Night (1958, 2006) by Elie Wiesel, Book Review

Have you read Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning (1946) or Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl (1947)? If you have, then Night will be a good read too. It's a good read because it shows the level of human depravity and the sacredness of life. When Elie was a teenager, he and his family were taken from their home to one of the most horrible places in the memories of Jewish history, the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp. The Holocaust. Nazi Genocide. Mass murder. Infants are being tossed into the furnace. "It is obvious that the war which Hitler and his accomplices waged was not only against Jewish men, women, and children," writes Elie, "but also against Jewish religion, Jewish culture, Jewish tradition, and therefore Jewish memory."

Night is both a fascinating read into the human psychology and theology of suffering but also a horrifying read (especially if you can somewhat imagine what you read) into the face of evil and devilish ideological systems. "Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky. Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes. Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never." But then again, it is a story—or a memoir—of hope and faith too. Read it!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #TheHolocaust #HolocaustSurvivor #ElieWiesel #Suffering #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

Perhaps you're interested to read my short summary review of Victor Frankl's Man’s Search for Meaning, CLICK HERE

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.