The Longshoreman Philosopher
The self-taught dockworker-thinker who shaped presidential minds; plus, a unique opportunity, and an exclusive invitation!
Gracious reader,
I had a joy-filled weekend working on my book about lifelong learning, and I stumbled upon the story of someone who was highly consequential several decades ago, but is largely forgotten by newer generations.
In a world where credentials are currency, Eric Hoffer was a remarkable anomaly.
Born July 25, 1902, in The Bronx of New York City, he died on this day, May 21, 1983, at the age of 80 in San Francisco, CA.
He had no formal education, no university affiliation, no literary pedigree. For most of his life, he worked as a day laborer, dishwasher, and longshoreman on the San Francisco docks.
Yet in 1951, this self-taught thinker exploded onto the American intellectual scene with his first book, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements—a penetrating analysis of fanaticism, ideology, and the psychological roots of mass conformity. It became a bestseller, caught the attention of presidents, and secured Hoffer a place in the cultural conversation, all without him ever abandoning the physical labor that grounded his life.
Born in 1902 to German immigrant parents in the Bronx, Hoffer lost his eyesight at age seven, mysteriously regained it at fifteen, and then—fearing it might vanish again—read obsessively. After his mother's death and father's passing, he drifted across the country during the Great Depression, picking fruit, sleeping in fields, and carrying books by Montaigne, Shakespeare, and Pascal in his knapsack. He wrote in secret and with a sense of urgency, believing the world didn't owe him a platform and that ideas had to justify themselves by their clarity and insight alone.
Hoffer’s philosophy was shaped not by abstract theory but by direct experience and deep observation of human nature. In The True Believer, he explores how disillusioned individuals often surrender themselves to mass movements—not because they believe in the cause, but because they want to escape the burden of personal agency. Fanaticism, he wrote, wasn’t born from conviction but from self-hatred and a longing to dissolve the self into something greater.
He continued to write over the next few decades—books like The Ordeal of Change and The Temper of Our Time—always concise, aphoristic, and unshakably independent. He shunned fame, declined honorary degrees, and refused to move into academia. Instead, he kept working on the docks well into his sixties. “My writing is done in railroad yards while waiting for a freight,” he once said. “In the fields while waiting for a truck. In bunkhouses, in hobo jungles, and on the piers while waiting for a beef stew lunch.”
Presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan admired him. LBJ even appointed him to the White House Conference on Education. Yet Hoffer remained intellectually and politically unclassifiable. He praised capitalism and individualism but distrusted elites. He championed personal responsibility but spoke empathetically of the poor. He didn’t court the left or the right—he provoked both.
Eric Hoffer is significant not just for his ideas, but for what he represents: a living rebuke to the notion that wisdom is the exclusive domain of the formally educated. He reminds us that the life of the mind belongs to everyone, not just those with degrees and diplomas. His life is a quiet yet radical testimony to the democratic ideal—that insight can come from anywhere, and that a dockworker can read Pascal by moonlight and reshape how a nation thinks about belief, identity, and power.
In an age dazzled by credentials and captive to status, Eric Hoffer reminds us that the life of the mind requires no permission slip. A true philosopher need not wear robes or stand at a lectern. He might just as well wear a work shirt, carry a lunch pail, and jot ideas on scrap paper between shifts—not to impress, but to enjoy the fruits of beauty, goodness, truth, and the life of the mind for its own sake.
Questions for you to consider—drop your reflections in the comments below!
Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner?
What are your common barriers to lifelong learning?
To what extent does Eric Hoffer’s story inspire you and your life of the mind?
An Invitation to Go Deeper—Together: A coaching and consulting “Spark Session”
The Soul of Civility continues to open doors—to healing, growth, and meaningful engagement across divides. Since its release, and as our Civic Renaissance community has grown to 50,000+ thoughtful readers around the world, one question keeps arising:
“How do I apply these principles in the most painful or personal parts of my life?”
I’ve spent the last decade helping leaders—from heads of state to local organizers, faith leaders, and families—transform conflict into connection. I’ve advised groups ranging from the UK House of Lords to the Parliament of Canada, and spoken at institutions like Stanford and Yale. You may have seen my work in The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, TIME, or PBS.
But many of the most powerful, life-changing conversations I’ve had weren’t on television or a stage.
They happened one-on-one.
That’s why—for a short time—I’m opening a handful of one-time Spark Sessions: private, 15, 30 or 60-minute conversations where we zero in on hard challenges you’re facing, and develop clear, courageous next steps.
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Examples of challenges we can tackle together:
Rifts with Family Over Politics – A loved one has grown distant after a political disagreement. You want to reconnect without compromising your values.
Workplace Tensions – Your team is stuck in mistrust or morale issues. You need a path forward—now.
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Even if you don’t see your challenge or question above, inquire anyways!
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An exclusive invitation: the Carmel, IN, inaugural Civility Summit!
