Author Richard K. Lowy has a truly moving and exceptional commitment to preserving historical truth through the most intimate and personal of lenses. I was profoundly moved by his respectful yet unvarnished approach to storytelling, which allows the voices of Kalman and Leopold to speak directly to readers. Lowy’s narrative technique immerses readers in the lived experiences of his subjects, making their pain, resilience, and humanity palpable in ways that transcend traditional historical documentation. His vivid portrayal of Auschwitz goes beyond mere historical recounting, offering an exploration of survival, trauma, and the extraordinary capacity of individuals to maintain dignity in the most inhumane of circumstances. The decision to focus on personal perspectives transforms what could be a distant historical account into an intimate, emotionally resonant narrative that challenges readers to confront the most difficult chapters of human history. Lowy’s writing reveals an extraordinary sensitivity to the complex emotional landscapes of survival, showing how individual stories can illuminate broader historical truths. The way he navigates the delicate balance between historical accuracy and emotional depth is nothing short of remarkable. Overall, I would highly recommend Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele’s Auschwitz as essential historical testimony that ensures these crucial stories are never forgotten.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite
This is one of the rawest, most personal accounts of the horrors of Josef Mengele’s atrocities. Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele’s Auschwitz, as told to Richard K. Lowy, is a haunting and profoundly moving account of resilience, friendship, and survival. Through the lens of Kalman Braun and Leopold Lowy, this book revisits the harrowing reality of Auschwitz-Birkenau, where humanity was tested in unimaginable ways. As their chronicler, Lowy skillfully balances historical context with the individual voices, maintaining the authenticity of their stories. The foreword by Michael Berenbaum offers a broader historical framework, underscoring the importance of transitioning from living memory to historical memory as the last survivors’ fade. This book is a must-read. It belongs in every secondary high school and university classroom in the United States, as well as in every historical society. Thank you, Mr. Lowy, for preserving the story and memories of two heroes. It was a privilege to read.
Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers’ Favorite
Author Richard K Lowy takes us back in time to what his father endured in the Auschwitz–Birkenau concentration camp along with his fellow worker Kalman. Taken from verbal memories and extensive research, their stories are real, vivid, and horrific. The glossary and the footnotes are useful in keeping the explanations clear and concise in this testament of the atrocities and man’s inhumanity to man. Kalman & Leopold is an important work, adding to those accounts of the Holocaust that decry those who say that it never happened. It did, with all the horror and indescribable cruelty of that shameful period of history. My heart was touched deeply by this book, and I shall never forget it. Very highly recommended.
