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.

Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestrial Intervention, and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization (2005), Book Review

Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestrial Intervention, and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization (2005) edited by J. Douglas Kenyon

Fascinating! My curiosity on these subjects sparked by a British writer and journalist, Graham Hancock, author of Fingerprints of the Gods and Magicians of the Gods, where he outlines from archaeological and geological findings, astronomy and historical monuments, current science and old myths, that there is an unknown prehistoric ancient civilization(s?) with advanced technologies and scientific knowledge. I’ve listened to at least four of Hancock interview sessions with Joe Rogan in The Joe Rogan Experience podcast (mind you, each session is about 2-4 hours) and also have spent a great amount of time, say, about 6 hours+ of YouTube videos of any documentaries related to this topic – those who support and disapprove of this theory. I’m still skeptic but I must admit, this kind of theory and all the subjects above (see subtitle), really open my eyes to explore other alternative arguments as well.  

During my research, I remember I have bought a book many years ago that also discuss these subjects. So, I dig boxes in my mini library and joyfully, I found it – Forbidden History. Just what I expected, the book mentions this theory, Graham Hancock, other theories, and those who have played leading roles in challenging the entrenched scientific establishment, assumptions, and status quo. I’m thrill! This book consists of 42 essays by 17 key thinkers taken from the bimonthly journal Atlantis Rising. The aim, writes J. Douglas Kenyon, is to “put forward such evidence, and to propose ideas and theories concerning the origins of life and the human race itself that may very well be more in accordance with reality than currently prevailing orthodoxy.” It is divided into six (6) parts:

Part 1: The Old Model Don’t Work: Darwinism and Creationism Under Fire

Part 2: Making the Case for Catastrophism: Earth Changes, Sudden and Gradual

Part 3: Exploring the Greater Antiquity of Civilization

Part 4: Searching for the Fountainhead

Part 5: Ancient High Tech

Part 6: New Models to Ponder

What interesting about Part 1 is that the co-authors explain what I suspected for so long that Darwinism doesn’t just have a missing link but there are lots of missing links. Search for missing links is “futile” said Hill Hart. On the other hand, Creationism also encounters a problem “not in the idea of intelligent design, but in its dogmatic and inflexible interpretations of the Bible [or religion texts] concerning the debate over human origins,” explain David Lewis. We don’t have to choose between Darwinism or Creationism as it is known in the scientific community today, there is probably another alternative. Part 2 on Catastrophism, I think, is a very good case. One needs to study the works of Immanuel Velikovsky and Robert Schoch to see the plausibility of this theory. The global flood told in most of the ancient myths may be true. Part 3, 4 & 5 brings back my wonder about the extravagance of Egyptian Sphinx, the mystery of Great Pyramid, astronomic knowledge of ancient Mayan, the legend of Atlantis, the unexplained monuments around the world, and many more. Part 6 requires true believers. It explores the possibility of visitors from beyond (aliens), space artifacts, and complex/intelligent signals from another galaxy.

I’m almost convince - but not yet - that there is a prehistoric ancient civilization(s), maybe before the flood in Genesis 7; I’m still processing the implications of extraterrestrials to my belief in the God of the Bible (it seems impossible in a vast universe, we – human beings – are alone?); but overall, I’m still skeptical. It appears that the co-authors of Forbidden History have good evidences and somewhat fair in their assessments. Two scientists, for example, may look at the same evidence, but their conclusion can be different. My advice: read the current, standard history and – at the same time – forbidden, untold history.

#ServeToLead #1Book1Week #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #LeadersAreReaders #ForbiddenHistory #PrehistoricTechnologies #OriginOfCivilization #AlternativeTheories  

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