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Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents' Tailor
He's been called "America's greatest living tailor" and "the most interesting man in the world." Now, for the first time, Holocaust survivor Martin Greenfield tells his incredible life story. Taken from his Czechoslovakian home at age fifteen and transported to the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz with his family, Greenfield came face to face with "Angel of Death" Dr. Joseph Mengele and was divided forever from his parents, sisters, and baby brother.
In haunting, powerful prose, Greenfield remembers his desperation and fear as a teenager alone in the death camp—and how an SS soldier's shirt dramatically altered the course of his life. He learned how to sew; and when he began wearing the shirt under his prisoner uniform, he learned that clothes possess great power and could even help save his life.
Measure of a Man is the story of a man who suffered unimaginable horror and emerged with a dream of success. From sweeping floors at a New York clothing factory to founding America’s premier custom suit company, Greenfield built a fashion empire. Now 86 years old and working with his sons, Greenfield has dressed the famous and powerful of D.C. and Hollywood, including Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, celebrities Paul Newman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jimmy Fallon, and the stars of Martin Scorsese's films.
Written with soul-baring honesty and, at times, a wry sense of humor, Measure of a Man is a memoir unlike any other—one that will inspire hope and renew faith in the resilience of man.
In haunting, powerful prose, Greenfield remembers his desperation and fear as a teenager alone in the death camp—and how an SS soldier's shirt dramatically altered the course of his life. He learned how to sew; and when he began wearing the shirt under his prisoner uniform, he learned that clothes possess great power and could even help save his life.
Measure of a Man is the story of a man who suffered unimaginable horror and emerged with a dream of success. From sweeping floors at a New York clothing factory to founding America’s premier custom suit company, Greenfield built a fashion empire. Now 86 years old and working with his sons, Greenfield has dressed the famous and powerful of D.C. and Hollywood, including Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, celebrities Paul Newman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jimmy Fallon, and the stars of Martin Scorsese's films.
Written with soul-baring honesty and, at times, a wry sense of humor, Measure of a Man is a memoir unlike any other—one that will inspire hope and renew faith in the resilience of man.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2014
117 people are currently reading
2486 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
October 2, 2015
Personally, Being his granddaughter my opinion may be biased. If I were to leave behind that title, I would give it a good thumbs up times a million. my link text My Grandpa originally would only tell me top stories that were filtered to where it only seemed he was a survivor and now makes suits, but now that I read his book it made me realize a whole new perspective on my life and his.
As much as I love him, reading this book made me open my eyes to see that he may be a strong willed man but he's reaching his end. Knowing that he is still alive and well to inspire many with his story, I been helping him with some letters he has received over the past months and hopefully if you have read this you can understand that he treasures every moment he has left and you should as well!
sincerely (on behalf of my family),
Rachel Hope Greenfield
As much as I love him, reading this book made me open my eyes to see that he may be a strong willed man but he's reaching his end. Knowing that he is still alive and well to inspire many with his story, I been helping him with some letters he has received over the past months and hopefully if you have read this you can understand that he treasures every moment he has left and you should as well!
sincerely (on behalf of my family),
Rachel Hope Greenfield
February 23, 2015
I'm sad to give this only 3 stars. I'd like to give it more. Read on, and you'll understand.
Measure of a Man is the memoir of Auschwitz survivor, Martin Greenfield, né Maximilian Grünfeld. His tale begins in horror and ends in triumph. He is separated from his family (father, mother, two younger sisters) at age 11, before the transports. He returns to his family in time to suffer Nazi madness together. Ever new rules hem Jews in, as their movements, options and rations are increasingly curtailed. Finally, they are deported. The author is a young teenager when the family arrives in Auschwitz. Mother and sisters are sent left, the direction of the gas chambers and crematoria. Father and son are sent right, to forced labor. Father decides the son’s chances for survival are optimal if the two separate. It is an excruciating blow to young Maxi. But father charges his son to honor his family by thriving, by forging a good life. That injunction ultimately frees the son from survival guilt.
Maxi is liberated from Auschwitz by General Eisenhower, whom Greenfield forever after reveres as a god. His entrepreneurial spirit emerges quickly after liberation, while he desperately searches for family. His efforts are in vain. He discovers that he has an aunt and uncle in the US, and another in Mexico. A ticket arrives for him, and he embarks for NY. He arrives bug-eyed and eager to learn, to work, to reconstruct his tattered life. He bounces briefly between relatives in the Bronx, NY, and Baltimore, MD. Eventually, he settles in NY, where he gets a job in a men’s tailoring company, run by three Goldman brothers. They take him under wing. He doesn’t disappoint. Today he owns the company and is tailor to stars—of politics and Hollywood. He counts may luminaries among his friends.
The first third of the book should be read in private. If you read as I do, your gasps will frighten strangers, if you read this in a public place. Once that section of horror ends, the section of striving and success begin. While it is clear from the outset that Martin Greenfield is a rare gem, the self-congratulatory tone that seeps in and then prevails is a bit much. Ditto for the accent on fashion and men’s tailoring. Ditto for the endless name-dropping. Sure, anyone might do the same if they’d become friends with these celebrities. But it becomes tedious. How sad.
What is NEVER tedious is Greenfield’s appreciation of life, his love of family, his talent, energy, determination, resourcefulness, sense of humor, purpose, and gratitude to this country which allowed him to succeed beyond his dreams.
Measure of a Man is the memoir of Auschwitz survivor, Martin Greenfield, né Maximilian Grünfeld. His tale begins in horror and ends in triumph. He is separated from his family (father, mother, two younger sisters) at age 11, before the transports. He returns to his family in time to suffer Nazi madness together. Ever new rules hem Jews in, as their movements, options and rations are increasingly curtailed. Finally, they are deported. The author is a young teenager when the family arrives in Auschwitz. Mother and sisters are sent left, the direction of the gas chambers and crematoria. Father and son are sent right, to forced labor. Father decides the son’s chances for survival are optimal if the two separate. It is an excruciating blow to young Maxi. But father charges his son to honor his family by thriving, by forging a good life. That injunction ultimately frees the son from survival guilt.
