Tearing the Silence: On Being German in America

by Ursula Hegi

Book Overview

Ursula Hegi grew up in Germany and moved to the United States at age eighteen. As she grew older and raised a family, questions about her roots and her native land haunted her until, at last, she felt compelled to write about them. Tearing the Silence brings together her interviews with dozens of German-born Americans, and their confrontations with the taboo of the Holocaust.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 068484611X
• ISBN13: 9780684846118
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Wow.

Hegi has proven herself as equally talented in the nonfiction arena as she has steadfastly excelled in the fiction genre.

book review

very interesting reading , You don't have to of German heritage to understand the why and how German's are viewed since the war .

Understanding both sides of the story

During these troubling times this is a must read. It helps in understanding the point of view of the race that is being discriminated against. It gives me more compassion for people living in America that look different from us, yet are and feel loyalty to this great country. After the Sept. 11th tragedy I must admit I felt uncomfortable around mid eastern people, however now I know how wrong it is to judge anyone without knowing the whole story. These stories have enlightened me, I feel empathy towards the characters in this book.

A very important book

This is not "another German hating book" because its testimonies are universal and are valid for all. This book not only relates the experiences of Germans and their feelings of guilt but leads the reader to the most important question: What is the responsibility of each person who knows about the Holocaust? It is important to remember the Holocaust and it is even more important to make sure that it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. But what is it that each one of us can DO to prevent history from repeating itself? We can turn the lessons of the Holocaust into action if we not just preach tolerance but practice tolerance. When we see people suffering hunger, homelessness, persecution and discrimination do we step in and feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and help those who are persecuted? If more individuals had acted on those humane impulses, the Holocaust would have never happended. Has the world learned the lessons? We see bigotry, hatred and prejudice all around us, not just in Rwanda, Kosovo and Ireland. Do we act?? We can all be part of "repairing the world". This book reminds us to act. Thank you Ursula Hegi.

very important book

I wrote my senior thesis on German daily life during World War Two. This book confirms all that I found and reiterates words spoken by people I intervied. The voices are honest and sincere. This book represents a significant contribution to the history of World War Two. We can not "remember" if we do not understand.