Libro difícilmente clasificable, “Masa y poder” (1960) realiza una investigación original de los fenómenos sociales siguiendo una metodología que permite vincular los datos históricos y sociológicos con la psicopatología, a fin de poner de manifiesto las anomalías del ser humano en su totalidad biopsíquica. En esta obra estimulante, el análisis de la interrelación entre individuo y masa, así como de la manipulación que de ésta lleva a cabo el poder, conduce a Elias Canetti (1905-1994, Premio Nobel de Literatura en 1981) hasta los dominios de la antropología patológica, de la patología social y cultural. Canetti no se detiene, sin embargo, en el simple diagnóstico, sino que, a través de la contraposición entre las constantes del comportamiento colectivo y la expresión del poder, sienta las bases de una terapéutica social.

Even though I did not understand this book entirely, it made a considerable change in my way of thinking and looking at matters concerning not only crowds and power, but also other human activities and behaviors. I hope I will reread this book after a few years with a more improved and developed mind, and will be able to grasp better the concepts explained by this Nobel winning author. ( )

M.3.4

A book written with an individual, literary sense of research (power) backed up by a litany of references from ancient times to the 1950s (crowd), this book is a paradox of prophesy and outdatedness that strikes a chord due to Canetti's excellent writing. Some of the borrowed descriptions of rituals and events in different cultures are fascinating, while Canetti's writing is strongest when it is metaphorical and descriptive. On rare occasions in this monumental book the writing gets slow or old-fashioned, but 'Crowds and Power' is still a well of information and ideas that resonates today as much as when it was published. ( )

Ensayo histórico y estudio antropológico para explicar qué es la psicología de la masa ( )