Customer Reviews
Buy 'If This Is A Man' Instead - By: Jeremy Hawker, 07 Jul 2008 
A great work, but 'Survival in Auschwitz' is just the American name for 'If This Is A Man', which is published in Britain together with 'The Truce' in a single volume. Amazon has it, & it's better value as well as a better title.
One of the best Holocaust memoirs - By: Dr. D. Fraser, 18 Sep 2007 There has been much great literature written by holocaust survivors, & this one is just about as good as any.
Primo Levi describes in "Survival in Auschwitz" the scheme by which those who could were able to maintain some sort of existance. Those unable to work are gassed, shot or beaten to death. Those who manage to survive are those who find ways to make themselves useful, without actual serioius exertion on the meagre rations. The lifeblood of the camp is "organising" - a black market where a stolen bar of soap is traded for a slice of bread; a potato for a scarf.
One difference between Levi & other Holocaust memoirs, is that he does not rely on an emotional appeal. He produces a trully excellent & insightful disposition of the the psychology of genocide. The emotional effects stems from Levis astute analysis, rather than being explicity given, an as such & as such are probably actuallly more effective.
It is a strange aspect of holocaust literatre, that in describing such terrible events they can engender such positive feelings in the reader. The way that those such as Levi can survive the horrors & somehow come out the other end as full human beings is inspiring to us alll.
a hard read - By: Stephen Mcguigan, 13 Sep 2006 
this book was a below average read,iv read much better books than this onthe concentration camps.i found this book very hard to stay interested in & found alot of times my mind would wander off & get bored of this book so i didnt bother finishing it.so i wouldnt recommend this book
Recommended read - By: Edward Tem, 22 Feb 2005 Following the Auschwitz anniversary, I decided to read a lot more about the holocaust than I knew. Survival in Auschwitz by primo Levi was one of the books I read & loved. I consider it to be one of the most well-written, touching & compelling memoirs about the holocaust. Promo Levi is an excellent writer, with deep, lucid & compelling prose & insightful writing style. This book is one of the most influential books of my life.
After reading this book, I can't imagine any person not honestly feeling for humanity, & becoming compassionate no matter what the circumstance is. This well-depicted book is a recommendation for those interested in the plight of mankind in wars & other man-made & natural disasters. Read it & you will rave & pass it on to your friends.
This is a well recommended Holocaust book along with DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE,PERIODIC TABLE, NIGHT
horrific, huge, scary, what we can do to one another - By: , 09 Mar 1999 please read this book. I have long studied WWII, no other work as so affected me to the extent of this book. Levi explains the ultimate horror. Imagine being stripped of everying, honor, clothing, self esteem. Self & worthiness. It is maddening. Levi produces a realistic, traumatic & horrifying portrait of what people went through not more than 54 years ago. Lest we repeat this lesson, it is important to listen to those like Levi. We alll are capable of the ativistic characteristics of those we wish to distance ourselves from.
