I Shall Live: Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds

by Henry Orenstein

I Shall Live  tells the gripping true story of a Jewish family in Germany and Russia as the Nazi party gains power in Germany. When Henry Orenstein and his siblings end up in a series of concentrations camps, Orenstein's bravery and quick thinking help him to save himself and his brothers from execution by playing a role in the greatest hoax ever pulled on the upper echelons of Nazi command.

Orenstein's lucid prose recreates this horrific time in history and his constant struggle for survival as the Nazis move him and his brothers through five concentration camps. His description of their roles in the fake Chemical Commando sheds new light on an incredible and generally unknown event in the history of the Holocaust. This edition of  I Shall Live  contains new evidence about this false Commando, including letters signed to and from Himmler himself.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Holocaust, World War II, Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Henry Orenstein is a philanthropist, inventor, entrepreneur, and holocaust survivor. After surviving World War II, much of it in various concentration camps, Orenstein became a toymaker who convinced Hasbro to start producing Transformers in the U.S. He holds over 100 other patents, the best-known of which gave Orenstein the exclusive right in the United States to detect and display a player’s hidden cards to the audience in poker games, one of the principal reasons that televised poker is so popular today. Orenstein is the creator and an executive producer of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament as well as the popular TV show High Stakes Poker. In 2008 he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one man's account of his life as a Jew in Poland during Hitler's rise and fall. A very well written memoir. It follows his life as a child growing up in Poland, to escape and hiding in Russia and the Ukraine, and the usual fate of most Jews in those areas - into multiple concentration camps. His real life story shows the holocaust through the polish and russian angles which I have not been as exposed to in literature. So often the focus is from the perspective of living in Germany and following the German Jew. An incredible story of survival and makes you again question introspectively what you would have done, what choices you would have made during those times as a Jew and as a non Jew.

[Neeraj Handa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very profound personal account of the struggle of the human will to survive against all odds. This book opened my eyes to the brutality of the Nazi regime, and gave me a real sense of how the darkness in one man has the potential to devastate the whole world.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not even finished this book yet but I am giving it 5 stars. The author may not be the most eloquent writer, but his knowledge of progression of events in Europe as they happened along with his own experiences is astounding! I have read several holocaust survivor memoirs but this is the first to really give me an idea of the dreadful time in Poland before the Nazis even invaded. I am astonished at how anti-semitic the population already was and how supportive they were of the Third Reich's ideals. More reviews as I keep reading...

Ok now I have finished and my opinion has not changed. This is a totally eye-opening view of not only life during the holocaust, but life in Eastern Europe before and after. This man's life is such an inspiring story! I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a horrific story, yet it wasn't totally depressing because the author never lost hope. It is hard to describe - the things that happened to the people Hitler labelled 'sub-human' during this period in history are almost unbelievable. However, they are are so true. Shame on all those who turned a blind eye to what was going on, and many thanks to the few who stood up for what was right. I highly recommend the book. It won't resonate the same way for many, but FOR ME it reinforces my resolve to do what I can to protect the innocent people labelled sub-human in our time - the unborn.

The author, Henry Orenstein, now lives in New Jersey and is a noted inventor and philanthropist.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A depressing memoir of surviving deprivation and extreme brutality. Following in the foot steps of Primo Levi and Ellie Wiesel, Henry Orenstein tells the Saddening tale of gradually loosing everything except his life to organized madness. The memoir bear witness to, what could happen when a majority chooses the path of systematic hate against a minority.

The most heart breaking passage was where his parents choose to die to save them. " Fred! Save the children" were her last words .

[Melissa D Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating. I have always loved History and to read it from a first hand account is all the better. I had visited a concentration camp when I was in the 5th grade, Dachau. I found it so disturbing that people let this happen. I was standing in the area where they loaded the bodies into the ovens to burn them after they had gassed them. I was horrified and could not imagine having to do this. I think the schools should show films of these camps to high school kids. I believe they need to get back to teaching history instead of skimming over it. I found myself intrigued that Henry stayed so positive throughout this ordeal in order to see Hitler defeated. Even though Hitler and most of his minions took the cowards way, but saved having to hunt them down. And I know they are rotting in Hell. I thank God everyday I was born American. Nor will I ever be sorry if that statement offends anyone.

[Jon Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about from a Polish man who survives the Holocaust. I have read a few of these types of books and I love them all. The common element in all of them is the level of depravity that the human being will sink to in difficult times. He was in 4 major camps and through it all, he categorized people into 4 basic groups.
1. A small number were brutal by nature.
2. A fairly larger number were of low character. They would steal, beg, push themselves in front of others with total indifference to everyone else.
3. A third group were basically honest and wouldn't hurt anybody, but never went out of there way to help anybody either.
4. The last group was a small number of people that was always kind to others and trying to be helpful as far as they could, never taking advantage of other prisoners.

He said, "In the brutal atmosphere of concentration camps, there could be no pretense, no concealing one's true nature; it was there for anyone to see."

This description is consistent throughout all the books I have read on the subject. I think it is indicative of the base nature of man. It is basically bad. It is an interesting study on man and it is scary how easy society can shift and peoples true nature gets revealed.

Anyway, it was a great story of survival and an inside look at the attitudes of man. Not very pretty.

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much evil is in our hearts?  

I can't stop thinking about this book.  Its the story of holocaust survivor, and it's absolutely heartbreaking.  I'm fascinated by WWII Germany.  I've lived in a sheltered bubble. The worse violence I've seen was on the middleschool playground.  The greatest injustices in my life are people driving too slowly in the passing lane.  Yet here we have an entire country spearheading the most depraved possible agenda, and the rest of the world looks on with apathy.  

Yet, there are some pockets of goodness.  Really, the courage some of the folks in this story showed was every bit as good as the Nazis were evil.  It's a real contrast.  

Anytime I read something like this, I can't help but put myself in their shoes.  What would I do if someone took everything from me, beginning with my dignity and then my family?  My health and then my life?  What evils am I blissfully ignorant of even now.  Convicting stuff.  

[Sharon Huether · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read about the Holocaust. Henry Orenstein remembered all the dangers he and his family faced between 1939& 1945. He said he always chose the best plan when danger was present. He volunteered himself and his brothers and sister as scientists, doctors and mathematicians to engage in a chemical commando, saying that some were still students in these subjects.This work kept most of them alive till the end of the war. This book is so well written it's hard to put it down.

[Lisa Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book very quickly. I loved it. Very sad and I found it so unbelievable that human beings could treat other human beings the way the jews were treated! This book is very powerful and I can't get it off my mind.

[Kelsey Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Orenstein has an incredible life story. He survived horrific things during the Holocaust, immigrated to America, became a millionaire, and used his wealth to improve the world (he helped create the Transformers toyline). This book focuses on how he and his brothers were able to survive the holocaust. As far as Holocaust memoirs go, this book has some pretty horrific moments. Orenstein and his family were subjected to violence, humiliation, and unspeakable cruelty and the book does not sugarcoast these moments. As much as Henry describes the terrible things that have happened to him and his family, he also showcases the spirit of his family and fellow prisoners and shows how acts of kindness and courage made a huge difference. This book is heartbreaking, but extremely powerful.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good first-hand account of life as a Jew inside Poland during WWII.

I was more than a little irritated at the beginning of the book when the Foreword spoiled part of what was to come. Stupid of the publisher to include it, and someone needs to be thoroughly spanked for allowing it to happen.

Still, this was an engrossing, harrowing story that allowed readers to see how Hitler came to power and was enabled by so many common citizens (modern parallels to Trump's behavior and that of his "patriots" can not be ignored).

Recommended if you are interested in WWII, the Holocaust, or enjoy memoirs that deal with horrific events while still offering hope for a good outcome.

[Readasaurus Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book was excellent. I may end up buying it. It was written well and was very interesting. A great story of survival

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Shall Live was a moving story of Henry Orenstein and his family’s will to survive the holocaust. What caught my eye was their involvement in a “Chemical Commando” group of chemists, scientists, and mathematicians to supposedly develop secret weapons to help the Nazis win World War II. It turns out this group was a hoax pulled on the Nazis because the people involved never developed anything of value for the Nazi war effort.

It was fascinating following the Orenstein family and all the things they tried to do to escape the Nazis. These efforts made up a large portion of the book, but sadly the family couldn’t outrun the Germans forever. The remainder of the book focused on Henry’s direct experiences as he survived five concentration camps and eventually won his way to freedom.

The book offers interesting insights into people’s true nature. “In the brutal atmosphere of concentration camps, there could be no pretense, no concealing one’s true nature; it was there for anyone to see.” The author notes a small group of prisoners “refused to become dehumanized and demoralized”. It was hard to get through some of the degrading things Mr. Orenstein had to endure, but I’m grateful for the story because it is one we all need to remember so that something like this never can happen again.

[Yvette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps it was just the kindle format, but information seemed to be jumbled. They add things to the middle of the book (new information) that discussed things that have not yet happened in the book. That is a formatting error. The writing is eloquent, however, I had trouble feeling for the patient. The tone seemed somewhat sterile. His knowledge and inclusion of detailed war progression was interesting but at points in the story I felt as if I was reading an encyclopedia article instead of a book. I had to push through it. I really wanted to feel a deeper connection with Henry, even things that should have brought tears to my eyes I had a hard time reading through. I believe it was the way he described things, it seemed contrived, his tone seemed impersonal. Even when he was recanting how scary/sad/un-imaginable something was I felt as if I was a shrink with a new patient, waiting for him to open up.

Not all of the book was difficult, his very eloquent recant of the stages of the war as well as the information before and after the war was very interesting.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and all-inclusive account of a Polish Jew and his miraculous survival of the Holocaust. This book relates the author's personal history with what was happening in the war front, giving the reader an idea about how Orenstein's experiences fit into the dynamic puzzle that was the Holocaust and World War II.

I have read several different accounts on Holocaust survivors (among those Night and Parallel Journeys, but this one felt to me as being the most complete. He describes his daily struggles and observances, yet does so with a sense of optimism and a strong will to survive.

All in all, a must-read for anyone interested in the struggles presented to Jews during the Holocaust, and how one man was lucky enough to survive against all odds.

[Tiffanyhenschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this stark, unadorned memoir of the holocaust experiences of a family of Polish Jews, author Henry Orenstein states, "In the brutal atmosphere of concentration camps, there could be no pretense, no concealing one's true nature; it was there for anyone to see." As Orenstein relates his experiences of the many aspects of human nature in the concentration camps, he draws his reader in not through eloquent narrative, but rather by simply telling his story. It's brutal reality makes this book difficult to read at times and leaves the reader with haunting reflections, but it should be required reading. It is one of the most gripping memoirs I've read.

[Ruthanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible first person account of the horrors subjected to the Jews during Hitler's reign of terror. Henry Orenstein was sent to 5-6 different concentration camps, I found it interesting how each one was different. I shared the author's sentiment that it was almost dumbfounding how one human could be so detached from another's suffering, the horrible treatment by not only the SS guards but also by other Jews toward their "brothers". Despite witnessing terrible things, the author never lost hope, both for himself and his siblings. It was also good to read about his achievement of the "American dream" (not once but twice!), after emigrating to NYC.

[Amy Katherine Wolff · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book whereby the author includes not only he and his family's personal experiences during the Holocaust, but he also manages to include the history of what was happening in the world at that time.

The fact that he included as much history of the war, battles and such made the book more complete, as one who knows WWII history could easily correlate what was happening on the larger level with what was happening to the author and his family.

A great book, and likely one I will read again!!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling and well written true story by a holocaust survivor. Surviving by fleeing, hiding, and then living through a variety of concentration camps and close calls, the author has memories that had to be hell to record. I am, however, so glad he did. There is no substitute for first hand accounts by survivors and I highly recommend this book. It is so amazing that survivors went on as they did - it would seem no one could ever function again having lived through such horrors. And yet, the "lucky" few did. Highly recommended.

[Kevin Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Strightfoward Detailing of One Family's Hardships During WW2

This book presents one man's perspective of what happened to his family during WW2. The "facts" as the author presents them may not be entirely accurate since it appears he wrote this many years later and doesn't contain the depth you will find in a more comprehensive history. However, it does provide a more personal perspective than a comprehensive history and is worthwhile. For those interested, KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps is an exceptional comprehensive history.

[Jane Athanus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane's Good Reads

Ornstein's intelligent moves saved his life, and other lives, while in hiding and later in various concentration camps. How he did it made fascinating and spine-tingling reading. God bless him! I couldn't wait to get to the end to find out how he did it. I would hope that I had his courage and the smarts to survive while helping others along the way.What a great man. He deserves all his successes since then/

[Frances L. Ehrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving Hell

Man's inhumanity to man. When will the human race ever learn to stop hating. Unfortunately, the answer seems to be never. I see the same things the Orensteins went through happening again. I'd like to believe "never again," but people don't seem to learn and always appear to look for a scapegoat. This book should speak to all who read it. It is uplifting to know a few people have good hearts and a love for their fellow man. But too many do not!

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Amazing story of resilience. I’ve read many holocaust books. This one is great. They go back and forth to Russia and many camps. I am still in awe of their will to live. Gives me joy to hear how they thrived in years after. We must never forget. ***I’ve probably read 100 + holocaust books and this one has the most sexual talk I’ve ever heard. I actually like it. Gives you a real sense of the era and the man he is.

[Taylor Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gripping memoir that was especially cogent for me since I was reading it in Poland, whilst on a Holocaust tour. Nonetheless, the writing is captivating and the stories are heart churning. Mine was a first edition, that happened to have quite a few typos, but that would be the only fault in the text. A must read for anyone wanting to understand life in the camps.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Orenstein was something of a child prodigy -- he read early, widely and seemed to be able to retain all of it. This is an incredible advantage for a memoirist. He doesn't detail his later accomplishments -- Transformer toys and a patent for a system to view hole cards in Texas Hold 'Em -- but his exceptionalism shines through throughout.

[Peter Einstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book almost 25 years ago, after meeting the author, Henry Orenstein. His story of survival was so powerful, inspiring, and affecting, I still think about it after all these years. Somebody should make a movie out of this book!

[Caroline Baer-Novajosky]

I saw this book in my GoodReads feed as recommended to me. I am interested in the Holocaust, especially nonfiction narratives and first-person accounts. I thought that this book would be right up my alley and I am excited to give this book a try.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about the authors life as a Jew in Poland during ww2. I've read many similar books. This was interesting as he survived to tell his story first hand. But, it read like a newspaper article, told the what when and where but I felt often didn't share the depth of the feeling.

[Shannon Whitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author is intelligent from birth to old age. Takes you along a gripping trail of war with him and his family members where some points it was pure luck that kept them alive.
Terrorizing and heartwarming at the same time. I've read it twice.