Eternal Treblinka Book Summary

In 'Eternal Treblinka,' Charles Patterson draws a powerful parallel between the atrocities of the Holocaust and the hidden suffering of animals in modern society. This thought-provoking exploration challenges readers to confront the ethical implications of their dietary choices and the impact of speciesism. Patterson weaves together historical narratives, philosophical reflections, and shocking facts to shed light on a forgotten aspect of humanity's dark history. As he illuminates the pervasive nature of violence against animals, he questions our moral responsibilities and the true cost of civilization. Are we, as a society, willing to acknowledge the 'Eternal Treblinka' that persists in our midst?

By Charles Patterson

Published: 2002

""In contemplating the horror of the Holocaust and the brutality towards animals, we uncover a deeper truth about the interconnectedness of suffering and the moral imperatives that bind all sentient beings.""

Book Review of Eternal Treblinka

This book explores the similar attitudes and methods behind modern society's treatment of animals and the way humans have often treated each other, most notably during the Holocaust. The book's epigraph and title are from "The Letter Writer," a story by the Yiddish writer and Nobel Laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer: "In relation to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals it is an eternal Treblinka." The first part of the book (Chapter 1-2) describes the emergence of human beings as the master species and their domination over the rest of the inhabitants of the earth. The second part (Chapters 3-5) examines the industrialization of slaughter (of both animals and humans) that took place in modern times. The last part of the book (Chapters 6-8) profiles Jewish and German animal advocates on both sides of the Holocaust, including Isaac Bashevis Singer himself. The Foreword is by Lucy Rosen Kaplan, former attorney for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and daughter of Holocaust survivors. Her foreword, the Preface and Afterword, excerpts from the book, chapter synopses, and an international list of supporters can be found on the book's website at: www.powerfulbook.com

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"In contemplating the horror of the Holocaust and the brutality towards animals, we uncover a deeper truth about the interconnectedness of suffering and the moral imperatives that bind all sentient beings."

Eternal Treblinka

By Charles Patterson