dated now. It has many errors and poor translated parts, some of them are hard to understand. I recently listened to the Ford translation(too lazy to read another translation after reading the Manheim, like 700 pages!!!!) and it was much easier to understand, just like it says on the box. I wish I had started with it instead of reading the Manehim version but I cant complain too much. I read Manehim a year ago and I had forgotten much of it by the time I picked up the Ford translation so not a big deal I guess.
As far as the Mein Kampf book itself goes, if you have a bad translation then it will seem boring and confusing, so make sure you get a good translation if you are going to invest that kind of time in reading such a long book.
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| "Ok but there are better translations" | 2009-07-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: AH9XH3MVKVJAG |
First, this is not a racist book. It is a book that has some racist pages in it. There are many of other much more racist books on the market including ones in your local school library. The majority of people who criticize MK do it without even reading it which only shows their own stupidity. I saw this and decided I should read it before I could form an opinion and I did exactly that a couple of years ago. I was glad I did because I thought it was very interesting. I recently purchased the new translation on audio to listen to it and refresh my memory. Again, I am glad I did because it turned out that I had forgotten a lot of it and some of the parts that did not make sense before now made sense.
I know the Manheim translation is supposed to be the best but the new Ford translation is much better. I have read Manheim and listened to the Ford Translation and the Ford is by far clearer. I also read the book titled Mein Kampf: A Translation Controversy available here on amazon and it revealed that there were many errors in the Manheim version. The Ford translation is also much easier to listen to because it is translated in a more natural way, like people talk. The Manheim was fine for its day but if you are interested in understanding the text and references(which are not explained in the Manheim version) then go for the Ford translation instead. |
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 "Mein Kampf Order" | 2009-06-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: AOJQGJ5YZOXEM |
| Delivery was fast and efficient and the book came in good condition. From what I have read so far the book is excellent and currently have no regrets from my purchase. |
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| "Mein Kampf Review" | 2009-03-26 |
| - Reviewed By User: A28B6N1W5JC10M |
Mein Kampf is exactly like what it is infamous for. It is difficult reading and not because of any supposed complex philosophy. It is merely the rantings of a madman and I would not consider it worth buying since you can read it online.
I rated it 5 star because the book itself is very good, particularly the cover. |
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