The Happiest Man on Earth

I had The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor by Eddie Jaku on my to-read list (can't remember where I originally heard of it) and got it from the library. After I got it, one of my book clubs decided to do a read-any-memoir this month, so this worked out nicely. The book description says, "Born in Leipzig, Germany, into a Jewish family, Eddie Jaku was a teenager when his world was turned upside-down. On November 9, 1938, during the terrifying violence of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, Eddie was beaten by SS thugs, arrested, and sent to a concentration camp with thousands of other Jews across Germany. Every day of the next seven years of his life, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors in Buchenwald, Auschwitz, and finally on a forced death march during the Third Reich’s final days. The Nazis took everything from Eddie—his family, his friends, and his country. But they did not break his spirit. Against unbelievable odds, Eddie found the will to survive. Overwhelming grateful, he made a promise: he would smile every day in thanks for the precious gift he was given and to honor the six million Jews murdered by Hitler. Today, at 100 years of age, despite all he suffered, Eddie calls himself the 'happiest man on earth.' In his remarkable memoir, this born storyteller shares his wisdom and reflects on how he has led his best possible life, talking warmly and openly about the power of gratitude, tolerance, and kindness. Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. With The Happiest Man on Earth, Eddie shows us how."

This was a super good read. I liked that it wasn't an overly long memoir--like the author just told his story in a succinct way without unnecessary tangents. It was a simple book that tells the story through a first-person narrative. I thought the book was well organized and easy to follow and also balanced out the story with advice and lessons learned. Eddie went through the unthinkable, and it was inspiring to read about his bravery and resilience and the power of friendship. True accounts of the Holocaust are always very heavy, but I also think it's important to read the stories of what happened so we never forget.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)