57 pages 1 hour read

Primo Levi

If This Is a Man

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1947

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Before You Read

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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.

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.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

History: European

Incarceration

Period

WWII / World War II

Holocaust

Genre

Italian Literature

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Society: War