Maxi is liberated from Auschwitz by General Eisenhower, whom Greenfield forever after reveres as a god. His entrepreneurial spirit emerges quickly after liberation, while he desperately searches for family. His efforts are in vain. He discovers that he has an aunt and uncle in the US, and another in Mexico. A ticket arrives for him, and he embarks for NY. He arrives bug-eyed and eager to learn, to work, to reconstruct his tattered life. He bounces briefly between relatives in the Bronx, NY, and Baltimore, MD. Eventually, he settles in NY, where he gets a job in a men’s tailoring company, run by three Goldman brothers. They take him under wing. He doesn’t disappoint. Today he owns the company and is tailor to stars—of politics and Hollywood. He counts may luminaries among his friends.
The first third of the book should be read in private. If you read as I do, your gasps will frighten strangers, if you read this in a public place. Once that section of horror ends, the section of striving and success begin. While it is clear from the outset that Martin Greenfield is a rare gem, the self-congratulatory tone that seeps in and then prevails is a bit much. Ditto for the accent on fashion and men’s tailoring. Ditto for the endless name-dropping. Sure, anyone might do the same if they’d become friends with these celebrities. But it becomes tedious. How sad.
What is NEVER tedious is Greenfield’s appreciation of life, his love of family, his talent, energy, determination, resourcefulness, sense of humor, purpose, and gratitude to this country which allowed him to succeed beyond his dreams.
October 9, 2021
This book isn't terrible to get through until the last part. It begins as the telling of a boy named Max surviving the renowned Nazi death camps of WW2 and his liberation by American soldiers- not just any soldiers, but of course General "Ike" Eisenhower. From liberation onward, the story rapidly decends into the story of a man named "Martin" being consumed inside and out by American culture. The last quarter of this story felt like nothing more than stories of the author continuously name-dropping each and every famous and important person he has ever met, never failing to mention how rich they were to be able to afford his suits.
I mean...cool...I guess. I felt honestly saddened as I read this. This man went through hell and survived only to go on and become an American clone rather than deal with obvious MAJOR PTSD trauma. I feel for this man who decided to just be 2 different people rather than try to become whole or heal again.
Also, I learned a bit about the making and measuring of suits.
I mean...cool...I guess. I felt honestly saddened as I read this. This man went through hell and survived only to go on and become an American clone rather than deal with obvious MAJOR PTSD trauma. I feel for this man who decided to just be 2 different people rather than try to become whole or heal again.
Also, I learned a bit about the making and measuring of suits.
December 1, 2022
The story who lost so much, and yet went on to be so much greater. A man who loved his adopted country America. He worked hard, struggled, started at the bottom of a business, and managed to get to the top. Only in his new country could he have come so far and live the American dream! An inspirational story!
November 20, 2019
So very inspiring. Recommend to every reader, but I believe it should be in school libraries. It is a book that would encourage kids, in a day and age when so many are depressed or hurting. A great gift!
Thank you Martin Greenfield for sharing your great moments.
Thank you Martin Greenfield for sharing your great moments.
August 22, 2024
“I’m left with nothing but gratitude and joy for my life.”
So ends the memoir of a Holocaust survivor, a book that exudes joy and gratitude for the life God had given. Martin’s love for America, his loyalty and love for family, his gratitude to God for it all, and his conversational, down to earth writing style made this book (including the more intricate details of suit-making!) an absolute pleasure to read.
So ends the memoir of a Holocaust survivor, a book that exudes joy and gratitude for the life God had given. Martin’s love for America, his loyalty and love for family, his gratitude to God for it all, and his conversational, down to earth writing style made this book (including the more intricate details of suit-making!) an absolute pleasure to read.
October 26, 2014
√ Auschwitz Prisoner A4406
MEASURE OF A MAN starts off with the author, as a boy, in a German concentration camp. Martin was quickly separated from most of his family--and many he would never see again. Martin was sent to the line on the right, where the prisoners were allowed to live. Those on the left--including many of his family--were killed.
We've heard the Auschwitz story before, but it bears repeating. The young boy was witness to astonishing acts of human cruelty. Martin's father was a wise man who realized that in order for his son to survive, he and his son must be separated.
Like the other prisoners in Auschwitz, Martin was given a tattoo. In his case "A4406." For some reason, the young man was sent to the camp laundry. There, he learned a little bit about sewing and the power of appearance. Martin had torn a Nazi shirt whilst cleaning it, and after being bloodied by the guard, Martin decided to wear the shirt under his prisoner garb. “The day I wore that first shirt was the day I learned clothes possess power. Clothes don't just make the man, they can save the man. They did for me." Ironically, the hellhole of Auschwitz was his training ground--but not his first choice: "Of course, receiving your first tailoring lesson inside a Nazi concentration camp was hardly be ideal apprenticeship. I would have much preferred to learn my craft on Savile Row.“
In January of 1945, the Jewish prisoners were forced to march on the infamous "death march." Only 500 prisoners survived. Martin recalls that he was forced to carry a backpack of one of the German soldiers. He and his friends took some food out of the bag to make it lighter, but they realized that when the soldier returned they would be shot. They looked at the bright side: “At least we won't be hungry when he shoots us." To escape, Martin had his fellow prisoners bury him under some snow.
After the war, young Martin came to America with almost nothing: “When I came to America, the only thing I had was the dirt under my fingernails.“ In America, he was astonished by what he saw, and was very ignorant about the land. Seeing all the people waiting to get into Yankee Stadium, he thought, “Things must be terrible here. I've never seen so many people waiting in a bread line!"
It was in 1947 that the author started work at the famous clothiers, "GGG clothiers," named after 3 Goldman brothers. There, Martin learned the craft of tailoring and running a business. The author recounts the greatest lesson he ever received was from Mr Goldman: “The key to success in business and in life, is to 'produce quality with intrinsic value.' Its a lesson I've never forgotten." In 1977, thirty years after he started working at GGG, Martin bought the entire company.
