Customer Reviews

Eternal Treblinka

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I read a lot of criticism about Charles Patterson's book, "Eternal Treblinka" before I actually read the book, so I was expecting something thought-provoking and controversial, to be sure. I was not disappointed. I know there have been many who have been offended by the comparison of mankind's treatment of animals to the Nazi's treatment of the Jews, and I can understand why. But on the other hand, the parallels that Mr. Patterson draw in this book are compelling, and seen from an objective, not emotional, point of view do make sense.

I've also heard of the protests where meat-eaters object to being likened to Nazis, and I'd like to point out right now that no such correlation is made in this book. It seems that many of the critics of "Eternal Treblinka" have not bothered to read the book.

There are many other sociological parallels that can be drawn in regard to our treatment of animals and their systematic slaughter from mere existence, but given Mr. Patterson's background, this is the one that makes sense to write about. What emerges from the pages of horrifying stories (both of animal abuse and human abuse) is a compelling argument for an open and critical discussion of our role, as humans, in the world and how far our dominion over other creatures really stretches.

I was surprised to learn that so many animal rights activists are either survivors of the Holocaust, or family members of survivors (or, in many cases, German citizens who were on the "safe" side during the war). These personal stories are moving, and the fact that these people can extend their sanctity for life beyond humans is truly inspiring.

This is a wonderful book. Hard to read in the way it's hard to face any tragedy and stare it down. Well worth it though. You will not be disappointed.

Reading Charles Patterson's THE ETERNAL TREBLINKA: OUR TREATMENT OF ANILMALS AND THE HOLOCAUST is a shattering experience. If Patterson's postulates are true, and he has carefully researched and documented with copious footnotes the facts he so bravely reveals here, then we as a global society need to take responsibility for the horrors against fellow man we so willingly assign to 'others', never ourselves. The parallel of man's treatment of animals from Genesis to the present and the recurring genocides of humans is stated early on in this wise book: "Not only did the domestication of animals provide the model and inspiration for human slavery and tyrannical government, but it laid the groundwork for western hierarchical thinking and European and American radical theories that called for the conquest and exploitation of 'lower races,' while at the same time vilifying them as animals so as to encourage and justify their subjugation." And later, "Throughout the history of our ascent to dominance as the master species, our victimization of animals has served as the model and foundation for our victimization of each other. The study of human history reveals the pattern: first, humans exploit and slaughter animals; then, they treat other people like animals and so the same to them."
Patterson traces our carnivorous society to the Ice Age when plants were no longer available for food and animals became the source of staving off hunger. From this beginning he traces the gradual herding, forced breeding, selective trashing of the weak and infirm, sterilization techniques, American Indian genocide and slavery practices throughout the world as well as in America, slaughterhouse productions lines (suggesting that Henry Ford who made assembly line production popular and who was one of Hitler's few heroes forged the way for models for the extermination camps of the Nazis) - all steps from the abuse of animals to the extermination of peoples in such a way that we as readers are forced to reflect on what we have always considered as atrocities that shamed other countries and societies are actually rooted in our own history.
Good books make us think. Patterson writes so well that despite his historical didactic approach to this uncomfortable subject, it is difficult to put this book down. Many may not wish to finish reading his tome, but everyone should be made aware of its postulates. In the midst of his documentation of his theory he places an utterly poetic tribute of a chapter to Isaac Bashivus Singer, the Nobel Prize laureate for literature in 1978. Singer was a vegetarian and a poet of kindness and Patterson seeks to imbue hope in his readers by emulating Singer's visions.
THE ETERNAL TREBLINKA is an important book and if we are to learn from history to prevent repetition of past sins then this surely stands as one source of instruction. Would that schools could include this as recommended reading for all students - form Junior High to high school to college.

I'm trying to convince my World Studies and U.S. History teachers to use this book as a part of the curriculum. Eternal Treblinka compares the disgustingly similar Holocausts of the Jewish during World War II and of the animals throughout history. The book also gives very important background information on the history of animal abuse and who was responsible for the genocide of the Jewish. It's surprisingly easy to read and it's amazing where he gets all this information. The book is divided into three parts: A Fundamental Debacle (I), Master Species, Master Race (II), and Holocaust Echoes (III). Each part is introduced by a quote(s) relating to the topics of the chapters.

"A Fundamental Debacle" talks about when animal abuse began and discusses the controversial subject of whether or not animals were put on earth for humans' needs. "Master Species, Master Race" describes what caused the Holocaust and every person responsible for carrying out the Final Solution (the scientists, slaughterhouse employees, Henry Ford, and Hitler himself) and the story of how slaughterhouses were established. Chapter three, "The Industrialization of Slaughter" includes quotes and paragraphs about the classic novel The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. And finally, "Holocaust Echoes" is comprised of the stories of animal rights activists who have been affected by the Holocaust, including Peter Singer and the Nobel Prize winner and Yiddish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer.

Also, this book isn't only about the Holocaust of the Jewish; it also talks about the mass murders of the Chinese during World War II, the infamous genocide of the Native Americans, the conquest of Africa and the Philippines, the dehumanization of the Vietnamese and what happened to the Japanese during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This is a wonderful book and anybody who's interested in history should own a copy. I learned more history from reading this book than in my history classes. I knew more about the Holocaust than my teachers did, which was handy when I argue with them. --Reviewed by Angie Lau

I highly recommend this book. It makes striking comparisons between modern factory farming and slaughterhouses, and the Nazi death camps. When people are treated like animals commonly are, then it becomes easier to torture, use, and kill them. Connecting with the cold, detached cruelty of modern animal treatment sensitizes the individual to how all animals, including humans, deserve kindness and respect.

