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The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering Paperback – January 6, 2015
“The most controversial book of the year.” —Guardian
In his iconoclastic and controversial study, Norman G. Finkelstein moves from an interrogation of the place the Holocaust has come to occupy in global culture to a disturbing examination of Holocaust compensation settlements. It was not until the Arab–Israeli War of 1967, when Israel’s evident strength brought it into line with US foreign policy, that memory of the Holocaust began to acquire the exceptional prominence it has today. Leaders of America’s Jewish community were delighted Israel was deemed a major strategic asset and, Finkelstein contends, exploited the Holocaust to enhance this new-found status.
Recalling Holocaust fraudsters, Finkelstein contends the main danger posed to the memory of Nazism’s victims comes not from the distortions of deniers—but from prominent ‘guardians’ of Holocaust memory, who deploy it as a shield against any criticism. He exposes the double shakedown of European countries as well as legitimate Jewish claimants, concluding the Holocaust industry has become an outright extortion racket.
Thoroughly researched and closely argued, The Holocaust Industry is all the more disturbing and powerful because the issues it addresses are so rarely discussed.
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherVerso
- Publication dateJanuary 6, 2015
- Dimensions5.09 x 0.79 x 7.78 inches
- ISBN-101781685614
- ISBN-13978-1781685617
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Finkelstein’s downright pugilistic book delivers a wallop – mostly because few authors have had the courage or nerve to say, as he does, that the Nazi genocide has been distorted and robbed of its true moral lessons and instead has been put to use as ‘an indispensable ideological weapon.’ It’s a provocative thesis that makes you want to reject it even as you are compelled to keep reading by the strength of his case and the bravura of his assertions.” —LA Weekly
“If his indictment is a true one, it should prompt prosecutions, sackings, protest. The book shouts scandal. It is a polemic, communicated at maximum volume.” —The Times
“Finkelstein has raised some important and uncomfortable issues.” —Jewish Quarterly
“Into this minefield, through which most have trodden perhaps a little too gingerly, has bust Norman Finkelstein, a Jew and a self-professed iconoclast, heretic and enemy of the American-Jewish establishment – and he is lobbing grenades.” —Spectator
“A short, sharp, and copiously noted polemic.” —Times Higher Educational Supplement
“Finkelstein is at his best when he skewers those who would sacralize the Holocaust.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
“His basic argument that the memories of the Holocaust are being debased is serious and should be give its due.” —Economist
“Clever, explosive, sometimes even wryly funny.” —Salon
“This is, in short, a lucid, provocative and passionate book. Anyone with an open mind and an interest in the subject should ignore the critical brickbats and read what Finkelstein has to say.” —New Statesman
“He deserves to be heard ... he is making some profound points that many younger and more thoughtful Jews have quietly been attempting to debate, but whose voices have been stilled by the establishment, particularly in the US.” —Evening Standard
“Finkelstein should be credited for writing a well-researched book that can help shut down the Holocaust Industry when the public becomes aware of its dishonesty and its vulgar exploitation of Jewish suffering.” —Z Magazine
“The reality of the Nazi holocaust remains. Memory can still enable us to recognise new victims, extend sensitivity and monitor signs of impending genocide. Books like The Holocaust Industry can help us if we let them.” —Red Pepper
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Verso; Reprint edition (January 6, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1781685614
- ISBN-13 : 978-1781685617
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.09 x 0.79 x 7.78 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #502,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #668 in Middle Eastern Politics
- #687 in Israel & Palestine History (Books)
- #954 in Jewish Holocaust History
- Customer Reviews:
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Customers find the book well-researched and thorough. They describe it as a great read, thought-provoking, and an honest look at a topic often deemed off-limits for discussion. Readers praise the author's courage and sincerity in examining such topics.
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Customers find the book well-researched and insightful. They appreciate the factual detail and thorough coverage of a controversial subject. The book is well-documented with extensive footnotes and sources. Readers praise the author's knowledge and honesty in presenting facts and circumstances.
"...the book now, and it's extremely well put together and with well documented sources...." Read more
"...tremendous courage to write such a unique book, and he is clearly an honest and sincere fellow to examine such things so close to home..." Read more
"The book gives a lot of insight into, yes, the exploitation of the Nazi holocaust for financial and political gain, but also into the relationship..." Read more
"An well written, exhaustive and comprehensive investigation. This is already a classic book on this subject." Read more
Customers find the book well-researched and written. They describe it as an exceptional, unique read for anyone interested in the Holocaust.
"...The author had tremendous courage to write such a unique book, and he is clearly an honest and sincere fellow to examine such things so close to..." Read more
"...Overall, it's an exceptional book by an exceptional man." Read more
"Great book to add to the collection." Read more
"...A must-read book." Read more
Customers find the book thought-provoking and honest. They appreciate its no-nonsense approach to a topic too often considered off-limits for discussion. The author's knowledge on the Holocaust is outstanding, and the study of anti-semitism and the exploitation of Holocaust survivors is fascinating. The conclusions are shocking, and the book is well-researched. Readers say it will revolutionize Judaism in America, and that the author is biased to the unpalatable truth of how the USA and Israel have behaved.
"This well written book IS BIASED to the unpalatable TRUTH of how the USA and Israel have fabricated a false version of the Holocaust to use as the..." Read more
"An honest and no-nonsense look at a topic too often deemed off-limits for discussion...." Read more
"This is an engrossing work, shocking in its conclusions and written with clarity and great rigour...." Read more
"Norman is a amazing intellectual. His knowledge on the holocaust is outstanding...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's courage and thorough research. They find it a fascinating account of moral courage and find the author honest and sincere.
