This book is a classic in social science with worldwide popularity. It enjoys a similar reputation with two other books, The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, and Idols of the Tribe: Group Identity and Political Change. This book essentially explores the answers to some questions about the “active phase” of mass movements, such as who will be the true believers? Why are they so fanatical? and What are the characteristics of the leader during different stages of the mass movement?. The author Eric Hoffer once called it “a book even children can understand”. The views in this book are applicable in any mass movement on the planet.