Edith Eger
Category: Biography
Rating: 9/10
In 1944, almost 5 years after the start of World War II, Germany seized complete hold of the town of Kosice in what was then known as Hungary. Sixteen-year-old ballerina and gymnast Edith Eger and her family were abruptly uprooted and sent to a brick factory and later to Auschwitz. Being separated from her parents on arrival, who were sent to the gas chambers, was just the beginning of the nightmare that awaited her. With determination to survive and her sister by her side, Eger endured unimaginably cruel experiences. Nine months after her arrival at Auschwitz, things began to unravel for the Germans and Eger, along with her sister, was consigned to ammunition trains and slave labour and transported to one of the first concentration camps, Mauthausen and later its sub-camp, Gunskirchen. When the camp was finally liberated, she summoned her last ounce of strength to lift her arm and grab the attention of an American soldier. With a broken back, Eger was pulled from a pile of dead bodies by the liberating troops, barely alive.
The years following the war were not free of captivity. A broken body and mind weighed down by trauma took years to break free from. However, the horrors of the Holocaust didn’t break Eger. In fact, they helped her learn to live again with a life-affirming strength and truly remarkable resilience.
At a whopping 95 years old, Eger is a renowned psychologist and public speaker who continues to inspire people throughout the world with her wisdom, kindness and high kicks.
The Choice is the unforgettable story of her captivity, loss, liberation and journey to healing.
My Favourite Quote From The Choice
“Suffering is universal. But victimhood is optional.”
Who Should Read The Choice?
This book is a great read for anyone. It is interesting from a historical perspective and incredibly inspiring. It is a great reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit as well as the need to determine your own destiny by making perseverance and positivity a deliberate choice.
You can buy the book from Takealot here