A run on If This is a Man - Primo Levi?

This title is selling very fast suddenly.

29 copies in January so far with 21 of them having sold today.

Anyone know the spike in popularity?

>1 PartTimeBookAddict: 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz

>2 gmacaree: There we go. Nice job.

It's a book everyone should read, and the Folio version does it justice

>5 jsilver2: Propaganda? What is this pro-Nazi trash? Why would you even chime in on this thread when you're obviously not into the book. It's so easy to just not say anything.

Why is this put up with on this forum? I've seen this guy spew some awful stuff in other places. Can we not boot this guy permanently? Unbelievable that people feel so entitled these days to say this awful stuff. This is not the sort of community I want to be a part of.

Nothing like some antisemetic trolling on a Tuesday morning.

It would be more interesting to read what >5 jsilver2: actually means as he hasn't clearly said anything about what elements of the book are propaganda.
It's understandable folks jump to accusations of anti-Semitism and maybe that's what it is, but without more detail it's ambiguous.
For example if >5 jsilver2: is addressing the author's take on human nature and or a pre-societial state of nature, then that's another matter altogether. I mean he may have a more Hobbesian perspective than Rousseau's on this topic.
I do believe the book touches on some of these fundamentals beyond the obvious everyday experience of incarceration in a Nazi concentration camp.
I'd also be interested on who the "Lots of us" >5 jsilver2: refers to, are?

>8 LesMiserables: Why give such comments a platform? Almost all of the book is about Levi's deportation and survival in Auschwitz with only a few segments about human nature. The poster knows the reaction his/her comments would get and if he/she meant something else it would certainly be made clear in the post, especially considering the book is written by an Auschwitz survivor about some of the most horrific experiences in one of the worst death camps.

>9 Joshbooks1:

Which of the Terms of Service do you think #5 violated?

>10 cpg: Those were my thoughts.

Being disagreeable isn't a violation. Thinking someone has a view that violates a TOS is very different from having evidence for.

In saying that, I expect >5 jsilver2: could be a lot clearer if they expect a reasonable reception of their comments.

>9 Joshbooks1: Yes, perhaps they are trolling, perhaps not. The thing is, we don't really know.

Only way we will know if they clarify.

>10 cpg: I am unsure what you are talking about. I know nothing about Librarything's terms of service. I'm quite confused here. The topic is on an amazing work of literature written by an Auschwitz survivor and a >5 jsilver2: wrote he/she has never read the book and is tired of hearing about such propaganda. What do you take away from that comment that I am missing?

>12 Joshbooks1: The terms of service can be found here under "Social features":
https://www.librarything.com/privacy

Basically you can't call people what they self-evidently are, just discuss their points of view. It's a racist dog-whistler's dream.

You're not alone. I hear it as well. I don't have time to humour bigots either. Best to ignore them as they live out their sad Rupert Pupkin lives.

#5 is exhibit A in the case that advances in the internet/information technology have, counterintuitively, compounded the ignorance at large in society.

>12 Joshbooks1:

I interpreted "Why give such comments a platform?" to be intended to justify the flagging which has hidden the message in #5. I apologize if I have misinterpreted you.

I guess if >5 jsilver2: doesn't clarify, then they can only blame themselves for negative views received.

>16 LesMiserables: He didn't read the book. He said that in the post. There is no other interpretation of his use of "propaganda".

I wouldn't be surprised if the only thing he reads over and over are the "fourteen words."

I will be moving "If This is a Man" up to the top of my TBR this week. It's been sitting on the shelf for a few years now.

>8 LesMiserables: While I appreciate you trying to give someone the benefit of the doubt, I think it's more harmful than anything here. It's like the Elon's "Roman salute" from the inauguration. He knows what it was, we all know what it was - dancing around it and calling it anything different only gives these people more confidence and validity to continue doing what they are. They take things only just far enough that you can't quite nail them on it, but we all know what it is.

I don't think jsilver2's comment can be construed in any other way than what it has been here, otherwise s/he would have surely expounded more on the matter.

If I continue to see these sorts of posts from jsilver2 without repercussions (banning) then I will happily just leave the community. I'm quite new here and I love the book discussions and am an avid FS fan but I refuse to be a part of any community that does not squash this sort of talk. It's not ok.

As an aside, I find it incredibly ironic - we all know that history has a tendency of repeating itself. That's one of the reasons it's so critically important to read - so we don't repeat the same mistakes of those who came before us. I thought we learned this lesson 75 years ago and yet here we are, and in a place of avid readers of all places.

