The Choice

Escaping the Past and Embracing the Possible

By: Dr. Edith Eva Eger

Narrated by: Tovah Feldshuh

Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A powerful, moving memoir - and a practical guide to healing - written by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, an eminent psychologist whose own experiences as a Holocaust survivor help her treat patients and allow them to escape the prisons of their own minds.

Edith Eger was 16 years old when the Nazis came to her hometown in Hungary and took her Jewish family to an internment center and then to Auschwitz. Her parents were sent to the gas chamber by Joseph Mengele soon after they arrived at the camp. Hours later Mengele demanded that Edie dance a waltz to "The Blue Danube" and rewarded her with a loaf of bread that she shared with her fellow prisoners. These women later helped save Edie's life. Edie and her sister survived Auschwitz, were transferred to the Mauthausen and Gunskirchen camps in Austria, and managed to live until the American troops liberated the camps in 1945 and found Edie in a pile of dying bodies.

One of the few living Holocaust survivors to remember the horrors of the camps, Edie has chosen to forgive her captors and find joy in her life every day. Years after she was liberated from the concentration camps, Edie went back to college to study psychology. She combines her clinical knowledge and her own experiences with trauma to help others who have experienced painful events large and small. Dr. Eger has counselled veterans suffering from PTSD, women who were abused, and many others who learned that they, too, can choose to forgive, find resilience, and move forward. She lectures frequently on the power of love and healing.

The Choice weaves Eger's personal story with case studies from her work as a psychologist. Her patients and their stories illustrate different phases of healing and show how people can choose to escape the prisons they construct in their minds and find freedom, regardless of circumstance. Eger's story is an inspiration for everyone. And her message is powerful and important: "Your pain matters and is worth healing: You can choose to be joyful and free." She is 89 years old and still dancing.

©2017 Edith Eva Eger (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio

Life Changing

This book is extremely well written and performed. I have listened to many holocaust books and novels, but this book is unique in that it's purpose is more than just telling a story or testifying to personal experiences. Dr. Eger's purpose in writing this book seems to be that of helping readers / listeners find healing and freedom of their own. Her personal story is fascinating to say the least. I was gripped from beginning to end. There are 3 parts to the book - all masterfully intertwined together. The narrator is fantastic and her performance made me feel as if I were living out Dr. Eger's life with her. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

An empowering story

A story of hope in difficult times written by someone that has lived through unspeakable horrors.

Mental health is a struggle all of us share.

I’m a 50 yr old man that is trying to accept that like our bodies the mind needs exorcise. I have chosen to read many books recently that are outside what I would normally choose. This was one of them and I enjoyed it immensely. Several times while listening to it at work, tears would well up in my eyes and I would look around the construction site fearful to whom might see my emotion. I’m learning to show my vulnerability and talk about what I’m listening to with guys on the job site. So many men need healing from wounds they have suppressed for too long. Safe travels.

Amazing recount of an amazing lady

This book was the most amazing story of survival and trauma recovery. I was hanging on Dr. Eger’s every word, start to finish. Wow. Her strength is amazing.

Thankful to hear this life story

Wonderful writing, raw honesty and help for my own mind at the same time. I think anyone reading or listening to this book will feel more at peace once finished.

Humbling

I barely have time to read. Yet I found myself searching for time to listen to this book.
Dr. Eger leaves us with an incredible gift in sharing her story- not only the travesty of the holocaust, or her losses, but the lifelong journey to reconcile her weaknesses, mistakes, and flaws to become whole. As a mental health professional I found the stories about her patients and their impact on her to be enlightening. I can see how some may struggle & lack the patience required to take that journey with her. But I urge all to do exactly that.

This is a story I did not want to end. She is a teacher I wish I could continue to hear from. As a “facilitator” (healer) myself- there’s no denying the inner work needed to do this work.

I’m so grateful she finally wrote this so that the world can stand as a witness to her life. And the lives of her grandparents, parents and sisters. If a “thriver” like Dr. Eger can forgive- who are we not to? Yet she does not extend this invitation to forgive with any judgement on the reader. Like a patient and wise teacher - she allows the reader the space to ask his/her own questions.

She’s a gifted writer. This is one audio book that I’ll be buying a hard copy for - in the hopes of gleaning more wisdom over time from it & sharing with my children & patients. I can’t recommend this book enough. It should be required reading.

To know I have a choice

I am beyond blessed to have chosen to heal through “reading” Edith Eger’s heart as it connected to my own. Though our prisons took on different forms, the choice for freedom was the same~victorious nonetheless. I am forever thankful, grateful and free!

Loved this book

The narrator is an exceptional reader. The author writes with ease and describes events so you feel and see the landscape, the area, the room. I will forever think about the word "choice" in a new way.

I listened almost straight through

Without hesitation, this is another lifetime favorite. I feel lucky to have listened. I'm grateful to know Dr. Eger's story.

Remarkable story!

What a fantastic and powerful story!
I love that the author mentioned 2 of my favorite authors: Viktor Frankl and Corrie Ten Boom. Love it!