Auschwitz #34207: The Joe Rubinstein Story

"A riveting, well-documented account of survival that's harrowing, inspiring and unforgettable." --Kirkus Reviews


"In sharing his story - with Nancy Sprowell Geise's help - Rubinstein has made an invaluable contribution to the literature of the Holocaust."
--BlueInk Review (Starred Review)

"Author Geise has done an important job in presenting Joe's story to the world, and does justice to a generation whose voices deserve to be heard. A great read..."
--Myles Friedman, FinelinesPubslush Review Blog

"Auschwitz #34207 will join work by Primo Levi on a shelf of classic
Holocaust narratives."--Foreword Reviews

In 1945 Joe walked out of a Nazi concentration camp. His story has never been told — until now.

Shortly before dawn on a frigid morning in Radom, Poland, German soldiers forced twenty-one year-old Icek "Joe" Rubinsztejn onto a crowded, open-air truck. The next day, several around him were dead. From there, things got worse for young Joe-much worse. Joe arrived at Auschwitz on April 30, 1942. Now, in his nineties, Joe reveals how he survived several of the most notorious concentration camps when so many others perished. His is a remarkable narrative-a unique story of endurance, courage and faith.

Barefooted when he was seized by the Nazis, Joe became one of New York's leading shoe designers-working with companies whose shoes were sought after by First Ladies and movie stars alike. Joe's story bears witness to the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. While the Nazis took everything else, they were unable to take his unassailable joy.

Joe's story is one of discovering light in the darkest of places, an inspiration for us all.

Writing Joe's remarkable story has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Since its release, I have been hearing from readers around the world, telling me of the profound impact this story has had on them. A German police officer told me that after reading Joe's story, he has vowed to commit his life to do whatever he can to keep such things from happening again. A woman in New Zealand wrote to tell me that after learning about what Joe overcame, and how he found a way to go on living in joy, that she realized she could face whatever it was that was so troubling her. To me, such tributes are the continuation of the miracle of Joe's story. His journey of hope, faith and love will continue to live on forever in the lives of those who read about his life.  Joe tells me every time I see him, "Please, tell everyone, 'Life is precious! It's God's greatest gift to us. We must all love God, love life, and one another. That's all there is.'" At age 95, he says it with more conviction than ever, for Joe has seen what happens when the world forgets these precious sentiments.Through this one man's story, we are given a tremendous gift, a glimpse at the heart and soul of one precious family. A glimpse of humanity behind the dry statistics of the millions of lives lost during WWII. Auschwitz 34207 is a story of love. Now more than ever, it is a story the world needs to hear.

Shortly after its release, Auschwitz #34207 became an Amazon Bestseller ranked #1 in Holocaust Biographies and #1 in Holocaust Memoirs. 

Nancy has shared Joe's inspirational story with the U.S. Library of Congress and The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. where she was presented with their Coin of Excellence Award. Veterans groups, bookstores, civic organizations, churches, synagogues, bookclubs, senior communities, and radio and TV audiences have been been moved and inspired by Nancy's presentation of Joe's story. In 2016, she gave the keynote address at the State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration.

Auschwitz #34207 is a finalist for Foreword Reviews' 2015 Book of the Year in Biography and is garnishing high praise from leading holocaust scholars, national reviewers and readers alike.

Author Nancy Sprowell Geise's debut novel, The Eighth Sea, has been ranked#1 in Historical Fiction and #1 Historical Romance (free Kindle downloads).
 
#1 Historical Genre Literature & Fiction (Kindle); #1 Religion and Spirituality Fiction (Kindle) and was a Quarter Finalist 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Awards.
 
Nancy Sprowell Geise was raised in Ames, Iowa, and is a graduate of Iowa State University. She and her husband have lived in Austin, Texas; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Topeka, Kansas.

Nancy divides her time between writing, speaking engagements and playing pickleball. Her hilarious and moving life experiences provide great fodder for her writing and storytelling endeavors.