Top Jewish Lives and Stories

The best Jewish Biographies includes Downstream from Here: A Foreign Correspondent, The Happiest Man: Auschwitz Survivor's Life Story, Cellar Rat: Life in the Restaurant Underbelly (Hardcover) and many others as mentioned below.

1

Downstream from Here: A Foreign Correspondent

  • Memoir of a foreign correspondent turned farmer.
  • Explores life after high-pressure journalism assignments.
  • Details a family's journey to finding home.
  • Captures adventures in war zones and rural life.
  • Inspires with stories of resilience and reinvention.
  • Features endorsements from notable figures like Jeff Daniels.
  • Chronicles a journey of passion and purpose.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $0.99
2

The Happiest Man: Auschwitz Survivor's Life Story

  • Uplifting memoir of a Holocaust survivor's journey.
  • Celebrates resilience, kindness, and the power of gratitude.
  • Highlights wisdom gained from unimaginable experiences.
  • Inspires readers to find beauty in life.
  • Timeless lessons on friendship, love, and tolerance.
  • Perfect for young readers seeking inspiration.
  • A tribute to those lost during the Holocaust.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.59
3

Cellar Rat: Life in the Restaurant Underbelly (Hardcover)

  • Chronicles a career in the restaurant industry.
  • Explores the invisible life of restaurant employees.
  • Features encounters with renowned chefs and celebrities.
  • Details the allure and dangers of fine dining.
  • Reflects on passion versus career satisfaction.
  • Shares an emotional journey of self-discovery.
  • Highlights the realities behind glamorous restaurant culture.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $26.10
4

The Happiest Man on Earth: Auschwitz Survivor

  • Uplifting memoir of a Holocaust survivor.
  • Inspires gratitude, kindness, and resilience.
  • Details Eddie Jaku's harrowing journey through concentration camps.
  • Shares timeless lessons for all ages.
  • Emphasizes the power of forgiveness and love.
  • Encourages living life to its fullest potential.
  • Highlights the importance of remembering the past.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $21.25
5

Daughter of Auschwitz: A Tale of Survival and Hope

  • Powerful memoir of Auschwitz survivor Tova Friedman.
  • Instant New York Times bestseller.
  • Foreword by renowned actor Sir Ben Kingsley.
  • Documenting childhood during the Holocaust.
  • Details near-death experiences in brutal conditions.
  • Highlights the obligation to remember Holocaust victims.
  • Co-authored with award-winning journalist Malcolm Brabant.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $19.68
6

Cellar Rat: Life in Restaurant Underbelly

  • A candid memoir of restaurant life.
  • Explores the invisible role of restaurant employees.
  • Insights from New York's culinary elite.
  • Chronicles a personal rise and fall.
  • Captures the allure and dangers of fine dining.
  • Emotional journey of passion and disillusionment.
  • Reflects on walking away from a dream career.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $17.05
7

Night Trilogy by Elie Wiesel (eBook)

  • New translation by Marion Wiesel, Elie's wife.
  • Elie Wiesel's powerful autobiographical account.
  • Survival story in Nazi death camps.
  • Reflects on man's inhumanity to man.
  • Addresses philosophical questions of the Holocaust.
  • Enduring importance and legacy of Night.
  • Essential reading for understanding human suffering.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $11.99
8

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Girl

  • Extraordinary diary of a young girl.
  • Written during hiding from Nazis in Amsterdam.
  • World classic and timeless testament to resilience.
  • Includes previously withheld passages for deeper insight.
  • Highlights teenage emotions and experiences authentically.
  • Explores themes of love, fear, and identity.
  • Relatable story of adolescence under extreme circumstances.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $16.99
9

Eichmann in Jerusalem: Banality of Evil [Classic]

  • Critical analysis of the Holocaust mentality.
  • Author Hannah Arendt's renowned journalistic perspective.
  • Originally published as articles in The New Yorker.
  • Includes newly uncovered material post-trial.
  • Addresses controversies surrounding Arendt's interpretations.
  • Insightful exploration of evil's banality.
  • Impactful reading for history and philosophy enthusiasts.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $14.40
10

