This book came up more than once on my recommendations. Granted, I have read a lot of World War II books and plenty about Auschwitz.

The Happiest Man on Earth is written by Eddie Jaku. I would not think that “happy” and “Auschwitz” appear in a sentence together too often. I decided to give it a try.

Once you get into the book, it becomes very apparent that Eddie is indeed a happy guy. He is 100 years old while writing the book. He has seen a lot in his lifetime – bad and good. So who better to talk about happiness, than Eddie? Here is the Goodreads synopsis:

Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you.

Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp.

Over the next seven years, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors every day, first in Buchenwald, then in Auschwitz, then on a Nazi death march. He lost family, friends, his country.

Because he survived, Eddie made the vow to smile every day. He pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom and living his best possible life. He now believes he is the ‘happiest man on earth’.

Published as Eddie turns 100, this is a powerful, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful memoir of how happiness can be found even in the darkest of times.

The book was written in 2020. Eddie enjoyed turning 101 on April 14, 2021. He passed away 6 months later, on October 12, 2021. He died a happy man.

It is a quick read, and worth it.

Five out of five stars!