Martin eventually had the chance to tailor custom suits for presidents--even his hero, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Martin wanted to offer some suggestions to the president, but he knew that his letters would never reach Ike. So Martin sewed a pocket into Ike's jacket, with a letter for the president inside. Later on, Eisenhower quipped that there was a "Brooklyn Taylor who kept sewing foreign policy advice into his clothes." Time magazine heard the story, and the Brooklyn tailor became famous.
Many years later, when Martin was the tailor to President Clinton, Clinton heard about these letters sewed in the clothing of Ike. Clinton took him aside and said, “Martin, just so you know, if you ever have anything you want to talk about, you won't need to sew letters in my pockets. I will just give you my fax number.
In one touching chapter, we hear that because of his tragic childhood, Martin had not been able to have the traditional Bar Mitzvah of young Jewish boys. So at age 80, Martin finally got his Bar Mitzvah.
√ All in all, MEASURE OF A MAN is a solid, inspiring story. Starting with the most horrific experience one can imagine, the author worked hard, whilst overcame hardship few of us will ever face. The boy who learned to sew in Auschwitz ended up being the tailor to some of the most important men in the world.
♫ A Review by Chris Lawson
Note: I do not know the author of this book, and no one requested I write a positive review. Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss.
MEASURE OF A MAN starts off with the author, as a boy, in a German concentration camp. Martin was quickly separated from most of his family--and many he would never see again. Martin was sent to the line on the right, where the prisoners were allowed to live. Those on the left--including many of his family--were killed.
We've heard the Auschwitz story before, but it bears repeating. The young boy was witness to astonishing acts of human cruelty. Martin's father was a wise man who realized that in order for his son to survive, he and his son must be separated.
Like the other prisoners in Auschwitz, Martin was given a tattoo. In his case "A4406." For some reason, the young man was sent to the camp laundry. There, he learned a little bit about sewing and the power of appearance. Martin had torn a Nazi shirt whilst cleaning it, and after being bloodied by the guard, Martin decided to wear the shirt under his prisoner garb. “The day I wore that first shirt was the day I learned clothes possess power. Clothes don't just make the man, they can save the man. They did for me." Ironically, the hellhole of Auschwitz was his training ground--but not his first choice: "Of course, receiving your first tailoring lesson inside a Nazi concentration camp was hardly be ideal apprenticeship. I would have much preferred to learn my craft on Savile Row.“
In January of 1945, the Jewish prisoners were forced to march on the infamous "death march." Only 500 prisoners survived. Martin recalls that he was forced to carry a backpack of one of the German soldiers. He and his friends took some food out of the bag to make it lighter, but they realized that when the soldier returned they would be shot. They looked at the bright side: “At least we won't be hungry when he shoots us." To escape, Martin had his fellow prisoners bury him under some snow.
After the war, young Martin came to America with almost nothing: “When I came to America, the only thing I had was the dirt under my fingernails.“ In America, he was astonished by what he saw, and was very ignorant about the land. Seeing all the people waiting to get into Yankee Stadium, he thought, “Things must be terrible here. I've never seen so many people waiting in a bread line!"
It was in 1947 that the author started work at the famous clothiers, "GGG clothiers," named after 3 Goldman brothers. There, Martin learned the craft of tailoring and running a business. The author recounts the greatest lesson he ever received was from Mr Goldman: “The key to success in business and in life, is to 'produce quality with intrinsic value.' Its a lesson I've never forgotten." In 1977, thirty years after he started working at GGG, Martin bought the entire company.
Martin eventually had the chance to tailor custom suits for presidents--even his hero, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Martin wanted to offer some suggestions to the president, but he knew that his letters would never reach Ike. So Martin sewed a pocket into Ike's jacket, with a letter for the president inside. Later on, Eisenhower quipped that there was a "Brooklyn Taylor who kept sewing foreign policy advice into his clothes." Time magazine heard the story, and the Brooklyn tailor became famous.
Many years later, when Martin was the tailor to President Clinton, Clinton heard about these letters sewed in the clothing of Ike. Clinton took him aside and said, “Martin, just so you know, if you ever have anything you want to talk about, you won't need to sew letters in my pockets. I will just give you my fax number.
In one touching chapter, we hear that because of his tragic childhood, Martin had not been able to have the traditional Bar Mitzvah of young Jewish boys. So at age 80, Martin finally got his Bar Mitzvah.
√ All in all, MEASURE OF A MAN is a solid, inspiring story. Starting with the most horrific experience one can imagine, the author worked hard, whilst overcame hardship few of us will ever face. The boy who learned to sew in Auschwitz ended up being the tailor to some of the most important men in the world.
♫ A Review by Chris Lawson
Note: I do not know the author of this book, and no one requested I write a positive review. Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss.
April 9, 2015
I am so torn when it comes to rating this book. I was first introduced to Mr. Greenfield's story on CNN's Voices of Auschwitz TV special. I found his story awe-inspiring and just had to read his book. At first when I started the book, I had a hard time putting it down. To read what Mr. Greenfield had to go through was absolutely heart wrenching. Not only did he survive the terrors of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, but he was the only member of his nuclear family to survive. Even though he lost everything, he kept going and at the age of 19 he immigrated to the United States. From then on he lived a life of absolute
success as a master tailor to all sorts of political figures and celebrities.
My biggest issue with this book is when Mr. Greenfield starts talking about his career and all of the people he has worked with. For me, I kind of got tired of all the name dropping. In some cases, a chapter would tell of an encounter with a celebrity that Mr. Greenfield dressed and all of the sudden another celebrity's name was mentioned for no real reason except for the fact that Mr. Greenfield made him a suit. I do understand that Mr. Greenfield is extremely proud of his company and his clients but I really did not read the book to hear about all of these celebrities. I read the book to learn about Mr. Greenfield's amazing life. I lived for the moments when he talked about his passion for tailoring and why he got into the industry, but those moments were shorter than I would have liked. Don't get me wrong some of the stories that he shared about the celebrities he dressed were actually interesting, but some of the name dropping just seemed completely unnecessary. It would have been nice if he would have just picked a few of these encounters and just expanded on them instead of jumping around so much.
