Official Review: Architect of Death at Auschwitz

[Kansas City Teacher]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Architect of Death at Auschwitz" by John W Primomo.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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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.

I recommend this book to all adult readers. Although there is very little profanity, the atrocities depicted in the concentration camps are very disturbing, even for adults. I have read many books about the Holocaust and was still moved to tears reading the intricate details on the methods of genocide. Readers who enjoy history, psychology, and criminology will appreciate the analysis and discussion this book has to offer. High school history or psychology students may benefit from selected sections of the book, as it contains a plethora of primary and secondary sources for study. Overall, I enjoyed this remarkable book that tells the story of war and retribution. Every person who reads this account will ponder the profound effects of social influence and marvel at the power of the human psyche.

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Architect of Death at Auschwitz
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[Adrianna Melillo]

I’ve read countless books about WW2, but most have been from the side of the victims. While I will probably never be able to understand how this man came to do what he did, I am incredibly interested to learn his reasonings and about his upbringing. Thank you for a very thorough review; I’m definitely adding this to my list!

[gatuguta2030]

Thanks for the great review. Due to fear of the atrocities in the book, I will not read it.

[NetMassimo]

Descriptions of the horrors perpetrated in Nazi lagers are truly disturbing, and understanding how people who often seem normal could join Hitler in his extermination plans. Thank you for your great review!

[Doziesixtus]

I'm not a fan of historical wartime books. I'll pass on this. Tho you did a nice one on the review

[Tablito]

A million plus deaths during Rudolf's term as commander of Auschwitz is quite a big number.

[Kansas City Teacher]

I’ve read countless books about WW2, but most have been from the side of the victims. While I will probably never be able to understand how this man came to do what he did, I am incredibly interested to learn his reasonings and about his upbringing. Thank you for a very thorough review; I’m definitely adding this to my list!

This will definitely give you some insight. Thanks for stopping by!

[Damis Seres Rodriguez]

Now that's an interesting perspective. Definitely caught my attention. Great review!

[Keta_ki]

That was a great review. I have read this book, I really loved it. It offered great insight on the Second World War.