The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Background

This book is a version of a true love story in the worst place. 2 people met and stayed alive throughout their time at the Auschwitz concentration camp. This story wasn’t told until recently and was originally made into a screenplay. The book, was released in 2018.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz
The Tattooist of Auschwitz

My Thoughts

The concentration camps of the 2nd world war were something that is barely even imaginable today. Even with so many descriptions of the horrors there, I keep coming back to wondering how people can be that horrible to other people. Yet, just a look around at any social media will show hints of how people are willing to treat others. We seem to forget the lessons of the past so easily. Study after study seem to confirm we are all capable of these deeds with much less incentive than what we might think. The key seems to be the ability to categorize others as something other than ourselves. If they are “other”, they are different and worthy of different treatment. Yet, it never seems to cross our mind that we may be “other” to them and worthy of the same.

Recommendation

I’m not sure whether to recommend this or not. I’m glad of the reminder in a way but it wasn’t pleasant. I won’t be seeing the movie.

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