Part of me just wants to give this book 5 stars because of how extraordinary Mr. Greenfield is, but the other part wants to give it a 3. I read the book because of Mr. Greenfield, not the celebrities he worked with. He honestly is a celebrity in his own right.
success as a master tailor to all sorts of political figures and celebrities.
My biggest issue with this book is when Mr. Greenfield starts talking about his career and all of the people he has worked with. For me, I kind of got tired of all the name dropping. In some cases, a chapter would tell of an encounter with a celebrity that Mr. Greenfield dressed and all of the sudden another celebrity's name was mentioned for no real reason except for the fact that Mr. Greenfield made him a suit. I do understand that Mr. Greenfield is extremely proud of his company and his clients but I really did not read the book to hear about all of these celebrities. I read the book to learn about Mr. Greenfield's amazing life. I lived for the moments when he talked about his passion for tailoring and why he got into the industry, but those moments were shorter than I would have liked. Don't get me wrong some of the stories that he shared about the celebrities he dressed were actually interesting, but some of the name dropping just seemed completely unnecessary. It would have been nice if he would have just picked a few of these encounters and just expanded on them instead of jumping around so much.
Part of me just wants to give this book 5 stars because of how extraordinary Mr. Greenfield is, but the other part wants to give it a 3. I read the book because of Mr. Greenfield, not the celebrities he worked with. He honestly is a celebrity in his own right.
February 18, 2020
Very interesting memoir!
Quotes:
“Dressing powerful people has taught me that the greatest men take interest in the smallest people.” -p. 169
“Great friendships are like great tailoring: the stronger the stitch, the longer it lasts.” -p. 170
“‘Politics is show business for ugly people,’ or so the old saying goes.” -p. 175
Quotes:
“Dressing powerful people has taught me that the greatest men take interest in the smallest people.” -p. 169
“Great friendships are like great tailoring: the stronger the stitch, the longer it lasts.” -p. 170
“‘Politics is show business for ugly people,’ or so the old saying goes.” -p. 175
April 6, 2016
Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents’ Tailor by
Martin Greenfield and Winton Hall
An Amazingly memorable true success story
From the very beginning of this memoir you may suspect it’s another holocaust book, but it’s not just that. Maximillian Grunfeld was just 15 years old when he and his family were hustled out of their home from a small Czechoslovakian town to be shipped by a Nazi train to Auschwitz, where he and his father were separated from mother and sisters. Eventually, he was also separated also from his father, who gave him life-saving advice; Maximillian was left alone, never to see the family again.
Guided by his ingenuity and perspicacity, the boy managed to survive, even in the presence of Josef Mengele, by making himself useful. When transferred to Buchenwald labor camp, you learn how he managed to survive, not only in the camp but also during the notorious Death March through freezing snow at the end of the war.
All that is only the beginning of the story. The reader will see how distant relatives in America located him as a displaced person and brought him to the United States, where he changed his name to Martin Greenfield, learned to speak English and developed a vocation. By excelling at the talent that kept him alive in the Nazi clothing repair work facilities, he endeared himself to New York manufacturers where his talent was recognized, raising him to the top of the famous manufacturing plant called GGG , owned by the Goldman brothers. Eventually, Martin himself was able to buy the company which still exists as Martin Greenfield Clothiers in Brooklyn, specializing in handmade men’s clothing. His work is so precise and admired that hordes of famous male celebrities seek him out for personalized attire, reputedly regarding him as “The Best Men’s Taylor in the U.S.” Even presidents are named as befriended customers.
Some parts of the book are devoted to the minute description of how the clothing is designed and created, which may be of more or less interest to certain people. Noticeably also, the book devotes very little reference to his private personal life with scant mention of wife and children, although it is mentioned that a son has entered the business. Regardless of his family life, you have to admire and respect this incredibly heroic survivor.
Martin Greenfield and Winton Hall
An Amazingly memorable true success story
From the very beginning of this memoir you may suspect it’s another holocaust book, but it’s not just that. Maximillian Grunfeld was just 15 years old when he and his family were hustled out of their home from a small Czechoslovakian town to be shipped by a Nazi train to Auschwitz, where he and his father were separated from mother and sisters. Eventually, he was also separated also from his father, who gave him life-saving advice; Maximillian was left alone, never to see the family again.
Guided by his ingenuity and perspicacity, the boy managed to survive, even in the presence of Josef Mengele, by making himself useful. When transferred to Buchenwald labor camp, you learn how he managed to survive, not only in the camp but also during the notorious Death March through freezing snow at the end of the war.
All that is only the beginning of the story. The reader will see how distant relatives in America located him as a displaced person and brought him to the United States, where he changed his name to Martin Greenfield, learned to speak English and developed a vocation. By excelling at the talent that kept him alive in the Nazi clothing repair work facilities, he endeared himself to New York manufacturers where his talent was recognized, raising him to the top of the famous manufacturing plant called GGG , owned by the Goldman brothers. Eventually, Martin himself was able to buy the company which still exists as Martin Greenfield Clothiers in Brooklyn, specializing in handmade men’s clothing. His work is so precise and admired that hordes of famous male celebrities seek him out for personalized attire, reputedly regarding him as “The Best Men’s Taylor in the U.S.” Even presidents are named as befriended customers.
Some parts of the book are devoted to the minute description of how the clothing is designed and created, which may be of more or less interest to certain people. Noticeably also, the book devotes very little reference to his private personal life with scant mention of wife and children, although it is mentioned that a son has entered the business. Regardless of his family life, you have to admire and respect this incredibly heroic survivor.
April 13, 2024
If you ever have the choice to read a book by a Holocaust survivor or a version written as historical fiction, I encourage you to choose the survivor's story. Measure of a Man is a good case in point. Only Martin Greenfield (the name he adopted after he came to America) can express the true feelings and horror of being separated from his family at age 15 and made to work in the grisly, notorious Nazi death camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. The first third of the book was difficult to listen to but as Greenfield points out, even he, for a long time, did not want to share his story because he thought no one would believe him.
