Listen free for 30 days

Preview
  • What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

  • Written by: Mel Laytner
  • Narrated by: Colin Martin
  • Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (1 rating)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

Written by: Mel Laytner
Narrated by: Colin Martin
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.00

Buy Now for $25.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

What if you uncovered a Nazi paper trail that revealed your father as a man very different from the quiet, introspective Dad you knew…or thought you knew?

In this “great detective story and important work of history” (Ann Kirschner, Sala’s Gift) author Mel Laytner grew up seeing his father a quintessential Type B, passive and retiring. As he uncovers evidence the Nazis didn’t burn, another man emerges - a black market ringleader and wily camp survivor who made his own luck.

“A harrowing and heartwarming personal saga of discovery” (Scott Miller, Refuge Denied), What They Didn't Burn melds the intimacy of personal memoir with the rigors of investigative journalism to tell its inspirational story of resistance, resilience, and ultimate redemption.

“A compelling blend of memoir and historical research, beautifully written,” (Kenneth S. Stern, Bard Center for the Study of Hate) tells of a reporter's quest, a son's revelation, and a father's unlikely saga of survival - corroborated by the Nazis themselves.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Mel Laytner (P)2021 Mel Laytner
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What the critics say

"What a thrilling story of wartime survival!...Chasing after hidden diamonds and digging up damning Nazi documents, Laytner weaves a tale of courage and luck that brings to life an unforgettable cast of characters. A great detective story - and an important work of history. (Ann Kirschner, author of Sala’s Gift)

"A compelling blend of memoir and historical research, beautifully written. (Ken Stern, director, Bard Center for Study of Hate)

"What They Didn’t Burn offers the reader both an emotional account of a son retracing his father’s traumatic experiences under Nazi persecution, and a gripping detective story of a savvy journalist uncovering “what they didn’t burn”. This beautifully written and deeply felt book, a powerful tribute to his father’s fortitude, also serves as a reminder that the long shadow of the Nazi past stretches over generations." (Gabrielle Robinson, author of Api’s Berlin Diaries)

What listeners say about What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely fascinating memoir

This incredible true story reads like fiction. A harrowing tale of survival through the most inhumane conditions possible. Mel Laytner weaves his father’s story with his own tale of coming to terms with his father’s wartime experiences. A must read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!