Living a Life That Matters: from Nazi Nightmare to American Dream

Lesser, B. (2011). Living a Life That Matters: from Nazi Nightmare to American Dream. Las Vegas: Remembrance Publishing.

Adult / YA / Audiobook / Memoir

I gave this audiobook 5 out of 5 stars

As we pass the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp, I thought I'd post this review of a book as an encouragement to keep informed and remember the horrible mistakes of the past so that they aren't repeated.

"Despite our differences, we share a common humanity, and it is better for all of us to honor our shared humanity rather than to despise our differences." Ben Lesser. What an incredible life this man has lived, and what an incredible optimism he has maintained through the unspeakable horrors, tortures, and indignities he survived. His message is so much more than "never forget." So much more.

I enjoyed hearing the parts Lesser narrated himself the most. Actor Jonathan Silverman was very good, but the pacing was off for me: listening to him at regular speed was too slow, and the next notch up (at 1.25x) made him sound really anxious? excited? I think this book would be better read anyhow, in order to let the subject matter sink in more. Lesser's memories are brutally honest and raw and real, making his story scarier and more evil than any fiction story could be.

Lesser does an excellent job of putting everything in context, so that younger readers (or older readers who don't know their history) have a broader understanding of what was happening. Sadly, tragically, there are no good answers to Lesser's repeated question: how did the rest of the world let the Holocaust happen? 

Thank you to Sync summer audio program for providing this free audiobook with absolutely no strings attached! As appreciation, I gave this book my honest review-- the only kind I give.

UPDATE: Mr. Lesser wrote an incredible blog entry about now being the ONLY survivor of the Dachau death train. . . incredible. Click the picture to go to his blog entry.

70 Years Later, With the Death Train

 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SURVIVOR BEN LESSER, THE ZACHOR HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION, OR TO PURCHASE THE BOOK.

 

Take a stand and be the voice for the six million voices that were silenced. By uniting together we can stop the world from acquiring amnesia. SHOUT IT OUT! Spread the word and envision yourself conveying a timeless message that your children’s children can see and feel for eternity.