Greenfield miraculously survives by determination and wits. Thanks to some American relatives he did not even know he had, he was able to start a life in Brooklyn, eventually working six days a week to learn tailoring and build one of the most famous and prestigious handmade custom menswear companies in America and possibly worldwide. Through thoughtful relationship building, commitment to quality and an absolute love of his craft, Greenfield made suits for the rich and famous; he dressed six presidents, Hollywood stars from Frank Sinatra to Paul Newman, sports greats like Shaq, and the menswear costumes for award-winning television films and movies. Although some reviews have criticized the book for name-dropping, these were the customers he attracted. I found Greenfield to be a humble man who never could quite believe his own success and was always grateful for each person who came into his life, especially his family. On his 80th birthday he again thanked the American soldiers who liberated him from the camps. He was extremely proud to be an American. Greenfield has a charming sense of humor and delightful way of telling a story that reveals so much about his optimism and zest for life in spite of losing his parents and 3 siblings to the Nazis. I was so interested in this remarkable man that I looked him up on the internet and was sad to see he passed away in March 2024 at age 95. Inspirational story I will remember for a long time.
Greenfield miraculously survives by determination and wits. Thanks to some American relatives he did not even know he had, he was able to start a life in Brooklyn, eventually working six days a week to learn tailoring and build one of the most famous and prestigious handmade custom menswear companies in America and possibly worldwide. Through thoughtful relationship building, commitment to quality and an absolute love of his craft, Greenfield made suits for the rich and famous; he dressed six presidents, Hollywood stars from Frank Sinatra to Paul Newman, sports greats like Shaq, and the menswear costumes for award-winning television films and movies. Although some reviews have criticized the book for name-dropping, these were the customers he attracted. I found Greenfield to be a humble man who never could quite believe his own success and was always grateful for each person who came into his life, especially his family. On his 80th birthday he again thanked the American soldiers who liberated him from the camps. He was extremely proud to be an American. Greenfield has a charming sense of humor and delightful way of telling a story that reveals so much about his optimism and zest for life in spite of losing his parents and 3 siblings to the Nazis. I was so interested in this remarkable man that I looked him up on the internet and was sad to see he passed away in March 2024 at age 95. Inspirational story I will remember for a long time.
October 15, 2020
Inspirational memoir from a Holocaust survivor who came to America and built a meaningful life and a world class business. Be prepared for some graphic descriptions of the Nazi atrocities. But hearing the author describe his American experience will move you. Reading this will make you leave your excuses behind.
July 26, 2022
An inspirational book by someone who suffered tremendously and came out the other end happy and appreciative.
August 7, 2015
This book should be assigned reading for high schoolers. It is not only the triumphal biography of an American success story, but the harrowing tale of an Auschwitz and Buchenwald survivor whose entire family was wiped out by the Nazis.
As written by Wynton Hall, a very gifted "celebrity ghostwriter" whose acquaintance I made this summer, the story is fast, full of color and surprises. Martin Greenfield's extraordinary story stays with you, from a thousand little details that Hall is able to marshal to their best effect. For just one, he was a prisoner at Buchenwald when that camp was liberated by the Americans, saw Gen. Eisenhower when he visited the camp, then 10 years later was making custom suits for President Eisenhower from the Brooklyn factory he would later own. Hall's prose takes you through it all, right up to the present when Greenfield's business has grown to include not just suit making for presidents and celebrities but for Hollywood period dramas including Boardwalk Empire, The Great Gatsby and many, many more.
These personal stories of the Shoah are fast becoming only books, as the last of those survivors leave us. This book contains all the truth you can handle about what that experience was like for the lucky few who survived it, but reminds you that life goes on and that a man's passion and drive can ultimately drive him to overcome even such a terrible ordeal.
Wynton Hall does us a great service in honoring this man with such a well told biography. Highly recommended.
As written by Wynton Hall, a very gifted "celebrity ghostwriter" whose acquaintance I made this summer, the story is fast, full of color and surprises. Martin Greenfield's extraordinary story stays with you, from a thousand little details that Hall is able to marshal to their best effect. For just one, he was a prisoner at Buchenwald when that camp was liberated by the Americans, saw Gen. Eisenhower when he visited the camp, then 10 years later was making custom suits for President Eisenhower from the Brooklyn factory he would later own. Hall's prose takes you through it all, right up to the present when Greenfield's business has grown to include not just suit making for presidents and celebrities but for Hollywood period dramas including Boardwalk Empire, The Great Gatsby and many, many more.
These personal stories of the Shoah are fast becoming only books, as the last of those survivors leave us. This book contains all the truth you can handle about what that experience was like for the lucky few who survived it, but reminds you that life goes on and that a man's passion and drive can ultimately drive him to overcome even such a terrible ordeal.
Wynton Hall does us a great service in honoring this man with such a well told biography. Highly recommended.
January 3, 2020
Skutočný príbeh Maxa, židovského chlapca, ktorý prežil koncentračné tábory. Jeho rodina to šťastie nemala, ale pamätal si slová otca, aby sa preto necítil vinný, ale prežil. A tým si ich uctil. Život (a sebavedomie) mu v tábore čiastočne pomohla zachrániť roztrhnutá esesácka košeľa, ktorú nosil pod väzenskou rovnošatou, vďaka nej mal pocit, že nie je len číslom, ale človekom. Neskôr sa mu podarilo emigrovať do USA a tam našiel a začal si plniť svoj americký sen - stal sa z neho úspečný a najvyhľadávanejší pánsky krajčír, obliekal veľa slávnych osobností - spevákov, hercov, politikov, prezidentov. Začal od piky, úplne na najnižších priečkach a postupne sa vypracoval. Jeho húževnatosť musím obdivovať. Kniha spomienok je zaujímavým čítaním, je to rovnomerne rozdelené, nie je to iba hrôza vojny, ale pokračuje ďalej - je tu popísané aj oslobodenie a čo bolo potom. Cesta do Ameriky, postupné spoznávanie jazyka a práca. Bavili ma opisy detailov sák a oblekov, smokingov a podobne, ktoré vytváral pre vplyvných ľudí (aj ich tam vymenúva) a vlastne aj doteraz vytvára.
