Toward the Final Solution: A History of European Racism

This is a very interesting study into the history of racism in modern Europe. Mosse brings in scientific and biological rationales for racism as well as early anthropolgoical arguments. A fascinating if not depressing read only due to the fact that people really thought and in some cases still think like this.

Mosse's work on the genesis of european anti semitism is both readable and powerful. Through his exploration of nationalism and catholic history he develops a cogent theory of how the christian attitudes towards Jews were formed. While most study on this topic begins in the 19th century, Mosse is able to link it to a far deeper history and in so doing, greatly improve our understanding of this phenomonon.Any one who wants to understand the Holocaust's progenitors would do well to start with this important text.