Shortly after The Soul of Civility was published, a remarkable community—Carmel, Indiana— reached out, inspired by the book’s message and eager to bring its principles to life. I’m thrilled to share that this spark of interest from extraordinary leaders in has blossomed into the inaugural Civility Summit—a new, soon-to-be-annual gathering dedicated to renewing civic life through beauty, courage, and connection. We’re inviting local leaders from across the country to join us for this exciting first chapter. Learn more and inquire about applying here.
Looking ahead:
May 23, 2025- St. Johns Classical Academy of Fleming Island, Commencement Speaker
May 24, 2025- Redefining Classics, The Catholic University of America
September 26- 27, 2025- Civility Summit
2025 Indiana Women's Collaborative, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, August 28, 2025
The Polo Club of Boca Raton, November 3, 2025
In the news:
Is Silence Violence? How Yale Law School Reminded Me of the Virtue of Viewpoint Neutrality- “Viewpoint neutrality isn’t weakness — it’s a principled stand that respects disagreement and protects civil discourse.” Sharing my latest for WSB blog — interested to hear your thoughts!
The World’s Oldest Stories to Help Your Relationships! With Alexandra Hudson- Truth Changes Everything Podcast
I Love to Read: Author Alexandra Hudson to headline Zionsville Community Read event- Wishtv.com- Want to know the secret to doing politics well today? Doing politics LESS. We’ve allowed politics to take up too much of our mental consciousness, and it’s hurting society and ourselves. Join us in Zionsville at The Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library on April 30th at 6:30 PM in the Lora Hussey Room to explore this and many other surprising ways to heal our divides.
Paideia, Humanitas, Civility and Education- I was honored to be invited to write this essay for The Ronald Reagan Center on Civility and Democracy. In a time often marked by division and discord, reflecting on the relationship between civility and education offers both wisdom and hope.
Thanks to Timothy Donahue of Oakland University for this thoughtful Public Books review of The Soul of Civility! He highlights a key argument: civility isn’t mere politeness—it’s essential for real social progress. Read here!
I had a great time joining Josh on the Good Morning Liberty podcast! We discussed historical lessons on civility, focusing on how John Adams and Thomas Jefferson overcame deep political divides to restore their friendship. Their story is a powerful reminder that mutual respect can heal even the deepest rifts. The episode is now live—tune in and let me know your thoughts!
It’s Time for a New Era of Christian Civility- read my latest piece for Christianity Today!
Thanks so much to MSNBC for hosting a segment about The Soul of Civility. Watch here!
A Year Ago on Civic Renaissance:
Citizen Kane vs. William Randolph Hearst
Thank you for being part of our Civic Renaissance community!
I absolutely consider myself a lifelong learner, and my biggest barrier is time - there' always more to read, and never enough time to do all of it that I (want) to do.
I have never heard of Eric Hoffer, but his brief story above reminded me of the men and women in Fahrenheit 451 who absorb the stories and knowledge of books in order to relay them to the next generation after the burnings; allowing Montag and this new community to freely think.
Nice to read a post on Eric Hoffer. I have been a huge fan of his for years but if you really want to repudiate formal education in general and college education in particular, you should highlight Benjamin Franklin or Fredrick Douglass. These men rose from little or nothing (and in Douglass’ case from slavery) to a prominence Hoffer never achieved (Hoffer is known by almost no one except for some few obscure academic types like myself). Franklin and Douglass also changed the world for the better (even though it is trying hard to reverse course).
Hoffer’s writings while profound are abstruse and are difficult to unpack without a strong background in philosophy and an understanding of world and contemporary history.
One of my favorite Hoffer aphorisms:
“Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a God, but never without belief in a devil. Usually the strength of a mass movement is proportionate to the vividness and tangibility of its devil.”
More practically, Franklin and Douglass both wrote about their lives and times (both self-published autobiographies) and the importance of self-reliance and individual responsibility. Their writings are straightforward and easy to understand without any background in philosophy or history.
Douglass used a popular school reader—the Columbian Orator—to educate himself. He learned to read by finding white friends who would teach him in exchange for food (sometimes even by tricking them).
I would highly recommend his collection of speeches, especially “Self-Made Men” and his Fourth of July speech.
Franklin lived during the end of the Enlightenment period. He was America’s first great mind and scientist and was celebrated by the likes of David Hume, Adam Smith and Voltaire. Through his printing business he spread far and wide his thoughts and opinions on a wide range of subjects. One might argue that Franklin offered Americans (and Europeans) their first social media or Substack: Poor Richard’s Almanac, The Way to Wealth, Fart Proudly, and much more.
Fun fact: Franklin was indentured to his older brother James as a printer’s apprentice, but ran away and made his fortune (some say he was the wealthiest American of his day).
Please don’t misunderstand me. Eric Hoffer’s writings are pearls of wisdom and truth. But to start reading his work without any foundational knowledge would be like taking calculus before understanding algebra and trigonometry: not impossible, but extremely difficult.