Reviews
Official Review: Architect of Death at Auschwitz
Post by Kansas City Teacher » August 9, 2020, 20:57
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Architect of Death at Auschwitz" by John W Primomo.]
4 out of 4 stars
Architect of Death at Auschwitz, written by John W. Primomo, chronicles the life of one of Nazi Germany’s most notorious commanders. Born into a Catholic family, Rudolf Höss had the attributes of a leader from a very young age. A strong-willed and determined young man, he was fascinated by the military and joined the Nazi Party, pledging allegiance to the Third Reich and Hitler. Rising through the ranks, he worked under Heinrich Himmler and eventually became the commander at Auschwitz, where more than one million “enemies of the state” were sent to their deaths. Höss was the most forthcoming of all the high-ranking Nazis. Through his memoirs and interviews with Allied investigators, the world gains insight into the twisted psyche of the Nazi mentality.
There is no shortage of books about the horrors of the Holocaust. This book is different from others because it tells a story of a man from different angles through an objective and comprehensive lens. What was it that led this man to commit such heinous acts? Like many thought-provoking books will do, the book prompted me to read about the other Nazi leaders and the Nuremberg War Trials, which in turn had me listening to testimonies of Auschwitz survivors. Scores of stories from many nations tell different sides of the same story. While each experience is different, there is also a unifying element: the suffering and abuse at the hands of Rudolf Höss and his subordinates.
The best part of this book is the insightful and objective analysis of a man who by any standard is the definition of evil. After a preface that serves as an outline for the book, each chapter provides an abundance of descriptive detail written in academic but straightforward language. Photographs complement the text. The book is carefully researched; the author was meticulous in annotating his reputable sources to support his ideas. I feel this gives a sense of authenticity and validity to the writing. There are poignant details in this book that I have not learned from any other source. Also worth noting is the superb editing; given the complexity and length of the text, it is unexpected to find so few errors. For the detailed analysis, historical context, and informative nature of the writing, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars.
There is nothing I disliked about the book; the author’s portrayal of the events at Auschwitz and the life of Rudolf Höss is nothing less than captivating. The only negative thing I could say is that I found some parts of the book to be repetitive. However, when telling a life story and describing legal proceedings, it may be necessary to create a holistic representation of events. The restating of descriptions and events can also be attributed to the organization of the book and the author’s writing style.