The book is interesting. Not much in it was new as far as factory farms etc. I was I admit a bit put off with the suggestion that all killing of animals for food is wrong, since my family has hunted for centuries in the United States and as a hunter I know what a clean kill is.

Personally I would like to see the mass market feed lots and slaughter houses done away with. Even the kosher ones. Since I detest waste and believe that if someone is going to eat meat they better raise and cull it themselves and use every part of the animal from hide, to bone.

Completely ignored were issues like native Americans in Artic areas where eating animals has often been the only means of survival. Or even my own Passamaquoody family from eastern Maine in times past.

My challenge to anyone who believes that eating animals is always wrong is stop using any and all products, including life saving medicines derived from animals of any kind. Be consistent and risk dying for your beliefs.

And how ironic that on pages 160-161 we have Professor Peter Singer who is an animals rights person, as well as a 'human' who believes disabled or sick babies up to 30 days old should be killed or allowed to die. Seems odd that he would be in a book about Nazis who did that to Jews and other humans.

Why 5 stars? Because overall the book has some valuable information and I tend to take what I want from good books and ignore the rest.

This book does only one thing. It makes us confront reality. The reality of animal slaughter: in all of its gruesomeness and obsceneness.
The problem is that when people eat meat, they think it's just that: meat. They do not realize that what they are eating was once the flesh of an animal; they only see it as their dinner or lunch. Similarly, Nazi's did not see Jews as people; they only saw them as things that needed to be killed for a good cause.
This extraordinary book parallels our treatment of animals with holocaust. Not only the slaughtering of animals, but also the exploitation of animals.
The book starts off by showing us how Humans came to acquire the belief that we are supreme; above all other being on the earth. The book goes on to describe the industrialized slaughter of animals (and humans in genocide), and finally it gives profiles of holocaust survivors. These holocaust survivors can be seen as the voices of the animals; they were the animals at one point.

Every few years a book comes out that completely shocks the world. A book that forces people to change their ways, forces them to question what they have believed their whole lives, forces them to ACT, to DO SOMETHING. This is one such book. For those who have been eating meat their whole lives, this book will be a rude awakening. I know, because before this book I was only considering being a vegetarian. Now I am one.
I MORE than urge everyone to read this book. Living in ignorance is NOT a choice. We must expose ourselves to certain realities, this being one: animal cruelty is unjustified and wrong.

"Eternal Treblinka" is well-written, thought-provoking, and much easier to read than I had imagined it would be. Ordinarily I'd bypass non-fiction regarding the suffering endured by an entire race as well as the suffering of animals. But isn't that what so many others have done?

With the deftness of a bona fide artist, Charles Patterson delves into Hitler's fury even before it was unleashed. Step-by-step, he takes your hand and holds it long enough to capture your heart. And then he lets you breathe.

His comparison of Holocaust survivors to our mistreatment of animals is extraordinarily interesting. He backs up his words with what I can only imagine took thousands of hours of endless and exhausting research. With new vision, we see the slaughterhouses of animals and the slaughterhouses of Jews as remarkably alike. We see where Hitler got his inspiration for assembly-line killing. And in order for man to commit mass-murder, man must first mentally demote his victims. With clearer vision, we see that devaluation process unfold.

No matter what position you take, this book is well worth the read. For in "Eternal Treblinka," Charles Patterson transforms the unutterable into a readable life lesson in humanity. There are some lessons that can't be taught to the mind, but which the heart receives fully. This book made a profound impact on both my heart and mind.

ETERNAL TREBLINKA has been a life-changing read. Patterson's choice of material is superb. Life changing is such an over-used term but I find TREBLINKA permeating areas of my life as small as do I myself kill the lizard the cat has wounded, or do I let it die its own death outside beneath a green leaf? This book has taught me about God and that I am not it. ETERNAL TREBLINKA restoreth my soul. It's a hard book to swallow and so it should be. Thank you, Charles Patterson.

... but I must recommend this book HIGHLY, MOST HIGHLY to anyone with a conscience or who wants to develop her or his compassion. If sometimes you don't understand why people "give up" so much to become vegetarian or vegan, PLEASE read this book and lend your voice to those without one.

This is perhaps less important that what the book is about, but the writing is also top-notch. Isaac Bashevis Singer would be proud.

There is no doubt in my mind that Charles Patterson has written a great book. It is seldom that such a
comprehensive work of scholarship springs from a heart of compassion in the service of a noble
and necessary idea. All of the ingredients of his thesisï¿that the oppression of animals serves as
the model for all other forms of oppressionï¿have been available to thinking people for
generations, but it remained for Patterson to pull them together into a case for animal rights that we
as a species cannot afford to ignore.

We live in a very sick world. Many alternative therapies work backwards, treating the most
recent disorder before uncovering the older ones, like peeling the layers of an onion. It is my
hope that in peeling away the layers of oppression in our societyï¿the oppression of blacks, of
women, of gaysï¿we have finally reached bedrock: the oppression of animals, and that this, the
final civil rights movement, is at last on the agenda. May this book help to make it so!