A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography - From A Name to A Number

Mr. Wiener's life account as written in his autobiography will move you to tears. His willingness to share his story is courageous and I pray it will help us to never forget what mankind is capable of doing to each other. Through his account of atrocities committed against him and millions of others, he shares how love and kindness appear in places he wouldn't have expected and gives him hope. This is a tragic story and ended tragically for six million of our fellow mankind, but Mr. Wiener's bravery in telling his story has had a life-changing impact on many who have read his book and heard him speak, including myself. His story should encourage all of us to not be quiet when there are those who even today spew the same hatred toward Israel and the Jewish people.

Very well written and learned things I hadn't heard before about that very dark time in history. I didn't want to put it down. My book group invited Alter Wiener to come speak and he is delightful. He was delightful, very informative. and humorous surprisingly.

After all that you survived and went through you are still able to inspire and encourage others. Thank you for your heartfelt story Mr Weiner. I shall recommend it to others. If you lived closer, it would be good to have you talk to our students in Australia. Made me thank God for all the good things in life that we have. We must at all costs work hard to create peace in our world.

My son alerted me to Mr. Wiener after he attended a speaking presentation in Beaverton, Oregon. After reading "From a Name to a Number," I highly recomment it. Having read many books about the Holocaust, Mr. Wiener's story is extraordinary and stands as documented testamony to the cruelty visited upon innocent people. Mr. Wiener has chosen to tell his story to many groups and inspired those attending with his wisdom and insight into the nature of man.

I have read many books about the holocaust, but this one is so personal yet so universal. In reading the book I found that Mr Weiner not only told his story but wanted to express to the world how terrible prejudice of any kind is. How it can destroy a life and a family in any country and in any era. I admire his ability to share such a story with us, when each time he looks at the book or reads a review he must once again live thru all those hateful things that happened to him personally. I find it hard to believe that anyone could do such things, but even harder to believe that anyone could live thru it and continue to contribute to life with such a positive spirit. God Bless You, Alter Wiener Carmie

It is important for us to learn about what happened during the WWII Nazi Regime. Unfortunately Mr. Wiener had to experience this first hand but I am so thankful that he decided to share his experiences with us so that we can learn about our past. This book is very well written and makes you really understand what it was like to be there fighting for your life. Thank you Mr. Weiner for sharing your story.

This book is absolutely amazing! Alter's story is one everyone should read in their lifetime. I had the privilege to meet Alter shortly after I purchased the book and I got to hear him tell his story. I laughed and cried; it was very humbling. His story will make you truly appreciate your life and everything in it. I think meeting him and reading his book has made me a better person. Thank you Alter for sharing your story with us.

I have always been fascinated with biographies/autobiographies of the Holocaust. I was completely taken with Alter's account and his honest expression of the years after he was freed from the camps. Such a horrible horrible tragedy and I wish that everyone would read this book and never forget what one man did............ Hitler was a monster and it's literally unbelievable what he did...........and how others followed him. We must always remember and never let this happen again. My wish would be to meet Alter in person someday, however I live on the other end of the US...... but I thank him for sharing!!! Kim Kidd

An amazing job relating his story. Mr. Wiener writes with power and honesty, while never losing sight of his larger message. Such a tragic story, heartbreaking; yet Mr. Wiener's resilience remains. I got to drive him to and from a speaking engagement at my school, and delighted in his honesty, warmth, humor, and poise. It's odd recommending a book which deals with such a terrible subject, yet I do. A wonderful read, written by a wonderful man, proving that the most disgusting event in history cannot bring him down.

Overall I liked it. I have read many Holocaust Survivor's Autobiographies, they are all sad stories . It's just unbelievable what people did to the jews, not just the Germans', but all the other races also. The jews have been persecuted for so long, I just wanted to know what the real reasons were .... now I understand more.... You must read this book -The International Jew- by Henry Ford and you will understand.

Alter Wiener tells the tragic story of his holocaust experience in this wonderful book about one of the most terrible times in the history of civilization. His life could easily be filled with bitterness, but now he speaks with warmth and love for the many wonderful heroes and heroines of that horrible time.

Despite seeing so many terrifying scenes, and living himself with the daily threat of death, Mr. Wiener, Number 64735, has always been one to "dream of a caring world", and now he shares his story with us. This beautiful reminder of how our world can go so horribly wrong should be required reading for students of all ages.

Harold Gray
Professor of Music, retired
Artistic Director,
Portland Piano International

I chose the "Another World" title because Mr. Wiener's book touched many of my students who are curently serving time in prison. They were positively influenced by it and begged me to arrange for Mr. Wiener to speak at our prison. At present, we are going through the proper channels, so Mr. Wiener would be able to come and speak to our prisoners in person. I am maintaining a small Holocaust library in my classroom ( books I mostly bought with my own money)and they are read with incredulity, admiration, respect, saddness and they bring out the best in my students. Almost NONE of my students knew anything about the Holocaust before they came to prison. I am the instructor for adult basic education at the prison where I have been teaching for 16 years. God bless you. Silva

I have read many books regarding the Holacaust and his is one that will stay with me for years to come. I was deeply touched by mr Weiners experience and was so happy that he has shared his memories with so many schools, etc.

This book is so riveting and unbelivable from the beginning. He starts at a very young age and goes from bad situation to worse situation to unbelivable to the fascinating end. Excellent writing and vocabulary.

