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gdp60's review against another edition
4.0
audiobook
very interesting, especially about all the people protecting him his while life and how he never got caught
very interesting, especially about all the people protecting him his while life and how he never got caught
mommaraff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
paladini's review against another edition
4.0
Uma história completa da caçada ao nazista mais procurado de todos os tempos. O livro não é propriamente uma biografia da figura execrável do Josef Mengele, focando principalmente nos seus experimentos de Auschwitz e mais ainda nas caçadas e no pós-2ª Guerra Mundial.
Em diversos aspectos, é uma história pesada e o foco no meio pro final da vida do Anjo da Morte de Auschwitz (que era um médico, cuja atuação no campo "definia" quem iria morrer e quem não iria), acaba sendo uma boa forma de entender os pensamentos de Mengele quando cometeu tantas atrocidades.
Disfarçado de um viés científico, aparentemente Josef Mengele nunca se arrependeu dos seus pensamentos e embora não tenha sido alcançado por uma justiça dos homens (e eu julgo que dificilmente uma justiça divina, pois não creio na sua existência), agora sei que em vários aspectos ele viveu uma vida de fugitivo miserável durante boa parte da sua vida, com muita solidão e depressão.
Diante de dezenas de cortinas de fumaça midiáticas promovidas pela "figura mitológica" do fugitivo incansável, Mengele acabou morrendo miserável e sozinho, afogado numa praia de Bertioga no estado de São Paulo, sem o respeito do próprio filho biológico e amargurado em pensamentos da decadência da Alemanha nazista e do mundo que ele acreditava embasado em suas pseudo-ciências biológicas.
Um retrato um tanto quanto preciso da vida e pensamento desse que talvez tenha sido um dos seres humanos mais cruéis que já passaram pelo nosso planeta.
Em diversos aspectos, é uma história pesada e o foco no meio pro final da vida do Anjo da Morte de Auschwitz (que era um médico, cuja atuação no campo "definia" quem iria morrer e quem não iria), acaba sendo uma boa forma de entender os pensamentos de Mengele quando cometeu tantas atrocidades.
Disfarçado de um viés científico, aparentemente Josef Mengele nunca se arrependeu dos seus pensamentos e embora não tenha sido alcançado por uma justiça dos homens (e eu julgo que dificilmente uma justiça divina, pois não creio na sua existência), agora sei que em vários aspectos ele viveu uma vida de fugitivo miserável durante boa parte da sua vida, com muita solidão e depressão.
Diante de dezenas de cortinas de fumaça midiáticas promovidas pela "figura mitológica" do fugitivo incansável, Mengele acabou morrendo miserável e sozinho, afogado numa praia de Bertioga no estado de São Paulo, sem o respeito do próprio filho biológico e amargurado em pensamentos da decadência da Alemanha nazista e do mundo que ele acreditava embasado em suas pseudo-ciências biológicas.
Um retrato um tanto quanto preciso da vida e pensamento desse que talvez tenha sido um dos seres humanos mais cruéis que já passaram pelo nosso planeta.
shadira78's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Mengele was sane and easily grasped the reality that people and institutions adhering to the values of Western Civilization would severely take him to task if they ever got their hands on him. Often those who primarily advocate a therapeutic way of looking at the world prefer to believe that someone who commits the horrifying crimes of a Josef Mengele are mentally unbalanced. How does someone torture and murder children and not even require copious amounts of alcohol and drugs to get through the day? The vast majority of us, thankfully, would not inflict such cruel suffering on animals much less our fellow human beings. Yet, other than Mengele's proclivity of losing his temper at any given moment, the man would have probably pass a series of tests dealing with his sanity with flying colors. Many people, especially Mengele's own family, protected him. The only thing one can say in their defense is that they perhaps deluded themselves into believing that someone so dear could not actually commit such horrifying deeds. Mengele, the convinced Nazi, evaded justice on this side of the grave. The only real price he paid during his last years was that of extreme loneliness and severely restricted finances. "Mengele: The Complete Story" reads like a fictional thriller. The book, needless to add, is not escapist entertainment. It may, however, be a moral obligation to read in order to more completely understand how such monstrous incidents occurred in the not so distant past. We might even learn how to limit such crimes against humanity in our own century.
The authors have done extensive research and interviews, and pay particular attention to the mythology of Mengele and how reports of sightings were legendary, almost beyond human capability. The authors dismiss most of the sightings out of hand. I don't. The authors also don't seem to even hint that Mengele's work may have continued anywhere else, as important as it was. I question that as well. There is no doubt in my mind that his influence is felt particularly today.
That said, this is an important book that brings the history of Mengele as up to date as any can right now. It is essential reading, I think, for those who are trying to stay on top of the Nazi legacy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TW++++++ ( trigger warning )
The authors have done extensive research and interviews, and pay particular attention to the mythology of Mengele and how reports of sightings were legendary, almost beyond human capability. The authors dismiss most of the sightings out of hand. I don't. The authors also don't seem to even hint that Mengele's work may have continued anywhere else, as important as it was. I question that as well. There is no doubt in my mind that his influence is felt particularly today.
That said, this is an important book that brings the history of Mengele as up to date as any can right now. It is essential reading, I think, for those who are trying to stay on top of the Nazi legacy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TW++++++ ( trigger warning )
xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
dark
informative
slow-paced
4.0
This book is on the suggested reading list for The Last Podcast On The Left (Episode 348-350, Josef Mengele). This book is well written, and certainly an in depth look inside the mind of Josef Mengele, the so called Angel of Death. Mengele I listened to this on Audible, which was great. I was able to pause whenever I felt like it was becoming tedious and move on with something else. I can see why there were reviews that said it was long winded and boring. I did not find it boring at all, though. This explained Mengele's education, childhood, and the family business. I have read plenty of things about him before, but I wound up learning things I had not previously heard. It was very interesting.
rachaelreads92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.25
This is one of those books where you probably should read the reviews before you go into it. When the title says "the complete story" it is really referring to touching on his childhood and education, slightly more detail into his time at Auschwitz, and a LOT of time spent discussing his time in South America,
For me, I really wanted a book that focused on Mengele: The doctor of Auschwitz, I wasn't interested in reading about a lonely man in the twilight of his life who has been reduced to a pathetic existence. One element, however, that I did enjoy is learning about some of the different people/ families that risked their lives and freedom to protect Mengele and his freedom. What did he have that promoted such loyalty and dedication?
Overall, a well researched book but not what I was looking for.
deadpandasociety's review against another edition
4.0
This book is pretty informative on one of the evilest people in history. I have really been loving holocaust era stories and this was a super interesting next step.
prettyinpapercuts's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
4.0
I can't say this is the most compelling piece of nonfiction I've ever read, it was pretty dry. Even so, it was interesting. I've learned a lot about WWII over the years, but this had information new to me, and I really liked that the focus wasn't necessarily on what Mengele did during his time at Auschwitz, but what he did after fleeing Europe. I'm very glad to learn that even though he spent the remainder of his life as a free man, he had a pretty miserable life. A miserable life for a horribly miserable man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Antisemitism, and War
Moderate: Child death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Torture
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