April 3, 2017
My husband read this book and told me that I HAD to read it. He promised that I would be hooked right away, it was that good. Some times he's right, some times he's wrong. Well...., he was right and I LOVED this book. It's a quick read and, although some of the parts had almost "too good to be true" moments, it's amazing overall. It's a like a real life fairy tale with some good life lessons in it. Now when someone asks me the question "who is someone past or present you would life to meet?" I'd have an answer. He would be one of those people I'd like to meet.
April 9, 2015
Quick, but not at times an easy read. Martin Greenfield's story of surviving Auschwitz is the first 1/3 of the book and is a compelling, difficult and amazing read, that takes you through the the journey of being Jewish in Nazi Germany.
The rest of the book is a breeze by comparison, a little too self-congratulatory, not enough details to make it interesting, a let down compared to how it started.
The rest of the book is a breeze by comparison, a little too self-congratulatory, not enough details to make it interesting, a let down compared to how it started.
March 6, 2017
Great book in many ways.
I understand the mentality he is coming from about the quality and integrity.
Also I enjoyed his style of writing. It felt like he was telling his story to me personally. His story of survival during holocaust, how it affected him, his attitude to life... touched me deeply.
Wonderful man!
I understand the mentality he is coming from about the quality and integrity.
Also I enjoyed his style of writing. It felt like he was telling his story to me personally. His story of survival during holocaust, how it affected him, his attitude to life... touched me deeply.
Wonderful man!
October 13, 2020
This was such an excellent and motivational read! While the holocaust stories Martin shares are horrific, his determination to rise above all odds and make something of his life is incredibly uplifting and awe-inspiring!
December 21, 2020
What a story!
May 4, 2023
Interesting story.
January 19, 2025
Martin Greenfield (born Maxmilian Grünfeld) recounts his experiences during the Holocaust and after his immigration to the United States where he became a master tailor whose hand-made suits were worn by celebrities, movie stars, public figures, and U.S. presidents.
This memoir presents the life story of a Holocaust survivor and a master tailor, written in a tone of optimism, happiness, and gratitude. The first half describes Greenfield's early life and his experience in Auschwitz and Buchenwald and immediately after liberation. The second half follows Greenfield after his immigration to the United States where he realizes the American Dream.
I found the first half the book to be the most compelling. The narrative begins on the train platform in Auschwitz and then flashes back to his earlier life before returning to Auschwitz.
Greenfield's father gave him an incredible gift. Immediately after selection, as he and his son were being processed into the concentration camp, he did two things. First, he decided that they needed to separate because if they stayed together, then they would always be trying to help one another, which would lower their chances of survival. His father intuitively understood the concept Primo Levi described as the drowned and the saved in his memoir Survival in Auschwitz.
Second, his father told him point blank that if Martin survived, his father didn't want him to feel sorry for any of his family members who died. He wanted his son to live a happy and full life unburdened by survivor's guilt. Those words were the best possible thing that his father could have said to him. Tragically, Greenfield was the sole survivor of his immediate family. His mother and two younger brothers were sent immediately to the gas chambers upon arrival, and his sister and father died in the camps. Most tragically, his father was shot for a minor offense weeks before liberation; he almost survived to be reunited with his son.
Greenfield attributes his survival to luck and fate. As a healthy young person who arrived on the last transport from his ghetto during the final years of the holocaust and who had a valuable skill, he certainly did have an advantage. I would add that his own gutsy personality played a key role in his survival. Greenfield was willing to take risks that could have led to his death but instead paid off. He wore a discarded SS shirt under his prison uniform, which not only gave him extra warmth but also caused his fellow prisoners who may have preyed upon him to give him a wide berth. On the death march to Buchenwald, he stole food from the backpack a guard ordered him to carry and threw away the heavy box of ammunition. He possessed the ability to think on his feet and say the right thing at the right time. He was also able to make valuable connections with others in the camps, one of which enabled him to get a temporary job in the camp infirmary that allowed his back injury to heal. Greenfield definitely deserves credit for his own survival in addition to chance and providence.
As a displaced person after liberation, Greenfield's entrepreneurial spirit showed itself for the first time, and he started selling blackmarket cigarettes. He was contacted by one of his mother's older brothers who had immigrated to the United States before he was born and who offered to sponsor him if he wished to come to America. Prompted by the threat of the increasingly authoritarian communist government in his native Czechoslovakia, Greenfield accepted.
The second half of the book follows Greenfield from his arrival in the United States at age 19 to his belated bar mitzvah at age 80. Despite his earlier trauma, the voice of the narrative is extremely warm, positive, hopeful, and gracious, which made it a joy to read.
Greenfield stayed first with relatives in Baltimore before moving to New York City on the advice of his friend who got him a job as a floor boy at GGG Clothing in Brooklyn. At GGG he learned the art of tailoring by hand, eventually becoming a master tailor. He purchased the GGG Clothing factory in Brooklyn and started his own company Martin Greenfield Clothiers, which still makes some of the best hand-made suits in the world.
He married and had children, which is a very touching moment in his life after the loss of his entire immediate family. He also pursued the American Dream. Through dedication and hard work, he was able to build a successful business from literally nothing. Greenfield experienced the United States as "the land of opportunity" at its best, and he repeatedly expressed praise for his adopted homeland. He also expressed his love for Brooklyn, New York, which I appreciated.
The final few chapters are devoted almost exclusively to notable clients, including presidents, movie stars, and professional athletes. To me, the events were less interesting. There is a lot of name dropping. However, I did enjoy snippets. I didn't know that Martin Greenfield made the suits for the television series "Boardwalk Empire" whose prohibition-era clothing I admired. I also learned that his company made the suits for the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio in a fabulous tuxedo. I was happy to discover that Greenfield dressed President Barack Obama who always looked dignified and presidential in his suits. Greenfield made suits for General Colin Powell, and I was surprised to learn that General Powell could speak Yiddish because he grew up in the Bronx. I laughed at the anecdote about how Greenfield had to stand on a step stool to measure basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. I did grit my teeth a bit when he recounted dressing Donald Trump, and I was relieved to know that Trump never rude to him or told him "You're fired." Greenfield's description of Trump as a having a "larger than life" personality is very accurate.
