The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku

Born in Leipzig, Germany, into a Jewish family, Eddie Jaku’s life was forever changed as a teenager. On November 9, 1938, during the violent chaos of Kristallnacht, Eddie was beaten by SS officers, arrested, and sent to a concentration camp with thousands of other Jews. Over the next seven years, he endured unimaginable horrors in Buchenwald, Auschwitz, and on a forced death march during the final days of the Third Reich. The Nazis took everything from Eddie—his family, friends, and homeland. But they could not break his spirit.

Against all odds, Eddie found the strength to survive. Deeply grateful for the gift of life, he made a promise to smile every day in honor of the six million Jews murdered by Hitler. Now, at 100 years old, despite the suffering he endured, Eddie calls himself the “happiest man on earth.” In his extraordinary memoir, this natural storyteller shares his reflections and the lessons he has learned about gratitude, kindness, tolerance, and living life to the fullest.

The Happiest Man on Earth offers timeless wisdom on friendship, family, health, love, and overcoming hate. Eddie’s simple but powerful beliefs provide invaluable lessons, especially for young readers, showing that life can be beautiful when we make it so.