>18 PartTimeBookAddict: Yes, I see what you mean, however in this case, is the author and context of the book relatively well known, to allow at least passing expression without actually engaging with the text?

Unless >5 jsilver2: clarifies there are some possible interpretations beyond the anti-Semitism.

Fir example, Levi was a well known atheist and his book speaks of surving through luck.

One could argue that the book is anti-theistic and perhaps >5 jsilver2: is religious and sees the book as propaganda against religion?

I doubt it but possible.

>19 rubix_cubin: Yes, I'm probably as dubious as you, but wanted to explore alternative explanations, which in themselves are quite interesting.

>21 LT79: I enjoyed that book. Although the authors are at odds over the meaning of life.

>22 LesMiserables: Serious kudos to you for that! I'd normally completely agree on giving someone the benefit of the doubt but it just feels like people have gotten too bold with this sort of talk lately. (IMO) The only approach to this is to just make it crystal clear that it's not ok and people won't stand for it. Otherwise they'll just continue to say what they are without outright saying it. We know what they're doing but they leave just the slimmest shade of doubt there so that it stands up. I feel like that's how these ideas slowly propagate into the accepted zeitgeist.

I don't know - I won't continue to rant on the matter - I can't see that written out though and not say something.

>24 LT79: A Man's Search for Meaning

>25 rubix_cubin: I think you have the weight of common sense on your view of things. I suppose I'd just like to see >5 jsilver2: clarify, although beyond that the themes are engrossing and great material for discussion.

>27 LesMiserables: beyond that the themes are engrossing and great material for discussion.

But is FSD the only, or best, place to have that discussion?

>29 LT79: Yes, insofar one is atheist and the other religious, which informs their analysis of events, I suppose.

>28 folio_books: Perhaps not, but often we have great conversations and debates on FSD that go far beyond Folio.

I don’t understand the flagging of comment 5. I have read If This is A Man, (and The Periodic Table) and own copies of both. That someone has a different view is fine, I think that too much is being read into the comment.

That said if someone hasn’t read either of Levi’s works I would recommend them to do so.

>33 DMulvee: For starters, labeling Levi’s work propaganda is very, very troubling. What, is it anti-genocide propaganda? Was Levi promoting a false narrative?

>33 DMulvee: Lots of us are beyond tired of hearing about this propaganda.

That is not "a different view" and that is NOT fine! That is absolutely, as @rubix_cubin noted, Nazi trash that does not belong here on LibraryThing nor anywhere else. That is why I truly hope this person is banned. Again, different opinions on books are of course fine and welcomed. Prejudice and hatred is not.

>33 DMulvee: >34 DanielOC: Comment 1 states:” This title is selling very fast suddenly.”

Given Folio has previously indicated “Last Chance” or other claims on works that appeared to be selling out, and then suddenly another 1000 appear it is plausible to me that they are referring to the claims that one needs to act fast or you will miss out on being able to buy a copy

>35 astropi: Agree 100%, "propaganda" in reference to holocaust memoirs is a neon sign for holocaust denial, which shouldn't require a degree in linguistics to suss out. Poster also admitted to not reading the book, so he's clearly reacting to its description.

>37 HonorWulf: and TBH the holocaust denial interpretation fits in with the other trollish comments that user has made

The best way to deal with a troll is to ignore them, which removes the reason for the trolling.
As FSD administrator I can remove a post but cannot remove the poster, only LT administrators can do that.

>38 RRCBS: Yes, I believe this is the same poster that called us "deplorables" for reading books and not overpopulating the planet with spawn (which was amusing at the time, but for probably all of the wrong reasons).

Edit: Sorry, it was "degenerates"!

>39 wcarter:
You are handling this situation correctly. The fastest way to sell a book (or a movie or TikTok, etc.) is to ban it.

>33 DMulvee: Perhaps some of the flagging is also in response to this particular posters previous comments on other threads a few weeks ago which ended with them labelling some users of this forum as ‘degenerates’. The fact that this is not a one-off & this poster has a history of posting such comments may influence people’s willingness to give them the benefit of the doubt on their ‘propaganda’ comment.

>39 wcarter: Do LT administrators look at flagged posts, or do we need to contact them regarding such atrocious comments and then let them decide what to do?

>43 astropi:
Do not know the answer to that.
I have contacted them directly when a poster has become too egregious.

>43 astropi: Sending a mail and/or message to the LT team ("Contact" at the bottom of the screen) is recommended in such cases.