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: Survival Story

  • Chronicles brave women during the Holocaust.
  • Highlights survival through sewing skills.
  • Features the Upper Tailoring Studio's creation.
  • Documents experiences of Auschwitz-Birkenau inmates.
  • Reveals Nazi exploitation and hypocrisy.
  • Includes interviews with surviving seamstress.
  • Offers a fresh perspective on WWII history.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $8.99
11

The Last Boy in Auschwitz: A True Story

  • True story of survival during the Holocaust.
  • Follows brothers Moshe and his desperate choices.
  • Set in Auschwitz during World War II.
  • Explores themes of love, sacrifice, and hope.
  • Highlights the resilience of heroic children.
  • Previously published as "Anything But His Soul."
  • A gripping tale of courage against despair.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $15.29
12

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: A Women's Survival Story

  • Chronicles women’s survival through sewing skills.
  • Details life in Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
  • Highlights the Upper Tailoring Studio's significance.
  • Features interviews with surviving seamstress.
  • Explores friendship and family bonds in adversity.
  • Examines Nazi exploitation and hypocrisy during Holocaust.
  • Provides a fresh perspective on WWII history.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $21.25
13

Kissing Girls on Shabbat: A Memoir

  • A powerful memoir of self-discovery and acceptance.
  • Explores life in a Hasidic community.
  • Addresses the challenges of queer identity.
  • Highlights the struggle for custody and divorce.
  • A deep reflection on love and family.
  • Inspiring journey towards true self-acceptance.
  • A vivid portrayal of religious constraints.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $14.99
14

Etty Hillesum: Diaries and Letters 1941-1943

  • Comprehensive collection of Etty Hillesum's writings.
  • Includes diaries and letters for full context.
  • Highlights resilience during Nazi occupation and genocide.
  • Illuminates Hillesum's profound humanity and compassion.
  • A powerful testament to inner resistance and strength.
  • Offers insight into life in Westerbork camp.
  • Reflects on the enduring spirit of hope.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $22.32
15

The Redhead of Auschwitz: Survivor's Tale

  • True story of a Holocaust survivor's resilience.
  • Rosie's journey from despair to hope and courage.
  • Celebrates Jewish culture and universal human experiences.
  • Written by Nechama Birnbaum in grandmother's honor.
  • Intricate depiction of family and coming of age.
  • A powerful narrative of survival against all odds.
  • Inspires belief in oneself despite challenging circumstances.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $16.99
16

Four Red Sweaters: Women's Holocaust Stories

  • True stories of four Jewish girls during Holocaust.
  • Ordinary garments connect extraordinary lives.
  • Documents resilience and strength through dark history.
  • Award-winning historian Lucy Adlington shares their experiences.
  • Illustrated with over two dozen black-and-white images.
  • A celebration of courage, love, and tenacity.
  • Reveals moments long lost to history.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $14.98
17

Chutzpah Girls: Daring Jewish Women Stories

  • Discover inspiring stories of brave Jewish women.
  • Features 100 unique tales from diverse communities.
  • Highlights achievements that changed the world.
  • Includes original portraits by talented Jewish female artists.
  • Awakens Jewish pride and cultural heritage exploration.
  • Encourages dreaming big despite life's challenges.
  • Perfect for readers of all ages seeking inspiration.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $34.95
18

All But My Life: A Memoir

  • Powerful memoir of survival during the Holocaust.
  • Gerda Weissmann Klein's personal journey of resilience.
  • Chronicles the horrors of Nazi labor camps.
  • Highlights the importance of friendship in adversity.
  • Inspires hope amidst unimaginable suffering and loss.
  • Reflects on humanity's capacity for compassion.
  • Essential reading for understanding historical prejudice.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $16.74
19

Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story (eBook)

  • True love story set in Auschwitz's haunting backdrop.
  • Follows two Holocaust survivors, Zippi and David.
  • Captivating romance amidst horror and uncertainty.
  • Separation after liberation leads to unknown lives.
  • Reunion occurs over 70 years later.
  • Explores themes of sacrifice, resilience, and betrayal.
  • Inspiring tale of hope against insurmountable odds.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $2.99
20

Cold Crematorium: Insights from Auschwitz (Paperback)

  • Powerful memoir of Holocaust survival and resilience.
  • First English edition of a lost literary gem.
  • Foreword by acclaimed author Jonathan Freedland.
  • Evocative prose blending irony and acerbic humor.
  • Originally published in Hungarian, now in 15 languages.
  • Indispensable reading for understanding Holocaust history.
  • A haunting indictment of Nazism's brutal realities.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.12
21