"This book is great. The author had tremendous courage to write such a unique book, and he is clearly an honest and sincere fellow to examine such..." Read more
"...openly declare it so." (Finklestein, 2003, p. 150) This is a courageous book and requires a person to read it with an open mind...." Read more
"...It is a honest, courageous, and very well documented study of a difficult subject. It is a great insight into human history...." Read more
"A fascinating account of moral courage and careful research..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2012`Bout half way thru the book now, and it's extremely well put together and with well documented sources.
It was nice to see that Mr. Finkelstein hit home that there's been many, Holocausts / ethnic cleansings / genocides (though he doesn't specifically name them all, here's just a few; 90 million-ish Native American exterminated by Christians, Catholics, Jews, atheists, etc., etc; The Bolshevik Trotsky a.k.a. Lev Bronshtein committed genocide in about 1917-1921 murdering about 4 million gentiles and Christians; yet, the Bolsheviks once again committed genocide against the gentiles and Christians murdering 7-10 million Ukrainians in 1932-1933. The Bolsheviks were brutely cruel.
In fact, since the Bolsheviks murder's wall came down, many things are now coming to life. Roughly 65-120 million gentiles and Christians were murdered from 1917 to 1989 by the Communists. Now that's genocide. It's a shame the Native Americans and Christians do not have a museum in Washington D.C. to remember their 10's of millions who died by genocide. (Wouldn't it be nice if the people of the jewish faith honored the genocide of the Native Americans by building a museum in the middle of Tel Aviv?)
Mr. Finkelstein shows us time and time and time again what happens when a person brings up documentation that contradicts the propaganda that's been thrust upon us for years. Any group of people that refuses to have an honest debate seems to immediately begin character assassinating. The character assassination of someone who asks questions is an immediate red flag of someone hiding something.
During the last few decades we have discovered that Hitler DID NOT make soap, lamp shades, etc, etc. out of people of the jewish faith. (I was told for decades that Hitler did do these nasty things. Apparently a group of people had lied to me for decades.) We have also discovered that Hitler DID NOT have any homicidal gas chambers within the borders of Germany. (I was told for decades that Hitler did have homicidal gas chambers inside Germany. Again, apparently a group of people had lied to me for decades.)
In fact, the dead emaciated corpses I've seen in pictures and film were thoroughly examined by U.S. Military medical professionals when the camps were liberated, and those medical experts clearly stated that all the dead bodies found in German camps were from typhus, starvation, and other diseases.
The fine outstanding International Red Cross (who were physically present doing their humanitarian deeds at the concentration camps during the war) witnessed about 30,000 inmates die in one month from typhus and starvation in the last 90 or so days of the war - and the Red Cross begged the allies to stop the bombing of railways and continue to let food and meds thru. The allies refused.
The Red Cross' well documented numbers of people of the jewish faith who died in all of Hitler's camps differ greatly from what I was told for decades as a child. These documents were hidden in the hands of communists, and only released after their wall came down and files were made open to more eyes.
In fact, when the Communists murder's wall did come down, the Jewish historians at Auschwitz immediately changed the number of Jewish deaths by millions. Apparently the Bolshivks who liberated the Polish camps kept records secret from us; and the number of dead inmates that I've been told for decades was a complete fabrication.
So thank you Mr. Finkelstein for this insightful book. Thank you for letting me know that certain people pressured our Congress to take my property (tax $) and build a museum in D.C. for an event that never happened on our soil. How selfish can a group of people be?
You've opened by eyes and exposed many, many more lies that have thrust upon the American people. Thank you sir.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2007This book is great. The author had tremendous courage to write such a unique book, and he is clearly an honest and sincere fellow to examine such things so close to home (being the son of holocaust survivors). Finkelstein blows the lid off the whole Holocaust deal. Its not denying it at all, its just that 5-6 million Jews who died in concentration camps along with gypsies, communists, gays, and invalids does not justify Israel and Jewish organizations to get away with murder (literally) in the occupied lands of Israel nor to extort money from all kinds of European organizations falsely. While we all feel bad for those who perished, we might also feel bad for the 55 million people who died in WWII, or the millions who died in Cambodia, Vietnam, or Africa. The idea I came to realize from this book was that in a way it was a sin against those Jews who died, to use their memory to pander for money and deflect attention away from war crimes on a daily basis in Israel. I was surprised to learn that much of the money gotten for holocaust victims and survivors instead is diverted to Israel and Jewish groups rather than the victims and their families. And while Jews are successfully suing people for artwork or lost bank accounts from the 1930's and 1940's, no Palestinian is allowed to sue over land lost in the 1940's to the present day. So I think everyone should read this, to see the Holocaust in the proper perspective as a terrible human tragedy, but not something to be tarnished by misuse of its memory.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024This well written book IS BIASED to the unpalatable TRUTH of how the USA and Israel have fabricated a false version of the Holocaust to use as the backdrop to justify their actions towards the peoples of the middle east and particularly the Palestinian Nation. Challenge yourself to read it...WARNING! It is unpleasent reading. Unpleasent, like in bitter medicine which you KNOW will ultimately help you BUT will be very difficult to swallow and digest. You definitely have to lay aside many basic assumptions you've had all your life...once you remove the veil from your minds eye ... challenge yourself to change the world...one mind at a time.
Top reviews from other countries
joannReviewed in Canada on March 23, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Very interesting
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Beatriz Rosa Cunha de Paula GarciaReviewed in Brazil on March 13, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Polêmico!
Muito atual.
Darren FergusonReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 20245.0 out of 5 stars fantastic - everyone should read
This is such an informative take on how the holocaust is used for nefarious purposes
J. S.Reviewed in Germany on July 8, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening
Worth reading!
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Manuela LagoReviewed in Spain on May 5, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Todo
No es una obra literaria , es una fuente de información imprescindible para entender el gran negocio del victimismo sionista