The Happiest Man on Earth
The Happiest Man on Earth
Eddie Jaku
Synopsis: Eddie Jaku recounts his time during the Nazi takeover in Germany and his imprisonment at Auschwitz.
Rating: PG-16 Some descriptions may be too intense for younger teens.
WOW. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. I don’t care what kind of books you normally read. I don’t care if you like fiction or non fiction, romance, mystery, sci fi, history, whatever- READ. THIS. BOOK.
When I first learned about this one, I was instantly intrigued. The Happiest Man on Earth is just not a title you expect to see on a book about surviving Auschwitz. It was truly astounding to learn about everything that Jaku went through, and came out the other side of. Even more so when he recounts of what life was like for him when he was freed.
Jaku’s retelling of his experiences is gut wretching. This book (like most, if not all, about the Holocaust) is not for the faint of heart. But, I’m grateful for it. We cannot let these stories be forgotten. This kind of horror cannot be repeated.
But beyond that, it’s absolutely inspiring to see that a person who has witnessed some of the worst horrors humanity can offer and still wake up to find joy in his life. I think that’s something we can all learn from.
Please, please, please read this book. It’s a quick read– only 208 pages, and if you listen to the audiobook it’s only about 4 hours. It’s beyond worth every single moment of your time, and it may just change your life.