The memoir concludes with his bar mitzvah at age 80. He is surrounded by friends and family. He also reflects with love on his family members who died during the Holocaust.
The narrator is excellent. His accent and cadence reminded me of older gentlemen whom I have known, who were either Eastern European immigrants or the children of Eastern European immigrants whose first language was not English, and complements the narrative.
This memoir presents the life story of a Holocaust survivor and a master tailor, written in a tone of optimism, happiness, and gratitude. The first half describes Greenfield's early life and his experience in Auschwitz and Buchenwald and immediately after liberation. The second half follows Greenfield after his immigration to the United States where he realizes the American Dream.
I found the first half the book to be the most compelling. The narrative begins on the train platform in Auschwitz and then flashes back to his earlier life before returning to Auschwitz.
Greenfield's father gave him an incredible gift. Immediately after selection, as he and his son were being processed into the concentration camp, he did two things. First, he decided that they needed to separate because if they stayed together, then they would always be trying to help one another, which would lower their chances of survival. His father intuitively understood the concept Primo Levi described as the drowned and the saved in his memoir Survival in Auschwitz.
Second, his father told him point blank that if Martin survived, his father didn't want him to feel sorry for any of his family members who died. He wanted his son to live a happy and full life unburdened by survivor's guilt. Those words were the best possible thing that his father could have said to him. Tragically, Greenfield was the sole survivor of his immediate family. His mother and two younger brothers were sent immediately to the gas chambers upon arrival, and his sister and father died in the camps. Most tragically, his father was shot for a minor offense weeks before liberation; he almost survived to be reunited with his son.
Greenfield attributes his survival to luck and fate. As a healthy young person who arrived on the last transport from his ghetto during the final years of the holocaust and who had a valuable skill, he certainly did have an advantage. I would add that his own gutsy personality played a key role in his survival. Greenfield was willing to take risks that could have led to his death but instead paid off. He wore a discarded SS shirt under his prison uniform, which not only gave him extra warmth but also caused his fellow prisoners who may have preyed upon him to give him a wide berth. On the death march to Buchenwald, he stole food from the backpack a guard ordered him to carry and threw away the heavy box of ammunition. He possessed the ability to think on his feet and say the right thing at the right time. He was also able to make valuable connections with others in the camps, one of which enabled him to get a temporary job in the camp infirmary that allowed his back injury to heal. Greenfield definitely deserves credit for his own survival in addition to chance and providence.
As a displaced person after liberation, Greenfield's entrepreneurial spirit showed itself for the first time, and he started selling blackmarket cigarettes. He was contacted by one of his mother's older brothers who had immigrated to the United States before he was born and who offered to sponsor him if he wished to come to America. Prompted by the threat of the increasingly authoritarian communist government in his native Czechoslovakia, Greenfield accepted.
The second half of the book follows Greenfield from his arrival in the United States at age 19 to his belated bar mitzvah at age 80. Despite his earlier trauma, the voice of the narrative is extremely warm, positive, hopeful, and gracious, which made it a joy to read.
Greenfield stayed first with relatives in Baltimore before moving to New York City on the advice of his friend who got him a job as a floor boy at GGG Clothing in Brooklyn. At GGG he learned the art of tailoring by hand, eventually becoming a master tailor. He purchased the GGG Clothing factory in Brooklyn and started his own company Martin Greenfield Clothiers, which still makes some of the best hand-made suits in the world.
He married and had children, which is a very touching moment in his life after the loss of his entire immediate family. He also pursued the American Dream. Through dedication and hard work, he was able to build a successful business from literally nothing. Greenfield experienced the United States as "the land of opportunity" at its best, and he repeatedly expressed praise for his adopted homeland. He also expressed his love for Brooklyn, New York, which I appreciated.
The final few chapters are devoted almost exclusively to notable clients, including presidents, movie stars, and professional athletes. To me, the events were less interesting. There is a lot of name dropping. However, I did enjoy snippets. I didn't know that Martin Greenfield made the suits for the television series "Boardwalk Empire" whose prohibition-era clothing I admired. I also learned that his company made the suits for the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio in a fabulous tuxedo. I was happy to discover that Greenfield dressed President Barack Obama who always looked dignified and presidential in his suits. Greenfield made suits for General Colin Powell, and I was surprised to learn that General Powell could speak Yiddish because he grew up in the Bronx. I laughed at the anecdote about how Greenfield had to stand on a step stool to measure basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. I did grit my teeth a bit when he recounted dressing Donald Trump, and I was relieved to know that Trump never rude to him or told him "You're fired." Greenfield's description of Trump as a having a "larger than life" personality is very accurate.
The memoir concludes with his bar mitzvah at age 80. He is surrounded by friends and family. He also reflects with love on his family members who died during the Holocaust.
The narrator is excellent. His accent and cadence reminded me of older gentlemen whom I have known, who were either Eastern European immigrants or the children of Eastern European immigrants whose first language was not English, and complements the narrative.
May 27, 2017
This book is not so much a Holocaust narrative as it is celebration of the life that Martin Greenfield made after he survived the Holocaust. While Greenfield rushes over the Holocaust years, he lovingly details the life that he made in the United States, taking time to explain the art of tailoring and his interaction with countless clients from the political and entertainment world. For some this emphasis may not be what they are expecting or looking for from the book. But the message that Greenfield wants to communicate is one of rebuilding one's life in the wake of great sorrow and hardship and the gratitude that he feels for having had the opportunity to do so. The prose are simple; this is not a philosophic treatise in line with Primo Levi or Elie Wiesel's account of their experiences in Auschwitz. And if you get the audio version of the book, it is beautifully read by Stefan Rudnicki.
