kaulyjo's review against another edition
1.0
The same as a lot of people I know, I have somewhat of a fascination with the Holocaust. And perhaps "fascination" is the wrong word because it's nothing short of horrifying, yet in that horror lies a continued desire for knowledge, perhaps only as a way of understanding enough to prevent anything similar from happening again. Because of this interest, I was excited - again, it doesn't seem like the right word - to pick up the book "Auschwitz: A History" and get a really good in-depth look at the most notorious of the concentration camps.
Unfortunately anyone who is looking for an in-depth look should look elsewhere. There's a note in the beginning that the author was able to flesh out the book because of a research paper, yet it doesn't seem like she went much beyond what must have originally existed for the paper. To claim that you've written a history of something so monumental to humankind with 123 pages seems a bit foolhardy.
The book is packed with information, but it's provided in such a haphazard, slap-dash kind of way that you never fully understand the contexts surrounding the facts. You never get a clear picture of the players or of their motives (inasmuch as you can), nor do you really understand the timeline of the two that eventually became synonymous with the camp. It's a lot of information told in a way that doesn't provide any clarity. Nor does it stir any of the emotions that should be required element for any book that recounts the Holocaust as only through empathy can we learn to avoid the pitfalls of those before us.
There is a list of resources that the author used, located in the back of the book. I presume that a good many of those resources would be much more likely to provide the in-depth look I was hoping for.
Unfortunately anyone who is looking for an in-depth look should look elsewhere. There's a note in the beginning that the author was able to flesh out the book because of a research paper, yet it doesn't seem like she went much beyond what must have originally existed for the paper. To claim that you've written a history of something so monumental to humankind with 123 pages seems a bit foolhardy.
The book is packed with information, but it's provided in such a haphazard, slap-dash kind of way that you never fully understand the contexts surrounding the facts. You never get a clear picture of the players or of their motives (inasmuch as you can), nor do you really understand the timeline of the two that eventually became synonymous with the camp. It's a lot of information told in a way that doesn't provide any clarity. Nor does it stir any of the emotions that should be required element for any book that recounts the Holocaust as only through empathy can we learn to avoid the pitfalls of those before us.
There is a list of resources that the author used, located in the back of the book. I presume that a good many of those resources would be much more likely to provide the in-depth look I was hoping for.
franzinera's review against another edition
4.0
The book not only covers the events that happened on the camp but also the circumstances in which it was built and what happened after the war was over. It's a compact resume with lots of valuable information. I took one star off only because the way it was written confused me sometimes, and the extensive names and locations made it hard for me to follow. Nonetheless, is a recommended reading for anyone who wants to know more about the background and history of this place.
adamvolle's review against another edition
1.0
Dull grad student papers should not be slapped between covers and marketed to innocent, unsuspecting readers.
nhreader's review against another edition
4.0
This read very much like a thesis - some parts were dry and technical, while others read like parts of a novel. Overall I learned more than I could have imagined and Steinbacher certainly knows her stuff. I wish more of her books were available in English, especially "Dachau".
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the mini-series about the camp, but a good overview with some facts about the history of the area.
smittaaay's review against another edition
3.0
Good, but it really jumps all over the place and seems to change objectives at least twice throughout