The subject of the Academy Award–winning documentary The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life; Alice Herz-Sommer was the world’s oldest Holocaust survivor when she died on February 23; 2014. A Century of Wisdom is the true story of her life—an inspiring story of resilience and the power of optimism. Before her death at 110; the pianist Alice Herz-Sommer was an eyewitness to the entire last century and the first decade of this one. She had seen it all; surviving the Theresienstadt concentration camp; attending the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem; and along the way coming into contact with some of the most fascinating historical figures of our time. As a child in Prague; she spent weekends and holidays in the company of Franz Kafka (whom she knew as “Uncle Franzâ€); and Gustav Mahler; Sigmund Freud; and Rainer Maria Rilke were friendly with her mother. When Alice moved to Israel after the war; Golda Meir attended her house concerts; as did Arthur Rubinstein; Leonard Bernstein; and Isaac Stern. Until the end of her life Alice; who lived in London; practiced piano for hours every day.Despite her imprisonment in Theresienstadt and the murders of her mother; husband; and friends by the Nazis; and much later the premature death of her son; Alice was victorious in her ability to live a life without bitterness. She credited music as the key to her survival; as well as her ability to acknowledge the humanity in each person; even her enemies. A Century of Wisdom is the remarkable and inspiring story of one woman’s lifelong determination—in the face of some of the worst evils known to man—to find goodness in life. It is a testament to the bonds of friendship; the power of music; and the importance of leading a life of material simplicity; intellectual curiosity; and never-ending optimism.Praise for A Century of Wisdom “An instruction manual for a life well lived.â€â€”The Wall Street Journal “As if her 108 years of experience alone were not enough to coax you; there is the overarching fact that draws people to Herz-Sommer’s story: She survived the Theresienstadt concentration camp and is believed to be the oldest living Holocaust survivor.â€â€”The Washington Post “I have rarely read a Holocaust survivor’s memoir as enriching and meaningful. Get Caroline Stoessinger’s book; A Century of Wisdom; telling Alice Herz-Sommer’s tale of her struggles and triumphs. You will feel rewarded.â€â€”Elie Wiesel “A Century of Wisdom is a stately and elegant book about an artist who found deliverance in her passion for music. Caroline Stoessinger writes with a special purity; as though she were arranging pearls on a string of silk.â€â€”Pat Conroy “As one of millions who fell in love on YouTube with Alice Herz-Sommer; a 108-year-old Holocaust survivor who plays the piano and greets each day with no hint of bitterness; I’m grateful to Caroline Stoessinger for writing a book that explains this mystery. You will be inspired by the story of Alice Herz-Sommer; who lives to teach us.â€â€”Gloria Steinem “I walked on the cobblestones in Prague for thirty years wondering who might have walked on them before me: Kafka; Freud; Mahler. It feels like a miracle to have encountered; in Caroline Stoessinger’s wonderful book; Alice Herz-Sommer; who walked with them all—with a heart full of music.â€â€”Peter Sis“A Century of Wisdom is universal and will enrich readers for generations to come.â€â€”Itzhak Perlman
#23608 in Books Jon Meacham 2009-04-30 2009-04-30Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.19 x 1.40 x 6.12l; 1.50 #File Name: 0812973461483 pagesAmerican Lion Andrew Jackson in the White House
Review
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful. Not a good first book to read about Andrew JacksonBy mnraftMy formal training in American History ended in high school; so I approached Meacham's book without a great deal of prior knowledge of the subject.I would say that this is not a good first book to read about Jackson. His childhood is covered in some detail; but the periods of his military career; his training as a lawyer; his term as a Tennessee congressman; are covered too briefly. Meacham states in his acknowledgment section that he has deliberately not attempted to cover Jackson entire life in detail.The eight years of Jackson's presidency are the focus of the book. The main issues that characterize Jackson's presidency: the threat of secession by South Carolina; the dissolution of the national bank; standoff with the French over the payment of reparations; expanded use of the presidential veto; etc.; were covered in detail. However; as a newcomer to the subject; I sometimes could have used more context. For instance; there was not much discussion of how a national bank came to be and what the counter-arguments might have been for preserving it.On the other hand; there was (in my view) excessive detail given over infighting between some very minor characters in American history. In the acknowledgment section; Meacham explains that new information about these people had come to light since previous biographies on Jackson were published so Meacham deliberately focused on these matters.If you have read previous books on Jackson and on this period in American history; you may find some interesting new stuff in Meacham's book. But if you are a novice like myself; there must be a better book out there to start with.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Based on Personal Letters MostlyBy Dave CarverA put together story about the Jackson years in the White House. The author's in-depth review of letters; many in personal collections and un-read before; allows him to present an entertaining story of the Jackson years from the perspectives of those folks closest to him.At times the story does get bogged down in the discussion of how people got their noses in a "snit" from violations of protocol or social niceties. Perhaps those were much bigger in the 1830s that they are today but it does seem a bit much. I guess depending on personal letters for much of the source material took the story down this particular rabbit hole.Well I did learn about the destruction of the Bank of America; his efforts to have his personal censure overturned and how he managed the attempt at nullification by South Carolina; these major events were mostly presented from the same context as noted above. This may be a function of so much already been written about this particular president that the author had to go down an entirely new area of research; personal letters.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great book about a great president.By BibliophileBeautiful.Congratulations to Jon Meacham for this wonderful book about one of our greatest presidents. Read it. You'll cry.You'll learn new details about aspects of Jackson's presidency that you knew well; and you'll find answers to questions you have about this great man.No spoilers; but I'll offer one suggestion: don't stop reading when you get to the end matter. Keep going to learn what happened to the various characters; and what presidents who followed Jackson had to say about him and how they showed their regard for him. Lincoln. FDR. Truman. Etc.
