Edith Eger

Edith Eva Eger is a Holocaust survivor, clinical psychologist, and author known for her work helping people heal from trauma and find freedom from mental prisons. As a teenager, she was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944 where she endured tremendous hardship and loss before being liberated in 1945. After surviving the Holocaust, Eger immigrated to the United States in 1949 and went on to earn her doctorate in clinical psychology. She established a clinical practice in La Jolla, California, specializing in treating patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related conditions. Her first book "The Choice: Embrace the Possible" was published in 2017 when she was 90 years old, becoming an international bestseller and earning widespread critical acclaim. She followed this with "The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life" in 2020, drawing on her experiences both as a survivor and therapist to share principles for overcoming adversity. Dr. Eger continues to maintain an active clinical practice and regularly speaks to audiences about trauma, resilience, and freedom of choice in determining one's response to difficult circumstances. Her work combines insights from her personal survival story with professional expertise in psychology and trauma recovery.

Readers connect deeply with Eger's personal accounts of surviving trauma and her psychological insights. Her books "The Choice" and "The Gift" maintain 4.8/5 stars on Amazon (28,000+ reviews) and 4.7/5 on Goodreads (89,000+ reviews). Readers praise: - Clear, actionable advice for healing - Balance of memoir and self-help elements - Hopeful message without minimizing suffering - Accessible writing style Common criticisms: - Some redundancy between her two books - Religious references that don't resonate with all readers - Self-help sections can feel basic for readers familiar with therapy From reviews: "She doesn't just tell us to forgive - she shows us how through her own journey" - Goodreads "The memoir portions are powerful but the therapy advice feels like standard CBT" - Amazon "Her story stays with you long after finishing" - Barnes & Noble Professional reviewers consistently rate her work 4-5 stars, with particular focus on her ability to transform trauma into practical wisdom.

The Choice: Embrace the Possible (2017) A memoir detailing Eger's experiences as a Holocaust survivor at Auschwitz, her subsequent life in America, and her journey to become a psychologist specializing in trauma.

The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life (2020) A practical guide drawing from Eger's therapeutic work and personal experiences, focusing on how to break patterns of self-defeating behavior and find freedom from emotional imprisonment.