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Primo Levi

If This Is a Man

Primo LeviNonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1947

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Book Brief

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Primo Levi

If This Is a Man

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1947
Book Details
Pages

398

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Auschwitz, Poland • 1940s

Theme
Publication Year

1947

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

If This Is a Man by Primo Levi chronicles his experiences as a Jewish prisoner during the Holocaust, detailing his capture in Italy, transport to Auschwitz, and year-long survival amidst dehumanizing conditions. The memoir highlights the brutality of concentration camps, the struggle for survival, and the small moments of humanity that persisted amidst extreme hardship and violence. The work includes depictions of genocide, antisemitism, torture, starvation, execution, and other forms of extreme violence.

Informative

Dark

Unnerving

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

If This Is a Man by Primo Levi is a powerful Holocaust memoir that offers a harrowing, reflective account of life in Auschwitz. Reviewers praise its stark prose and profound human insight. Some find its graphic depictions difficult to bear but appreciate its historical importance and philosophical depth. An essential, moving read, though emotionally intense.

Who should read this

Who Should Read If This Is a Man?

A reader who appreciates profound, introspective narratives on human endurance and moral dilemmas set against historical backdrops will be enthralled by If This Is a Man by Primo Levi. Fans of Elie Wiesel's Night and Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning will find Levi's account equally compelling and thought-provoking.

Book Details
Pages

398

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Auschwitz, Poland • 1940s

Theme
Publication Year

1947

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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