In Erik Larson's "In the Garden of Beasts," the author examines the perspective of William Dodd, a U.S. diplomat in Nazi Germany, who expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler. Dodd believed that Hitler had successfully lifted the German people from their dire circumstances, promoting a sense of national pride and economic revival. He thought Hitler's policies were instrumental in fostering stability in Germany during a period of rising communist threats.

Dodd specifically praised initiatives like the Strength through Joy program, which offered German workers free vacations and leisure activities. He viewed these programs as effective methods for maintaining control over the workforce, believing they discouraged demands for higher wages that workers might waste on frivolous spending. This reflects a complex view of how economic strategies were employed to shape social behavior during the Nazi regime.