Destined to Survive Auschwitz and His Demons

The Lord above allowed him to survive the Nazi atrocities- he followed his father’s advice (at Auschwitz) to make everyone proud- in 2021 he is 92 years old- he has been carrying the grief of his family for over 76 years- that is his greatest achievement- none of us can ever imagine the demons that exist when he is alone

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Amazing life story, Yes Please!

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The first half of this book was simply unbelievable and totally gripping. The author lived through concentration camps by his wits and sheer luck, and generously shares his story with the reader. The second half of the book I'd file under "celebrity gossip," but every once in a while I did stop to marvel at how far he went with his willingness to work hard and aim for perfection.

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Overcoming Unimaginable Adversity

I received this work for free as part of the Audible Plus Catalog.

Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents' Tailor is an autobiography and a biography written by Martin Greenfield and Wynton Hall respectively. Martin Greenfield is a man who persevered through the most horrible circumstances imaginable and went on to live a prosperous, bountiful life. Stefan Rudnicki provides fitting and effective narration. This is a profound work that should be experienced.

Measure of a Man opens with 15-years-old Martin (formerly Maximillian) absorbing the terrible sights and sounds of Auschwitz, which was a German concentration camp that operated during WWII. Martin and his family were torn from their home in Pavlova, Czechoslovakia, where he was born and raised. The family was separated into various camps. Martin's resourcefulness and propensity for hard work helped him survive the worst circumstances imaginable. His camp was liberated by the Americans in 1945. Although the new-found freedom was daunting, Martin was determined to live a full, fruitful life, despite the emotional wounds that assailed him. He moved to America, where he pursued a career in tailoring. This led to his interaction with some of the world's premier actors, politicians and businessmen. Circumstances do not define the course of your life, and Martin's success proves that.

Martin Greenfield and Wynton Hall write an emotionally impactful work that sheds light on the human ability to adapt and overcome. Portions of the work that are set during WWII do not present an overwhelmingly depressing tone. Rather, events are shared in a matter-of-fact way that shows Martin's emotional detachment from the unfolding atrocities, which was likely a necessary mindset for survival. The pacing in these chapters is slow, which reflects that endless nature of imprisonment that was likely felt by the prisoners. In subsequent chapters, it is clear that Martin felt blessed to overcome such adversity, and the pacing is quickened. The writers do a great job conveying his physical, emotional and societal escalation from an overwhelming nightmare to the peak of success. At its core, this is an encouraging work that teaches the value of perseverance, fortitude and diligence.

Stefan Rudnicki's narrative skill expertly matches the emotional highs and lows felt throughout the work. His accents and inflections coincide with the atmosphere and tone that the writers deliver. He provides clear pronunciation and a smooth flow that extends throughout the short, six hour and five minute duration. His contributions add a level of believability to the work that's lost in paper form.

At its heart, Measure of a Man is the story of an individual who looked past his circumstances and dreamed of a better life. Martin was willing to fight for his freedom and work hard to achieve his dreams. His story is encouraging and uplifting, and the writers do a great job delivering that empowerment to the reader. Rudnicki's superb narration helps elevate the immersion and emotional impactfulness even further. This book should be heard by anyone interested in biographies, historical works and self-development books.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Strange transition

I found the book very annoying for most of the second half. After describing his horrific experiences in the Holocaust, it became the most mundane litany of name dropping.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

A True Survivor

There are so many good things I could say about this book. The one major take away for me is the fact that here is a man that could have spent his entire life angry and bitter but he didn't. He honored his father and made something good from what was horrific.

I will never again complain about anything. This man is grateful, kind, loving, and giving. He turned ashes into achievement. He went from being a victimto being victorious, bitternessto betterment.

EXCELLENT!

The performance was impeccable; giving one the sense of being there at all times. Martin’s writing is unsurpassed. He writes writes with such passion & intellect. I especially appreciate how he advises to give purpose to grief, thus making the grief useful.
Such a memorable memoir. Thank you for your courage.

Lemons turn into lemonade

Well this is a story of success love and temperament. Martin had family, loss but also hope and drive. Good for him. He lived
to tell the tale.

The best of my entire library!

I listened to this book while I was working out. As I was tired or about to quit, I thought of Martin and the pain he suffered along with so many others. His story is remarkable and relatively uncommon with today’s spoiled brats. From a Nazi death camp to one of the world’s foremost and well-known tailors is extraordinary. His hobbies, his friends, his legendary and funny tales make this book at the top of my entire library!

Lifespan tale

I was surprised to hear an inclusion of this person's entire life, and not just the years impacted by war experiences. It was a welcome rendition, to see how the author's resilience contributed to his lifetime success.

Very good read

More than anything this book made me love my country even more!!!! And remind me no matter what the circumstances of life … this is a place where dreams come true ….This book was very heart touching !!!