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leemac027's review
4.0
Such an incredible book!
I have read a number of different accounts from those who have survived trauma and the similarity of these is the resilience, strength of character and positive attitude that have assisted these people to move forward with their lives and build a future.
The main theme is not to live with hate as it is so destructive. They do not forgive those who perpetrated the violence and the trauma, but they do not hate them - this is a strong statement and one that facilitates a better physical and mental health outcome for survivors.
There is so much in this book about determination and how to find the positive in the bleakest of circumstances. But this does not mean that there are no bad days, it's how you come out at the other end - as Abram says - the sun will always rise tomorrow.
Hope provides strength but towards the end of the book I found a passage that showed Abram's frustration and anger at how humans do not learn from previous actions:
"When we were liberated, I expected humanity would learn. I was sure we were going to have a better world for ourselves, for our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But it's the fourth generation and look at what is happening over in Ukraine, even now in 2022. I am so angry to see this kind of thing happening in the 21st century. I have spent my whole life talking about the damage tyranny and dictatorship can do to humanity, and now I see it again. This is the power of propaganda. People are brainwashed into murdering people. They say "If you don't believe what I believe and you don't convert to what we are, your life is worthless." In this regard, much hasn't changed. It's devastating, but I'm used to devastation. I'm also very angry because it has been seventy-five years since the end of the war and what have we learned? I don't think anybody can explain why it's happening. We should know better, and we should value every human being's life. I had hoped the world would be a much kinder and tolerant place by the time I was ninety-seven years old".
Yes Abram - you would think that globally all humans could act together towards the greater good but no matter how many times we say "no more" it happens again.
If any lessons are learned from this book, it should be that the paradigm needs to change - the world needs to work collectively to a better, kinder, tolerant and accepting future. But can we?
I have read a number of different accounts from those who have survived trauma and the similarity of these is the resilience, strength of character and positive attitude that have assisted these people to move forward with their lives and build a future.
The main theme is not to live with hate as it is so destructive. They do not forgive those who perpetrated the violence and the trauma, but they do not hate them - this is a strong statement and one that facilitates a better physical and mental health outcome for survivors.
There is so much in this book about determination and how to find the positive in the bleakest of circumstances. But this does not mean that there are no bad days, it's how you come out at the other end - as Abram says - the sun will always rise tomorrow.
Hope provides strength but towards the end of the book I found a passage that showed Abram's frustration and anger at how humans do not learn from previous actions:
"When we were liberated, I expected humanity would learn. I was sure we were going to have a better world for ourselves, for our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But it's the fourth generation and look at what is happening over in Ukraine, even now in 2022. I am so angry to see this kind of thing happening in the 21st century. I have spent my whole life talking about the damage tyranny and dictatorship can do to humanity, and now I see it again. This is the power of propaganda. People are brainwashed into murdering people. They say "If you don't believe what I believe and you don't convert to what we are, your life is worthless." In this regard, much hasn't changed. It's devastating, but I'm used to devastation. I'm also very angry because it has been seventy-five years since the end of the war and what have we learned? I don't think anybody can explain why it's happening. We should know better, and we should value every human being's life. I had hoped the world would be a much kinder and tolerant place by the time I was ninety-seven years old".
Yes Abram - you would think that globally all humans could act together towards the greater good but no matter how many times we say "no more" it happens again.
If any lessons are learned from this book, it should be that the paradigm needs to change - the world needs to work collectively to a better, kinder, tolerant and accepting future. But can we?