Escape from Freedom

A landmark work of social psychology, this book examines the paradox of modern freedom: as individuals gained independence from traditional authorities, many also experienced isolation, anxiety, and a longing to escape that very freedom. Drawing on history, sociology, and psychoanalysis, the author explores how the Reformation, the rise of capitalism, and the growth of individualism reshaped the human psyche. He analyzes the appeal of authoritarianism and the psychological mechanisms that can lead people to submit to destructive systems. Written by a prominent humanist thinker and psychoanalyst associated with the Frankfurt School, this classic offers searching insight into the tensions between individuality, security, and democracy, and remains strikingly relevant today.