Conversations with Elie Wiesel

Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking conversations
Review: Elie Wiesel is an extraordinary figure in history and literature. As a Jew who survived the Holocaust and horrors of the concentration camps when he was but a child, he has spent his life questioning the very nature of his faith and his fellow human beings. In "Conversations With Elie Wiesel" readers are given the opportunity to hear his viewpoint on a wide range of topics that concern America, and the entire world, today.

These conversations have been honed from numerous interviews with Richard D. Heffner, moderator of the public television show "The Open Mind." Together these two men discuss religion, tolerance, hate, compassion, capital punishment - almost every so-called hot button that exists in the political, social and moral concerns of our world. Elie Wiesel proves himself to be a thoroughly intelligent man, who raises questions even while recognizing that some may never be answered. His distinct experiences and his Jewish faith play a role in all that he says or does.

These conversations are interspersed with interludes that give true Wiesel fans insights into the inner workings of his mind. Wiesel argues for the necessary role of compassion in human interactions. We need to care about our brothers, in spite of our differences, if there is to be any peace and understanding within our world. He holds out hope for the day when everyone could come together and put aside all the differences and squabbles that separate us and tear us apart. This truly is a thought-provoking read for anyone interested in religion, philosophy, and the fate of our world.