Open Heart: A Memoir

In this slight memoir focused on his cardiac event, "Open Heart," Elie Wiesel opens his heart which opens his soul and in turn his mind to his readers and students. With touching transparency and vulnerability, Wiesel reveals himself and the deeper inner dialogue with his life. His carefully chosen words and personal reflections invoke the preacher of Ecclesiastes, the conscience of Job, and the passions of Jeremiah. Wiesel's loyal readers and students savor his existential quests in his first memoir,and his novels and plays but all the more we celebrate the rich, instructive, and edifying teaching in this manner of communicating what matters in life; a communication so accessible, so real, so tender, and so profoundly personal. His writings will continue to invite humanity into ever more purposeful striving for justice and peace, for unconditional inclusion and the radical containment of hate, but "Open Heart" has a fresh, new cadence, a fresh, new intimacy, and a deeply personal summons to choose life and blessing, gratitude and love. The wake up that came from Wiesel's cardiac event is told in such a way as to awaken us to a conscious embrace and awareness of the lives we live. Thank you and bless you, Elie Wiesel. Doug Huneke

I heard Mr. Wiesel speak in the 1980s, at the time when I was an English teacher and my students were reading Night. His words touched me and most certainly helped me process the words he'd written to assist my students as they tried to understand the devastation of the Holocaust. When I heard that Mr. Wiesel had passed, I wanted to read one of his books to pay my respects. I chose Open Heart because of its 5 star ratings, and somewhat, because of the description on Amazon. I had no idea that it was about open heart surgery...that he'd undergone that experience and shared his experience, fears, thoughts, and emotions about it. Now that I've finished reading, I'm once again brought back to that auditorium in Ohio, mystically transformed once again. If you've never heard him speak, check out some YouTube videos. I found the similarities between my life experiences and his amazingly similar and felt as though I learned a life-changing lesson (or two). I suggest listening to his voice because when you read his words, you'll hear him speaking to you in his soft-spoken and comforting voice as I did. Words are special when put together in order to makes us think. I learned today that the words meant even more when spoken by the author, even though they were only heard by me. Listen to Mr. Wiesel's voice: read Open Heart: find your own inspiration. It is well-worth the time.

This book is an easy read yet powerful. Courage at any age however this is not about giving up. All the challenges this fabulous human spirit has endured and yet he moves on. His purpose , his faith , his family are inspirational and I am grateful to have read this book . Thank you Mr. Elie Wiesel for improving the human condition.

We all go through something in life, but Elie Wiesel has had more than his share. Tho I love his writing, I loved his first book better. It touched my heart to read about his heart problems...brought him down to a more human level as in my eyes he seemed invincible. Caroline Leto Hollywood, fl.

Open Heart is the final book by Elie Wiesel. It is fitting that this be his las book as it sums up his life and yet calls out for you to read his other books. June 16, 2011, Elie Wiesel finds out his heart is failing him. According to his story, he doesn’t give up; but continues to fight the inevitable. While he is fighting for his life, he is also fighting to understand why. In all of his books, Elie seems to be wondering why things happen the way that they do. He just continues to worry why amid the worry about his heart. As usual, he wonders what will happen to his lovely wife and wonderful son. He lets the reader know that even though he may be going soon, the things he wonders about will still be there for the reader to continue to read about. It is a wonderful book by a fantastic man whose life has made such a difference for so many other people. He encourages us to look out for other people and to wonder about them instead of ourselves. It is a fantastic book to read.

Great read. This book made me take a minute to reflect on my own life and my own beliefs in humanity and self. This def shows that with age comes wisdom, no matter how old or how much trauma you've had in your life, all has a lesson and one that is to be learned.

His manner is very insightful, and thought the last few pages were very forthright and telling. Would have wished for more of an insight about lesson's learned and the affects of maintaining an open heart throughout the entire work. Although I now feel I do not need to read any of his other books because he has summerized his experiences here.

Fasten you seatbelts this incredible story teller tells it like it is and it's a tough read. Interesting and heartrending. I read most of Elie's books and can't put them down because it flows and you can't wait to see what's going to happen and you need a good ending. Remarkable man.

Only page 73 was interesting, the rest of the book is not worth the money.

Heart warming book - pain and loss is part of all our lives. Elie speaks so personally about this experience and leaves one wanting to move from chapter to chapter. I was fully engaged while reading Open Heart. I promise myself to be more engaged with my own life from day to day. Noreen Muldoon

Real, simple and powerful. A man who survived the Hell on earth and lived to tell the world the truth. Thank you for all your books, Elie!

Escrito com sua invulgar sensibilidade e rara capacidade de refletir sobre os mais atrozes problemas produtores de perplexidade para o ser humano, o autor retrata sua paralela circunstância adversa de saúde como ponto do pensar dos dramas do sofrimento, da dor e da maldade humana, vividos pelo escritor nos campos de concentração nazista, onde perdeu pai, mãe, irmã. Concomitantemente, o autor manifesta sua fé no bem sobre o mal, na palavra como meio de bondade, na opção pelo que é bom em vez do que é maldade e ódio. Formula sua pergunta principal a Deus: por quê? Um texto maduro que relembra a trajetória marcante da vida do escritor, sagrado com o Prémio Nobel. Sempre um must.

Great read from a now departed great human being. I have read 6 of his books and ALWAYS wondered how great and caring a person he could be, in spite of all that he has endured. I am so very glad he met Marion, the love he felt for her and their son jumped out of this book, as if he was beside you in a deep and meaningful conversation, with compassion and Great love. Marion will be with you soon and you will NOT be alone. Thank you Ellie Wiesel.