The Survivor

How I Made it Through Six Concentration Camps and Became a Nazi Hunter

By: Josef Lewkowicz

Narrated by: Price Waldman

“Sobering, unforgettable reading. This is a standout of its kind.” – Publishers Weekly

“A riv­et­ing, deeply mov­ing mem­oir. The writ­ing is descrip­tive and dra­mat­ic, pre­serv­ing Lewkowicz’s deep emo­tions.” – Jewish Book Council

This is the remarkable story of Josef Lewkowicz—Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor who became a Nazi hunter.

When Nazi forces entered Kraków, Poland in 1939, unexpected and unresisted, Josef Lewkowicz's life became a nightmare overnight as he and his family were rounded up and sent to concentration camps across German-occupied territory. It wasn't long before Josef found himself face-to-face with SS kommandant Amon Goeth, whose brutality was made infamous by the film Schindler's List.

As Josef struggled to survive the violence, horror, and degradations of one prison camp after another—his journey eventually spanning continents and taking him to the limits of human endurance—he was kept alive only by his faith and his profound sense of justice.

A harrowing but ultimately uplifting glimpse into a pivotal moment in history, The Survivor is the story of one man's survival and pursuit of justice against all odds. The story of resilience and tenacity, and a desire for revenge redirected as a yearning to build a better future for humanity.

"I am ninety-seven and ready to meet my God whenever He calls me. . . I have seen terrible things: ritual hangings, casual shootings, unspeakable cruelty. . . I endured hunger, beatings, and torture in six camps and managed to prevail so I could bring a monster to justice."

In this memoir, Josef Lewkowicz shares a poignant and gripping account of his life, capturing the indomitable spirit and enduring soul—the neshama—of the survivor. It is a testament of the resilience of the human spirit and a tribute to those who defied the darkest moments of our history.

Photos of the author and the events that took place in the book can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.

The Survivor

I’ve read many books on the Holocaust. The author is a testament to the good in humanity. His portrayals are illuminating. They will take you down to ground level in the concentration camps and the abhorent behavior of the Nazis. For the person who has just started reading about the Nazis and WW II, this book is an excellent start. I am grateful for the author’s courage and thankful he chose to write about his experiences.

Fantastic

So well written, and so well narrated. The first-person feel that the writing gives is enhances by the excellent, believable narration. This is one of the best books I've listened to in a while.

Detailed account

Very detailed account of author's life during the Holocaust under Nazi rule, perhaps the most detailed account I've encountered, and certainly very well done! The author also has a practice of summarizing what's happening and his feelings about it, which results in frequent repetitions, overdone, at least for me.
Narration very good!

The sincerity and kindness of the author.

It was a heartbreaking story but beautifully told. We should all read this and remember the suffering of those people and how it happened.

I don't have the words

I can't describe how amazing this book was. I can't describe how this book made me feel. From the horrors that happened to him to finding his Nazi devil to finding his wife and losing her the way he did. I can't find the words to write a review. You MUST listen to this.