In this transformative book, Dr. Edith Eger shares her remarkable journey from surviving the horrors of Auschwitz to finding healing and forgiveness. The book provides 12 essential lessons for living a life of resilience, purpose, and fulfillment. Eger explains how the worst prison she experienced was the one she created in her own mind and offers tools to deal with universal challenges such as fear, grief, anger, and shame. Each chapter includes stories from her own life and the lives of her patients, along with thought-provoking questions and takeaways. The book emphasizes the power of choice, self-compassion, forgiveness, and choosing love over fear to break out of personal prisons and enjoy life[1][2][5].
In 'The Choice: Even in Hell Hope Can Flower,' Edith Eva Eger recounts her harrowing experiences as a Holocaust survivor, including her time in Auschwitz. The book delves into her journey of survival, resilience, and the psychological insights she has gained. Eger, a psychologist herself, reflects on the importance of hope, freedom, and the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Caution: contains themes of an adult nature.
This week marks the 500th episode of this podcast! And what a journey it’s been! There have been so many conversations that have had a profound impact upon my life and to celebrate, I thought it would be fitting to share the conversation that has impacted me the most:
My conversation with the incredible Dr Edith Eger back on episode 144 fundamentally changed who I am and how I see the world. I was lucky enough to meet Edith, now aged 97, a few weeks ago at an event in San Diego and sit down and have a chat with her. We were able to record our brief conversation, which you can hear at the end of this episode.
For those of you who haven’t already heard our initial conversation, Edith is a holocaust survivor who became a psychologist and an expert in the treatment of post-traumatic stress. She is also the author of 3 amazing books, The Choice: Even in Hell Hope Can Flower, The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life, and most recently, she has released The Ballerina of Auschwitz – a retelling of her story for younger adults from a different perspective.
As a Jew living in Eastern Europe under Nazi occupation, Edith was taken to Auschwitz concentration camp with her parents and sister, at the age of 16. In this conversation, she explains how she found her inner resources, how she came to view her guards as the real prisoners, turn hate into pity and, incredibly, she even describes her horrific experience as ‘an opportunity’. Edith not only survived Auschwitz, she freed herself from the trauma of her past by using her mind and the healing powers of forgiveness.
For those of you who have already heard this conversation, I would urge you to listen again because each time you listen, you will hear something different – as Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher said, ‘no man ever steps in the same river twice’. This really is a timeless conversation that keeps on giving.
Edith’s story is incredible. It is powerful, confronting and, at times, challenging. Above all though, it is deeply inspiring and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 500 episodes of my podcast – I hope you agree.
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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/500
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