In Erik Larson's book "In the Garden of Beasts," the author explores the eerie atmosphere of Berlin during Hitler's regime, emphasizing how language was manipulated to alter public perception. Terms that typically had negative connotations, such as "fanatical," were redefined as positive qualities, reflecting the disturbing inversion of values in Nazi propaganda. This shift highlights the extent to which the regime controlled not only actions but also thoughts through a distorted lexicon.

Larson's narrative delves into the experiences of an American family living in Berlin during this tumultuous time, detailing their struggles to understand the emerging terror surrounding them. The contrast between ordinary life and the rising madness of the Nazi ideology showcases the surreal nature of living under such a totalitarian regime, where the very language of everyday life had been corrupted to serve the goals of oppression and fanaticism.