The Choice by Edith Eva Eger Summary
Overview of The Choice
Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eva Eger's memoir reveals how choosing freedom amid unimaginable trauma transforms suffering into strength. Praised by Elizabeth Zaborowska and compared to Viktor Frankl's work, this New York Times bestseller unlocks the power of perspective in your darkest moments.
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Key takeaways
Dancing Through Darkness: The Journey from Trauma to Freedom
In the stark confines of my El Paso office, I encounter Captain Jason Fuller-physically present but emotionally absent, his body rigid, eyes distant. This catatonic soldier embodies the prison that trauma creates, a prison without walls where the mind becomes both captor and captive. Taking command, I insist we walk together in the park-a simple act that begins his journey back to life. This moment captures the essence of freedom that begins in the mind, the central revelation of my life's journey from Auschwitz survivor to healer. My story begins in 1944 Czechoslovakia, where I stood with my mother and sister Magda in a barren yard at Auschwitz, arms linked, unaware it would be our last moment together. Growing up Jewish in Czechoslovakia had already made us double minorities, but nothing prepared us for what followed. When soldiers pounded on our door that Passover morning, my father's tears as he circled the table kissing each of us suddenly made sense. In my thin blue silk dress-the one Eric kissed me in-I left behind everything but hope. What sustains us when everything is taken? In the cattle cars to Auschwitz, my mother whispered the wisdom that would save my life: "No one can take away from you what you've put in your mind." This became my lifeline when Dr. Mengele separated us, sending my mother to the gas chambers while pushing Magda and me to the right.
Finding Freedom Within Captivity
The Strength of Human Connection
The Long Road to Healing
Confronting the Past to Reclaim the Future
The Dance of Freedom Continues
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"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"
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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