Mr. Wiener's memory of the events he endured under the hands of the Nazis is incredible. To recall the loss of family and his youth in such detail with dignity and forgiveness makes this book a "must read". I felt the history of the years after the war were even more astonishing. Mr. Wiener's story is very inspirational and I only hope that it becomes required reading in schools.

Alter Wiener's story is life changing for any age. Throughout the book I kept thinking how lucky I am to have the freedom this country offers. How strong Alter was to survive such obstacles and challenges as a young boy. I recommend this book to everyone because all of us need to be reminded how precious life is.

Mr Wiener's account is heartfelt, tragic and moving. Often I was moved to tears, throughout I was enlightened to details I could never imagine surviving through personally. Mr. Wiener is an inspiration and his courage and strength could never be put in to words. Thank you for sharing your intimate life story. It was a privilege and an honor to read it.

I so appreciated reading the story of a man living through seemingly impossible hatred and degradation spat upon him by evil human beings, beings created in the Image of God, and watching him triumph. I highly recommend this book, you won't want to put it down once you begin.

Alter Wiener uses his simple, yet powerful voice in this memoir to share the hopefulness of his survivorship of the unthinkable atrocities of Hitler's Nazi regime, but also of creating a better world. His life's contribution is not only this written word, but on publicly sharing his story with thousands of children in schools, churches, synagogues all over the US. This book is a gift to us all.

As shocking and gut wrenching as Mr. Wieners Holocaust experience was to read about, the most profound effect
his story had (has) on me was about faith. Horror beyond imagination imposed by man - they took everything away they possibly could - but they couldn't take away his love and faith in God. Mr. Wieners book will impact your life in a way very few other stories can. A must read not only for our children but for all of mankind!

Alter Wiener, born in Chrzanów, Poland, survived horrors inflicted by the Germans and Poles, culminating in his incarceration in forced labor camps for Jews Blechhammer, Brande, Gross-Masselwitz, Klettendorf, and concentration camp Waldenburg, from which he was liberated (like my own father and uncle) in May 1945. When it was over, he had no family, no education, no skills, and no home. He describes the difficulties of his post-Holocaust years. His testimony is detailed and eloquent. Wiener distinguishes his text by his philosophical comments on the nature of good and evil, and on his difficult struggle to focus on the good. "Count your blessings!" is the last sentence of this important and thoughtful Autobiography.

I would recommend this book to everyone I know....this wonderful mans story is filled with history and all that is good and bad in man....his innocence shines thru as he survives the worst of man.....his time after the war and the arrival in Palestine to being apart of Israel becoming a state is told in simple language yet is filled with the depth of an old soul.....I fell in love with him and as a Jew my heart went out to him

This book was sad, eye opening, heart wrentching and, most importantly, informative. Mr. Wiener's book puts you in his shoes and what he went through. The book is a "must read" in the name of humanity and also to ensure that these atrocities NEVER happen again. Mr. Wiener shares some very disturbing events, but they make you grateful for what you have and grateful for all things in life; Big & Small. Great read!!

This is the most inspiring book with details of one mans journey of horror during the Holocaust. It's a part of history, it happened and every student needs to learn of this horrible tragedy that occurred. The story brings this up close and personal to the reader. You actually feel the pain and hopelessness that this man endured and how he managed somehow to survive, and slowly make a life for himself under unbearable odds. This book is a MUST on any readers list.
K.G. Uboldi, Classified Substitute

I was the Office Manager at the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center in 2005 and 2006. I helped to schedule Survivors to speak at schools and other venues. I met Al Wiener and heard him speak a couple of times. The phrase that I remember vividly was when he explained that he decided to become 'better, not bitter' because of what he suffered, endured and survived. He is inspiring as a speaker and a writer.

I was honored to hear Alter Wiener's presentation of his survival. I purchased his book the Kindle version before I met him. But I want my family and grandchildren to read this book - so I also purchased a hard copy. He has a strong and powerful message for all of us.

Alter Wiener shares the unbelievably terrible story of his life in occupied Poland and the terror of living through five prison camps. Somehow he survived and shares what he lived through. His experience is vital and important. Unfortunately as a book, it was not written well. His narrative jumps from people, places, and time. He does not come across as the gentle, loving husband and father that he portrays when sharing his story with the general public. While I applaud his courage and his ability to inspire others through his own tragedies, I wish he had enlisted the talents of a real writer to share this story.

Mr. Wiener has told his extraordinary story with honest and integrity. His life is an inspiration because despite the horrors that he experienced at the hands of the Nazi's, he never lost his humanity. I wholeheartedly recommend his book to all but especially to young people who will be educated about the Holocaust and motivated by his story to push forward no matter what the obstacles.

This book should be required for EVERY high school history class covering WWII. The story, itself, is compelling but what sets this book apart is 1) the recounting of the aftermath of Liberation and what that meant; 2) the philosophical discussions and 3) the reaction of those who have been fortunate enough to hear Alter Weiner speak.

This is an extraordinary book... Answers to questions asked to the author in his lectures are unique, explosive and a must read to those who want to learn from this experience. This quality of this bok can only be exceeded by attending to the author lectures ...

A touching story of survival & forgiveness. It is amazing that Mr. Wiener has become better instead of bitter. I can't imagine losing my whole family other than a few cousins. All innocent people whose crime was being Jewish. These people are God's chosen & were the target of a lunatic. This book truly touched my heart.