Measure of a Man by Martin Greenfield Summary
Overview of Measure of a Man
From Auschwitz survivor to dressing presidents like Obama and Clinton, Martin Greenfield's journey reveals how a tailor's hands rebuilt a shattered life. What powerful secret did he discover when stealing an SS officer's shirt that forever changed his destiny?
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Key takeaways
From Holocaust Survivor to Presidential Tailor
At fifteen, I stood before Josef Mengele at Auschwitz, not yet recognizing the "Angel of Death" in his elegant monocle and shining leather boots. That day in 1944, my mother, five-year-old brother, sister Rivka, and grandparents were sent left-to their deaths. My father, sister Simcha, and I were sent right. Hours later, my father made the heartbreaking decision that we must separate to survive. "You are young and strong," he insisted. "If you survive by yourself, you must honor us by living, by not feeling sorry for us." I never saw him again. Each morning at 4:30 we endured roll call, where any sign of weakness meant selection for the crematorium. The ovens burned day and night. I forced myself to eat whatever was given-rancid coffee, soup with hair and insects, sawdust-filled bread-knowing that to be sick meant death. Killings were frequent and without provocation, a systematic psychological torture breaking our belief in the rewards of goodness. My first job was washing Nazi uniforms. When I accidentally tore an SS officer's shirt collar, he beat me mercilessly. A fellow prisoner taught me to sew, and I mended the shirt-then secretly wore it under my striped uniform. Strangely, both prisoners and guards treated me better when I wore it. That moment marked the beginning of my life's work-two ripped Nazi shirts helped build America's most prestigious custom suit company.
Survival, Liberation, and Moral Choices
Journey to America and Building a New Life
From Floor Boy to Master Craftsman
Dressing Presidents and Power Brokers
Hollywood, Fashion, and Legacy
The Full Circle of Life
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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