February 4, 2026
Neuveriteľný životný príbeh, no trošku odfláknuté podanie, najmä záver, kde autor vychvaľuje všetkých politikov, hollywoodske hviezdy a kde koho, pre koho šil - na jednej strane rozumiem, nebude písať do knihy niečo, na čo by sa protistrana mohla uraziť (a prestať u neho nakupovať). Na strane druhej mi to celé prišlo až príliš pozitívne a America is great a všetko je tam parádne. Asi tomu ozaj veril, že šaty robia človeka.
December 30, 2021
This was a quick read and such a fascinating memoir! Martin Greenfield has such an inspiring life story and his pride and admiration for America is so awesome. I have read many Holocaust memoirs but I really liked how this book mostly focused on the author’s life and accomplishments after WW2.
July 1, 2018
What an incredible story. I have a lot of respect for Martin after reading it. I will be looking at men’s suits a lot more closely now!
August 8, 2024
Mr Greenfield has a quite a moving testimony In spite of the heinous and brutal conditions he endured and survived, his spirit never broke. He lives and works with gratitude and joy Good read
July 6, 2024
The first part is about surviving the holocaust and the second part is about his journey as a suit tailor… who knew learning about fitting people for suits would be so fascinating? Mr. Greenfield is super insightful and inspirational.
December 7, 2014
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
This memoir was well-written and planned, and follows the life of the premier American menswear tailor, Martin Greenfield, beginning with his imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp during WWII as a young teenager to his ultimate successes clothing the world's biggest stars.
I found this an enjoyable and quick read - Mr. Greenfield's voice comes through in the simple but perfect word choice and grammar, lean and without many asides as he straightforwardly describes his experiences. Without need for exaggeration, his coverage of his life during the holocaust and the loss of his family is shattering and strongly bonds the reader with the young Martin Greenfield emotionally. This makes his unapologetic descriptions of smashing successes in his subsequent life uplifting and heartwarming.
Given Mr. Greenfield's shenanigans during his youth in Pax Americana New York City, and his encounters with celebrity and political clientele, other big names in fashion (like Donna Karan and the Rag and Bone team), this memoir is also extremely entertaining and often humorous. I also found Martin Greenfield's obvious passion for perfection compelling/inspiring.
Because the book is issued by Regency Press (one of the more politically conservative publishing houses with a roster of authors including Ann Coulter and Newt Gingrich), I was surprised at its lack of political commentary from a man who is in a position to make some powerful statements about such firebrand topics as Israel and race/civil rights. These issues were briefly touched upon in anecdotes during Martin Greenfield's journey, but without a great deal of discussion (the memoir focuses more on a portrayal of America at its best). I don't know if this is a weakness, or a wise editorial choice against controversy, but I would be interested in hearing more of Mr. Greenfield's thoughts on these points.
Overall, a strong, uncomplicated memoir, and I would recommend it as a casual read.
This memoir was well-written and planned, and follows the life of the premier American menswear tailor, Martin Greenfield, beginning with his imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp during WWII as a young teenager to his ultimate successes clothing the world's biggest stars.
I found this an enjoyable and quick read - Mr. Greenfield's voice comes through in the simple but perfect word choice and grammar, lean and without many asides as he straightforwardly describes his experiences. Without need for exaggeration, his coverage of his life during the holocaust and the loss of his family is shattering and strongly bonds the reader with the young Martin Greenfield emotionally. This makes his unapologetic descriptions of smashing successes in his subsequent life uplifting and heartwarming.
Given Mr. Greenfield's shenanigans during his youth in Pax Americana New York City, and his encounters with celebrity and political clientele, other big names in fashion (like Donna Karan and the Rag and Bone team), this memoir is also extremely entertaining and often humorous. I also found Martin Greenfield's obvious passion for perfection compelling/inspiring.
Because the book is issued by Regency Press (one of the more politically conservative publishing houses with a roster of authors including Ann Coulter and Newt Gingrich), I was surprised at its lack of political commentary from a man who is in a position to make some powerful statements about such firebrand topics as Israel and race/civil rights. These issues were briefly touched upon in anecdotes during Martin Greenfield's journey, but without a great deal of discussion (the memoir focuses more on a portrayal of America at its best). I don't know if this is a weakness, or a wise editorial choice against controversy, but I would be interested in hearing more of Mr. Greenfield's thoughts on these points.
Overall, a strong, uncomplicated memoir, and I would recommend it as a casual read.
September 21, 2020
2 Stars per Goodreads "It was okay" rating. In no way do I was to discredit what this man went through, but there was something missing in this book for me. It's a memoir and in a lot of ways it's told like a story of his life, but the storytelling was lacking. It was one event in his life after another but some parts needed more attention and details to really explain how things happened (to really bring it to life for the reader). It was almost like he tried to cram too much in too little space, so shortcuts in storytelling were taken, but I wanted more. However, you reach the last third of the book and I felt like it could have been cut as it became pages of name dropping. While it is a noteworthy to show how he went from surviving the camps to dressing presidents and celebrities, to hear about every instance became overwhelming and a little boastful. At the same time, not to diminish what Martin went through during the Holocaust, I walked away from this book feeling like he lived a charmed life - everything worked out with him on top (even with what happened to him in the camps). He was always able to work a bad situation to his favor which sometimes felt a little too convenient for me to believe.
I hate giving a Holocaust's survivor's memoir a low rating because I've read enough books to grasp the horrors that he survived, but there was simply something in the telling of his story that rubbed me the wrong way. It was a combination of something lacking storytelling and a feeling like the author was bragging about everything worked out for him. While any memoir has a level of bragging about one's accomplishments, the success he had just felt too perfect.
I hate giving a Holocaust's survivor's memoir a low rating because I've read enough books to grasp the horrors that he survived, but there was simply something in the telling of his story that rubbed me the wrong way. It was a combination of something lacking storytelling and a feeling like the author was bragging about everything worked out for him. While any memoir has a level of bragging about one's accomplishments, the success he had just felt too perfect.
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