The Happiest Man on Earth

by Eddie Jaku

Hardcover, 2021

Status

Available

Call number

940.5318092

Genres

Collections

Physical Books, EvaStreet

Publication

Macmillan Australia (2021), 200 pages

Description

Biography & Autobiography. Judaica. Self-Improvement. Nonfiction. HTML: A New York Times Bestseller In this uplifting memoir in the vein of The Last Lecture and Man's Search for Meaning, a Holocaust survivor pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom, and living his best possible life. Born in Leipzig, Germany, into a Jewish family, Eddie Jaku was a teenager when his world was turned upside-down. On November 9, 1938, during the terrifying violence of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, Eddie was beaten by SS thugs, arrested, and sent to a concentration camp with thousands of other Jews across Germany. Every day of the next seven years of his life, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors in Buchenwald, Auschwitz, and finally on a forced death march during the Third Reich's final days. The Nazis took everything from Eddie�??his family, his friends, and his country. But they did not break his spirit. Against unbelievable odds, Eddie found the will to survive. Overwhelming grateful, he made a promise: he would smile every day in thanks for the precious gift he was given and to honor the six million Jews murdered by Hitler. Today, at 100 years of age, despite all he suffered, Eddie calls himself the "happiest man on earth." In his remarkable memoir, this born storyteller shares his wisdom and reflects on how he has led his best possible life, talking warmly and openly about the power of gratitude, tolerance, and kindness. Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. With The Happiest Man on Earth, Eddie shows us how. Filled with his insights on friendship, family, health, ethics, love, and hatred, and the simple beliefs that have shaped him, The Happiest Man on Earth offers timeless lessons for readers of all ages, especially for young people today.… (more)

Media reviews

Sydney Morning Herald

It is estimated that more than 6 million Jewish people (as well as millions of other victims of Nazi persecution) died in the Holocaust, two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population. At Auschwitz, 1.1 million people died. As the Sydney Jewish Museum's oldest Auschwitz survivor and volunteer, Jaku has

been telling his story since the museum opened in 1992. A gifted orator, he joined the speakers’ circuit, talking to students, teachers, politicians and professionals, sharing insights into his remarkable resilience. For his efforts he was this year named a finalist in the 2020 Senior Australian of the Year awards. Last year, at 99, he gave a TEDx talk that was met with a resounding standing ovation from the 6000-plus crowd at Sydney’s International Convention Centre. The idea for his book came from the rough outline of that speech, and all the talks he’s given over the years. The memoir is told in the vein of Anh Do's The Happiest Refugee. His narrative is woven together like one of Aesop’s fables, with a moral enlightening even the darkest chapters. They are life lessons such as: hug your mother, tell her how much you love her, shared sorrow is half sorrow, shared pleasure is double pleasure, and love is the best medicine. His optimism has a special resonance in this era of containment. COVID-19 may have quashed his plans to have a 100th birthday party at Point Piper Yacht Club in April, but now his legacy lives in a book that is bound to be a bestseller.

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User reviews

LibraryThing member marykuhl

This is my annual book for Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Eddie Jaku was born in Germany in 1920. He was a proud German, loved Germany, the people, the scenery, the history. He was also Jewish. In November of 1938, all that changed with Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass. Eddie's father pushed him

to seek an education as an engineer, so he left his family and the city he loved, gave up his identity and became just a German. But there were many detours in Eddie's life, from being turned in as a German spy to eventually being found out as a Jew. Eddie ended up at Auschwitz and endured several years there. This is his story, and how his life after the concentration camp changed him into being the happiest man on Earth. I fell in love with Eddie from the first page and I am sad to say I will never meet him as he left this world in October of 2021 at the age of 101, but he had a long life. Not always good, but he made the most out of the hard times. This book is filled with wonderful quotes from Eddie and gives inspiration to everyone to make the best out of life, hug your mother, and not to hate one another. Thank you, Eddie for sharing your story.

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LibraryThing member Steven1958

Eddie, now 100 years old, recounts his life, his experiences and mental health issues caused by living through the Holocaust and World War II. At times, his story is heartbreaking, but always full of hope and love. A story never to be forgotten. A memoir for the ages.

LibraryThing member Fliss88

Nothing I can say, will not already have been said about this amazing book. It's a horrendous story yet I came away from it feeling very positive and although deep moved, quite peaceful. Eddie Jaku proves the saying - Life Is What You Make it!

LibraryThing member Mercef

What an amazing story. Simply told, yet very powerful. Author Eddie Jaku, survivor of WW2 concentration camps and their unfathomable tragedies, was 100 years old when this book was published. Even though I have read much about the Holocaust, this memoir was still shocking. Eddie’s recount of the

brutal treatment of the Jewish people at the hands of the Nazis is definitely worth reading.

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LibraryThing member TheYodamom

Audiobook read by Eddie
How do you review a mans life story, and this such an epic one. Eddie is a hero, a real life human hero. He is all that is good, all that we should all strive to be. Imagine a world with more Eddies.
The horrors done to him and so many others, I have no words for such a

nightmare. He kept his humanity, his kindness, his love for others, always. He took what was taken from him, all that he had and he still gave.
I thought this book would have me crying and it did, but mostly if left me feeling hope. Hope is the lifeline that Eddie never lost and he gifted it to me with his words. We must never forget, always fight against hate and fear.
Hug your mothe

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LibraryThing member thebacklistbook

Eddie (pronounced Addie) Jaku (jay-koo) takes us through his experience of the Holocaust. He shares loss, love, and joy of life. Please read this book. It is educational and poignant.

LibraryThing member clamato

Eddie passed away in October 2021 at the age of 101 which is an incredible feat in itself but the fact that he survived the war and the Holocaust is more than a miracle! His words read like he is sitting with you and telling you his stories face to face. He endured so much pain, loss and fear yet

had the strength and courage to survive and we are all better off for it - a remarkable man and a remarkable life.

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LibraryThing member brianinbuffalo

[4.25] It sounds a bit incongruous: An inspirational and uplifting work based on the holocaust — although movie fans were treated to the same unlikely blend in the unforgettable film “Life is Beautiful.” But I digress. Eddie Jaku’s tersely-written memoir is heartwarming, heartbreaking and

ultimately enlightening. The holocaust survivor shares important life-lessons — albeit insights that have been explored in many other books. The key takeaway is that happiness is something we can choose regardless of the struggles we face. “Happiness does not fall from the sky,” writes Jaku. “It’s in your hands.”

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LibraryThing member secondhandrose

Beautiful book showing the pure goodness of the author. Highly recommended.

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