Book Fest In Your Living Room Presents Jori Epstein with Max Glauben, The Upstander

Price: $6 for one ticket

How Surviving the Holocaust Sparked Max Glauben’s Mission to Dismantle Hate

Holocaust survivor Max Glauben is on a mission–to outlast hate, to preserve memory, and to compel the world to embrace tolerance. The stench of decay pierced the air aboard the boxcar of trapped Jews. “Why me?” fifteen-year-old Max asked himself, as a convoy rumbled from the Warsaw Ghetto to Majdanek death camp in May 1943. The deluge of questions intensified as the Nazis murdered Max’s mother, father, and brother. Max channeled grit, determination, and a fortuitous knack f or carpentry to survive. This memoir explores Max’s mischievous child-hood and teen years as a go-to ghetto smuggler. Max journeys from displaced person to American immigrant. He reveals how he dared to court love and rear children, bottling up his trauma until he realized he could transform his pain into purpose. Infused with raw emotion and vivid detail, historical records and Max’s poignant voice, The Upstander relays Max’s powerful lifetime commitment to thwarting hate and galvanizing resilience. Max no longer asks, “Why me?” Instead, he asks: “What can we do next?”

About the Author:
Jori Epstein is a sports reporter for USA TODAY and author of The Upstander. At USA TODAY, she reports features, investigations, and news–primarily on the Dallas Cowboys and NFL. Jori graduated from the University of Texas in 2016 with degrees in journalism and Plan II Honors. She’s passionate about running, eating kosher chicken and embracing obscure Jewish traditions.