>45 AnnieMod: Thank you, I think the more people report such behavior the more likely something will be done.

>45 AnnieMod:
Or simply click on “Ignore This Topic” and you will no longer see the thread on your screen. No one has to read these posts who doesn’t want to.

>47 jroger1: Or you can go to the user's profile and block them if you rather not read their posts (which will hide their messages behind a link you need to press to read them every time they post).

But if someone wants to bring someone's posts to the attention to the LT administrators, the best way is to send a message to them (which is what the question was) as opposed to relying on flags only.

>49 jsilver2:

So you look forward to history repeating its mistakes?

If this is not a good book on the Holocaust, name one that is. Even better, name a good one that doesn't evoke any emotion.

>49 jsilver2: Elon is that you?

Just ignore >49 jsilver2:
The more you comment, the more you feed his warped ego.

Trolls aim to cause a tizzy in others. Jsilver2 has succeeded in doing so. I agree that ignoring the offending individual is the best approach.

>49 jsilver2: The fact is, books like this only rose to fame on the back of the Holocaust; not because they are actually good books but because of politics/emotions surrounding that event. Nowadays, our society is finally starting to care less and less about the Holocaust, led by young people and foreigners.

I read 5 big claims in there, which I suspect you couldn't back up even one of them with credible supporting evidence.

I warned you all just to ignore >55 jsilver2:.
Please stop responding to him.

Moderation is really not well handled on LT. It should be possible to directly signal a post to people that have the ability to stop the member. Now I would need to go to the contact page to see who to contact, then write an email and add manually a link the the post...

Edit: even after going through the contact page I have no idea how to get in touch with moderation...

>57 David_Mauduit: I suggest contacting the founder Tim Spalding on his profile page here: https://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding

Provide links to all offensive posts and he will assign the matter to an appropriate staff.

I had a strange moment when I thought the jsilver2 bloke was David ie Quicksilver66

But no, the latter was a decent contributor.

What are some of the best books on the Holocaust? My war history reading does tend to skew towards WWII, and naturally some authors give it more attention than others, but I can’t recall ever reading any histories specifically focused on the Holocaust.

For me, the best Holocaust literature is by Imre Kertész. I'm not aware of any nice editions, so a FS version would presumably have the market to itself. I'd certainly upgrade my copies.

>60 treereader: Martin Gilbert's The Holocaust was published in three volumes by the Folio Society. It's an upsetting read, as I'm sure you can imagine.

>60 treereader: Not directly about the Holocaust but well worth a read is the FS edition of I Shall Bear Witness by Victor Klemperer

>60 treereader: Great question! A ton of books can be found here -
The Museum’s primary mission is to disseminate knowledge about the Holocaust, preserve the memory of those who suffered, and encourage visitors to reflect upon their own responsibilities. This collection of books is carefully curated to advance that mission, to educate, honor, and help us ensure that we “never forget.”
https://shop.ushmm.org/collections/all-books

Some classics include Night by Ellie Wiesel (a must read) and of course The Diary of a Young Girl / The Diary of Anne Frank which I know many people read in school -- or at least that used to be the case! I do think Schindler's Ark (aka) Schindler's List is absolutely wonderful and should be read. Lastly, do not underestimate Maus. While a "graphic novel" it is powerful and in fact became the first and only graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.

I'm no expert but have read quite a few books on this era. This is just on top of my head and I'm sure I am missing some but here are a few.

The Holocaust by Martin Gilbert - actually from Folio Society and is a very engaging history with a lot of pictures which makes it harder to read in the sense of visualizing the atrocities committed.

Ordinary Men - how everyday teachers and townsfolk can turn into mass murderers who followed the SS into Poland and Ukraine to massacre Jews/Poles/political dissidents.

Eichmann In Jerusalem - Hannah Arendt's wonderful book on Eichmann and Holocaust.

Holocaust Trilogy - by Imre Kertesz and one of the best series of novels ever written in my opinion. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature and I cannot recommend these books enough.

A lot of Levi books are amazing about the camps and a great place to start.

Danilo Kis - Hourglass about a man's last few hours of freedom before going to the camps (his father died in Auschwitz if memory serves me.)

Then there is of course the very popular and well known Wiesel, Frankl and Anne Frank.

>60 treereader: Folio has published the aforementioned The Holocaust by Martin Gilbert, which is excellent. Some others I'd recommend include:

The War Against the Jews by Lucy S. Dawidowicz
A History of the Holocaust by Yehuda Bauer
The World Must Know by Michael Berenbaum
The Destruction of the European Jews by Raul Hilberg
The Holocaust: The Face of European Jewry by Leni Yahil

>5 jsilver2: Despite your claim that "Lots of us are beyond tired of hearing about this propaganda" you remain a lone voice. However you seem to be encouraging lots of us to read beyond this one book in more width and depth on the Holocaust. Your motivational skills are admirable.

My recommendation for further reading: The Wannsee Conference and the Final Solution by Mark Roseman (FS edition 2012)

edited for punctuation

A beautifully-produced book with an odd name is The Case for Auschwitz by Robert Jan van Pelt.

I liked Peter Longerich's dispassionate accounting in Holocaust: The Nazi Persecution and Murder of the Jews.

>67 bookfair_e: "However you seem to be encouraging lots of us to read beyond this one book in more width and depth on the holocaust. Your motivational skills are admirable."

Maybe people like jsilver2 and Musk do perform a useful purpose after all - they serve to remind the rest of us both of the terrible things done in the past and of the constant vigilance which we must maintain if we are to ensure that such things are never allowed to be done again.

>59 LesMiserables:

"I had a strange moment when I thought the jsilver2 bloke was David ie Quicksilver66"

A convoluted moment if I ever heard of one.

Not so well known and different from many mentioned here, but a book I can recommend: Erich Hackl - Abschied von Sidonie, in English Farewell Sidonia. It's about the true case of a Romany child and her fate when the Nazis took over Austria. It's heart rending.

>69 PeterFitzGerald: Indeed. I for one will be moving a few of the titles mentioned nearer to the top of my TBR pile.

I'm happy to say our Holocaust denier has been suspended! I don't know if that suspension later becomes permanent, or if they only have a "stern talk"? Regardless, such hateful intolerance does not belong here.

>70 drasvola: Indeed, you may think so, but believe me it came upon me arbitrarily and without premeditation, and most likely an unconscious and extremely simple moniker misconnect.

>74 LesMiserables: Monica Missconnect

Sounds like a character from a FS comics edition.

>75 boldface: She was the receptionist at the Daily Planet for one very, very bad day.

>75 boldface: Ha ha.

Primo Levi's books are excellent. If This is a Man and The Periodic Table are his most well known. Less well known is The Wrench (The Monkey's Wrench in the USA) which I recommend to those who have enjoyed his other works. I read decades ago but recall it recounts various practical industrial problems and their cause/resolution. Sounds dull but isn't.

Thanks for all of the recommendations! I am a fan of Gilbert's other work, so I may bump his The Holocaust closer to the top of my history list. I also happen to have a copy of Schindler's List from EP that I haven't gotten around to yet. I will keep the others noted, as well.

There is no rational universe in which If This is a Man can be construed as propaganda. Levi goes to great lengths to avoid condemning his Nazi captors. In fact, he writes an entire afterword justifying the decision to be witness rather than judge, so concerned is he that his account might be seen as insufficiently judgemental by some.

In any case, If This is a Man is without doubt the single most powerful and moving thing I ever read and I can't recommend it highly enough, even though it did leave me with sleepless nights for some time. I'm grateful for some of the other suggestions offered here.

Since we are dispensing suggestions, I recently read Travellers in the Third Reich. This book draws on the accounts of foreigners who travelled in and around Germany in the years between the two world wars. While not about the Holocaust per se, it gives an interesting external perspective on the hate and persecution that was developing during the years of Nazi ascendancy.

Has anyone read any of Laurence Rees' books on the topic?

>64 astropi: Lastly, do not underestimate Maus. While a "graphic novel" it is powerful and in fact became the first and only graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Also Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls 2024 per this post: https://www.librarything.com/topic/370646#8840026

Of course, the award was announced a few months after your post. So now there are 2. :)

>81 mr.philistine: Absolutely agreed! I've often wished that someone (Easton Press, Suntup, Folio, someone) would produce a beautiful deluxe edition of Maus signed by Art Spiegelman -- I don't know if we'll ever see that, but I continue to wish...

>82 astropi: Would be nice, but Penguin Random House has the publishing rights via their Pantheon imprint, so probably cost prohibitive for most of the small presses. Best bet would be Folio, but not sure how viable that is given the Marvel Golden Age bruhaha of a number of years ago.

Currently reading Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz - was only translated from the Hungarian last year so not as well known.

I've found it more like the Maus book in terms of reciting of 'life/events' and would recommend it.