I Shall Live cover art

I Shall Live

Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds

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I Shall Live

By: Henry Orenstein
Narrated by: Henry Orenstein
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About this listen

I Shall Live tells the gripping true story of a Jewish family in Germany and Russia as the Nazi party gained power in Germany. When Henry Orenstein and his siblings ended up in a series of concentrations camps, Orenstein's bravery and quick thinking help him to save himself and his brothers from execution by playing a role in the greatest hoax ever pulled on the upper echelons of Nazi command. Orenstein's lucid prose recreates this horrific time in history and his constant struggle for survival as the Nazis move him and his brothers through five concentration camps. His description of their roles in the fake Chemical Commando sheds new light on an incredible and generally unknown event in the history of the Holocaust. This edition of I Shall Live contains new evidence about this false Commando, including letters signed to and from Himmler himself.

Orenstein, aside from being a Holocaust survivor, has made a name for himself as a toymaker who called for the production of Transformers, as well as a poker player.

©1987 Henry Orenstein (P)1996 Common Mode Inc. 20th Century Historical Military Modern Inspiring

Critic reviews

"I read this book in a single day; I found it so compelling it was hard to put down." (Simon Wiesenthal)
"An adventure almost novelesque in the extraordinary succession of miracles which enable the young man to remain among the living" (Claude Lanzmann, producer of Shoah)
All stars
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Stunning listen. Everybody should be made to listen to this. Overcoming such adversity and violence and hardship. Heartbreaking throughout.

Moving and heartbreaking

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A highly moving story of survival and death, and cruelty beyond belief, I am amazed at how any person could survive this and still have the faith and trust in mankind.

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If you could sum up I Shall Live in three words, what would they be?

A fantastic harrowing story that should be listened to if you can stand the monotone voice of the reader.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I enjoyed all the characters in this true story of life lived in dire circumstances, the reader unfortunately read the whole book in a monotone without feeling which makes feeling the hardhip dificult.

What didn’t you like about Henry Orenstein’s performance?

English is obviously not his first language and just being jewish is not the point being jewish doesn't help if he can't put feeling into the words.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Triumph through adversity.

Any additional comments?

Too many of these holocaust stories are read by jewish or people of Polish extraction, and being one myself I don't see the need what is needed is someone that can put heart and soul inot every word so you can try and feel what the writer is trying to make you feel, the horror of it all!

Excelent story with the wrong reader.

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Brilliant read and story about Jews in the War. Such brutality during the war. Recommend to read this book

Brilliant

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Fascinating first hand account from a holocaust survivor. Narration made the ordeal real, wouldn’t have worked in anyone else’s voice,

Interesting, heartbreaking story

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