Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

Robert Jay Lifton Discusses how His 1961 Book is Still Relevant Today.

Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton. The University of North Carolina Press has just reissued Lifton's classic 1961 book, "Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism." That book examined what's commonly been referred to as 'brain washing' as it was practiced in Communist China. Lifton says the book has new relevancy now in light of the rise of 'cult' religions and the recent pro-democracy movements in China and eastern Europe. Lifton has also studied the psychological effects of the Hiroshima bombing, and he's examined the mindset of the doctors who conducted human experiments for the Nazis during World War 2. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

22:24
Queue

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on January 17, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, January 17, 1990: Interview with Robert Jay Lifton; Review of the Nimbus "Prima Voce" series of albums; Interview with Sally Price; Review of David Lodge's novel "Souls…
Queue
06:56

Nimbus Recaptures Classic Opera on New Series "Prima Voce."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new series of early operatic recordings reissued on the Nimbus. Lloyd says Nimbus went to extraordinary lengths to re-record these vintage performances from the first half of the century, and the care shows.

Review
Queue
11:23

The Dehumanizing Western Construct of "Primitive Art."

Anthropologist Sally Price. In her new book, "Primitive Art in Civilized Places," she attacks the West's desire to own the art of native peoples. She says the West's attitude toward those peoples is one of arrogance, snobbery, and patronization; and that all too often there's no effort made to learn about, or even identify, the actual artists who's work ends up in museums and homes throughout the First World. Price's academic life alternates between her studies of the Maroon people of Suriname and teaching assignments in the United States.

Interview

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
12:50

Professor Robert Jay Lifton

He is a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the Graduate School University Center and director of the Center on Violence and Human Survival at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York. He has written books on many topics, including the Japanese cult which released poison gas in the Tokyo subways, Nazi doctors, Hiroshima survivors and Vietnam vets. He'll discuss the emotional impact of the Iraq war on the American people.

Interview
Queue
16:30

Robert Jay Lifton

He is professor of psychiatry and psychology at the Graduate School University Center and director of The Center on Violence and Human Survival at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at The City University of New York. He has written books on many topics, including a Japanese cult that released poison gas in the Tokyo subways, Nazi doctors, Hiroshima survivors and Vietnam vets. He will discuss the emotional impact of the Columbia shuttle disaster, as well as the impact of an impending war in Iraq, and the looming nuclear crisis in North Korea.

Interview
Queue
06:24

Robert Jay Lifton

Robert Jay Lifton is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the Graduate School University Center and director of The Center on Violence and Human Survival at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at The City University of New York. He's written books on many topics, including the Japanese cult which released poison gas in the Tokyo subways, Nazi doctors, Hiroshima survivors and Vietnam vets.

Interview

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

36:27

'The Great Refusal' author Casey Gerald says ruining his reputation saved his life

CASEY GERALD, author of the new book The Great Refusal: A New Vision of Resistance. It picks up where his previous book, There Will Be No Miracles Here, left off, which is a memoir that chronicled his life growing up in Oak Cliff, Dallas; attending Yale and Harvard; working at Lehman Brothers; creating a successful nonprofit; and, at the height of his success, walking away. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

16:03

Netflix's 'SCTV' is a treasure trove of underdog humor

Tv critic DAVID BIANCULLI reviews SCTV, which is now available to stream on Netflix . “SCTV,” also known as “Second City TV,” was a low-budget sketch comedy show that originated in Canada in the mid-1970s and continued in syndication and on network and cable TV until 1984. Its cast members over the years have included John Candy, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, and Andrea Martin.

WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPT 2026

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

52:30

Rosanne Cash shares the list of music her dad, Johnny, insisted she know [REBROADCAST]

Singer and songwriter, ROSANNE CASH. When she was 18, her father Johnny Cash gave her a list of 100 essential country songs. Years later she released an album titled The List featuring 12 of those songs. (REBROADCAST FROM 2009.10.05) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW)

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue