I have spent the past week reading The Happiest Man on Earth, written by 100-year-old Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku.
In the book, Eddie recalls his experiences as a prisoner at Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.
He describes the constant struggle for survival – sleeping naked on hard wooden planks, being beaten for no reason, starving, freezing, and working under inhumane conditions.
Despite going through all of this, the Nazis could not break his spirit. Eddie says his close bond with friend and fellow prisoner, Kurt, and his prior education as a mechanical engineer were both key in keeping him alive.
He also offers some life lessons from his experiences, including: hug your mother; love is the best medicine; life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful; and hate is a disease that may destroy your enemy, but it will also destroy you in the process.
While it is obviously a tough read at times, I’d highly recommend it if you’re after an inspiring reminder of the strength of the human spirit and, on the flipside, how evilness can be allowed to fester through weak-minded societies.
Moving on, this week’s cover stars are the organisers of an inaugural Hunter Valley Art Fair.
The event, which will take place over the October long weekend, offers a chance for talented local artists to showcase and sell their work.