Daughter of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival (Paperback)

  • Powerful memoir of Holocaust survival.
  • Written by Auschwitz survivor Tova Friedman.
  • Foreword by acclaimed actor Sir Ben Kingsley.
  • Chronicles near-death experiences in Nazi camps.
  • Honors memory of murdered Jewish children.
  • Meticulous research by journalist Malcolm Brabant.
  • Addresses Holocaust denial and fading memories.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $11.22
22

Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story (Paperback)

  • Inspiring true love story amid Auschwitz horrors.
  • Follows Zippi and David's remarkable journey of survival.
  • Romance unfolds in history's darkest chapter.
  • Separation after liberation leads to decades apart.
  • Reunion after 70 years reveals deep connections.
  • Explores themes of resilience, sacrifice, and hope.
  • Includes PDF companion with audio purchase.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $19.10
23

Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz

  • National Jewish Book Award finalist
  • Translated from Hungarian for the first time
  • Eyewitness account of Auschwitz horrors
  • Evocative prose combines irony and sarcasm
  • Highlights struggles of Holocaust survivors
  • Available in 15 languages worldwide
  • A literary classic of Holocaust literature
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $19.35
24

The Survivor: My Journey from Camps to Nazi Hunter

  • Remarkable memoir of Holocaust survival and justice.
  • Josef Lewkowicz's harrowing journey through concentration camps.
  • Powerful narrative of resilience and tenacity.
  • Face-to-face with notorious SS kommandant Amon Goeth.
  • A testament to the human spirit's endurance.
  • Inspiring story of revenge transformed into justice.
  • Captivating account of unimaginable horror and hope.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $23.96
25

A History of the Jews by Paul Johnson

  • Comprehensive 4000-year survey of Jewish history.
  • Explores Jewish contributions to global culture.
  • Award-winning author Paul Johnson's insightful perspectives.
  • National bestseller praised by leading publications.
  • Richly textured narrative engaging for all readers.
  • Provocative insights into Jewish imagination and genius.
  • Essential reading for history enthusiasts and scholars.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.95
26

Ghost Tattoo (eBook) by Tony Bernard

  • A powerful Holocaust memoir of a son's journey.
  • Explores complex father-son relationship and hidden past.
  • Winner of the National Jewish Book Award.
  • Insight into the ghetto police's difficult choices.
  • Highlights resilience, hope, and the human spirit.
  • Uncovers a rarely told perspective on survival.
  • Seeks to bear witness for those who suffered.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.99
27

Louis B. Mayer & Irving Thalberg: Biography

  • Explores partnership of Mayer and Thalberg.
  • Highlights their influence on the film industry.
  • Details their contrasting backgrounds and personalities.
  • Examines their Jewish identity in Hollywood.
  • First joint biography in fifty years.
  • Captivating insights from film critic Kenneth Turan.
  • Reveals their friendship and eventual conflict.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $24.36
28

Kissing Girls on Shabbat: A Memoir

  • A powerful coming-of-age memoir of self-discovery.
  • Explores life in a controlling Hasidic community.
  • Addresses struggles with queer identity and family.
  • A poignant narrative of love and loss.
  • Highlights the fight for personal freedom and acceptance.
  • An inspiring story of resilience and courage.
  • A must-read for those challenging societal norms.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $17.71
29

We're Still Here: A Post-Holocaust Memoir (Paperback)

  • Poignant memoir of Holocaust survival and memory.
  • Written by Esther Safran Foer, a literary matriarch.
  • Explores identity through family history and tragedy.
  • Reveals astonishing family secrets and lost connections.
  • Journey to Ukraine to uncover her father's past.
  • National Jewish Book Awards finalist and NPR's best book.
  • Celebrates resilience, storytelling, and the importance of memory.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.78
30

Selma: Memoir of a Jewish Resistance Fighter (Paperback)

  • Powerful memoir of a Holocaust survivor.
  • Written by 98-year-old Selma van de Perre.
  • Details her experiences as a Jewish Resistance fighter.
  • Describes survival in Ravensbrück concentration camp.
  • Illustrates hope in the darkest times.
  • Includes stories of family betrayal and loss.
  • Inspires through courage and resilience.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.12