EckerNet.Com

When one thinks of old historically important texts that is making a comeback to the best-seller list, there are many I would think of, but this was certainly not one of them.

\”Mein Kampf,\” Adolf Hitler\’s autobiography, is flying off the shelves at Indian book stores as business students look to Germany\’s former dictator for inspiration, the Telegraph reported.

Indian students see the book as a self-improvement and management strategy guide, sources told the British newspaper.

Now I\’ve read the book.  In fact, I even own a copy.  Picked it up one summer in college to get a glimpse into the mind of what most consider the modern face of evil.  Reading through it was an exercise in trying to play amateur psychologist to figure out how you go from struggling artist to mass-murdering crazy man.  It was an interesting, if not especially entertaining read.  If not for the historical importance of the author, I\’d have stopped reading it very early on and thrown it in the trash.

Still I have to admit I\’ve incredibly confused by this development.  I sort of see a self-improvement angle you could take from it, but none of it is especially profound, and when you look at the end product, probably not something to emulate either.  And as far as the management strategy, I\’m utterly at a loss.  His successes were certainly not due to any superior management skills, and even if they were they are certainly not described within the pages of this book.

So I\’m inclined to at least entertain the notion that :

Some experts say the book\’s popularity stems from political reasons, and has little to do with management.

\”While it could be the case that management students are buying the book, my feeling is that it has more likely influenced some of the fascist organizations operating in India and nearby,\” Dr. J Kuruvachira, a professor of Philosophy at Salesian College in Nagaland told the Telegraph.

But on the other hand the sheer volume of sales suggests this isn\’t a fringe extremist movement.  I\’m a little curious just what they are teaching in Indian business schools that a text like this is found to be relevant.