The reviewer finds the book unique among Holocaust literature for its psychological perspective. They appreciate the author's analytical approach and the way he maintains focus on his purpose despite the horrors of his experiences.
The reviewer is intrigued by the book's psychological perspective on the Holocaust, which sets it apart from other accounts. They admire the author's ability to maintain focus and draw connections between his experiences and his purpose. The reviewer also highlights the author's unique approach to survival, which involved envisioning his wife and finding meaning in his suffering. They are shocked to learn that the prisoners did not react with joy upon liberation, but rather with disbelief and exhaustion. The reviewer finds the book to be a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience during the Holocaust.
Quick quotes
This tale is not concerned with the great horrors, which have already been described often enough(though less often believed), but with the multitude of small torments.
At that moment I saw the plain truth and did what marked the culminating point of the first phase of my psychological reaction: I struck out my whole former life…
Suddenly there was a silence and into the night a violin sang a desperately sad tango, an unusual tune not spoiled by frequent playing. The violin wept and a part of me wept with it, for on that same day someone had a twenty-fourth birthday.