57 pages • 1 hour read
If This Is a Man
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Book Brief
398
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Auschwitz, Poland • 1940s
1947
Adult
18+ years
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
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 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.
The Last One
The Last One
An unnamed prisoner known for his defiance against his execution at Auschwitz and for his involvement in a resistance effort within the camp.
Null Achtzehn (Zero 18)
Null Achtzehn (Zero 18)
A fellow prisoner in Auschwitz, distinguished by his indifference to his own suffering and inability to value his own life, marked only by the last digits of his intake number.
Lorenzo
Lorenzo
A compassionate Italian civilian who provides Levi with food and other aid during his imprisonment in Auschwitz, exemplifying selfless humanity in a dehumanizing environment.
SS (Schutzstaffel)
SS (Schutzstaffel)
The Nazi paramilitary organization responsible for managing concentration camps and enforcing racial policies, under whose rule Levi suffered during his time in Auschwitz.
Kapos
Kapos
Prisoners assigned by the SS to oversee fellow inmates, often enforcing camp regulations with brutality; some were recruited from other areas and had better living conditions.
398
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Auschwitz, Poland • 1940s
1947
Adult
18+ years
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