Eichmann in My Hands

A First-Person Account by the Israeli Agent Who Captured Hitler's Chief Executioner

By: Peter Z. Malkin, Harry Stein

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1960 Argentina, a covert team of Israeli agents hunted down the most elusive war criminal alive: Adolf Eichmann, chief architect of the Holocaust. The young spy who tackled Eichmann on a Buenos Aires street - and fought every compulsion to strangle the Obersturmführer then and there - was Peter Z. Malkin. For decades Malkin's identity as Eichmann's captor was kept secret. Here he reveals the entire breathtaking story - from the genesis of the top-secret surveillance operation to the dramatic public capture and smuggling of Eichmann to Israel to stand trial.

The result is a portrait of two men. One, a freedom fighter, intellectually curious and driven to do right. The other, the dutiful Good German who, through his chillingly intimate conversations with Malkin, reveals himself as the embodiment of what Hannah Arendt called "the banality of evil." Singular, riveting, troubling, and gratifying, Eichmann in My Hands "remind[s] of what is at stake: not only justice but our own humanity" (New York Newsday).

Now Malkin's story comes to life on the screen with Oscar Isaac playing the heroic Mossad agent and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley playing Eichmann in Operation Finale.

©1990 Peter Z. Malkin and Harry Stein (P)2019 Tantor

Educating

It’s a sad subject with a just outcome. It’s also a great reminder that sometimes you have to say NO!

Amazing story, narrated exceptionally!

Having read a lot about Eichmann, and stumbling across the Netflix film, I was interested to read this fuller account of the story on which the film was based. Great to hear about the life of the team members, along with the day by day details of the planning and execution that when into Eichmann’s capture.

A historical recall that applies today!

This is an important novel that all young adults should read. It is a great historical lesson that seems to be repeating today!

Autobiographical telling of a historical story

I remember when Eichmann was captured and spirited to Israel to stand trial, and wanted to learn about how it was done. This book gave me a whole lot more. It is also an autobiography by the man that caught him.
This a great book, well read and well worth the listen.

Excellent the first person account

It is always uplifting and brings a sense of relief to read accounts like this. Stories of real life heroes who are willing to stand up and face the true evil among us. Despite the high cost to themselves, these heroes bring those who commit almost incomprehensible evil out from the shadows, to answer for their crimes against all humanity. This is one such account. May God continue to bless the people of the state of Israel.

Fantastic book

Thought provoking , great book. Important for all to read. Didn’t want to stop listening. Loved it.

As good as the movie, if not better

I thought this book was at least as good as the movie it inspired. Maybe better. Certainly much more detailed. The book is not only about the capture of Eichmann, but also to a certain extent about Peter Malkin's life, especially in the years before the capture. Fortunately, Malkin's life is pretty interesting, and it feels natural to put Malkin in context before his big moment with Eichmann. I was a bit surprised that the book did not say much about Eichmann's trial. But I suppose there are other books about that. In any case, you get a pretty good sense of how Eichmann tried to justify his actions based on his conversations with Malkin. I like Jonathan Davis as a reader, but sometimes I feel he struggles to differentiate the voices of different characters. Overall, a good book.

This for me was a riveting read.

This was a well written and narrated book. The people involved in his capture should be never forgotten for bringing him to justice.

Fascinating read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was Well written, well read, gripping story. An amazing part of history!

Excellent retelling of the story from one of the participants

Very good narration. Unique perspective from one of the officers involved. Exciting and humanistic recount.