His triumph over repeated terrible misfortunes is told here in an inspirational manner, and ought to be a positive lesson for everyone in adversity. He has made the world a better place."Survival is a theme which runs through the book. His mother, pregnant with Paul, was bound for Auschwitz and certain death. She seized the opportunity to join another line and was sent to a forced labour camp. Against all odds she and Paul's older brother and Paul not only survived but were eventually re-united with his father, one of the few survivors of Mauthausen.The theme of identity and fitting into a strange new society dominate a number of these stories. They are written as 'discontinuous narrative' taking a variety of issues from his life.