"From his early enthusiasm for American jazz in Berlin cabarets to his membership of Terezin's celebrated Ghetto Swingers and surviving Auschwitz through his music, to post-war appearances with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, jazz remains a constant in a remarkable life story. [...] Illustrated by a fascinating range of photographs." -- The Jazz Rag (UK) "It is rare and beautiful that someone can play with such sadness--and with such musical humor." -- Abendzeitung Munchen (Germany) "The recently published, never-before translated book by "Coco" Schumann traces his journey from Berlin's pre-war nightlife to a band in Auschwitz and back to Berlin -- and doesn't miss a beat. [...] Look for this unusual book." -- Israel National News "An interesting and enlightening read. The passion and the clarity with which Schumann recalls his past experiences, playing with some of the greats, surviving World War II, his internment, are all very evident. I felt like I was listening to the gregarious great-uncle with stories almost too good to be true, other than the fact that they really are. This book very much feels like a conversation carried on between Schumann and anyone passionate about music." -- Reading for Sanity (USA) "A spirited and colorful story about the art of humor, as well as the power of hope in circumstances where there is no hope. Even in the Auschwitz death camp music gave Schumann hope, and he gave it to others in the message of his music." -- Satakunnan Kansa (Finland) "Why should you read this book? Coco Schumann takes you on a trip through his life and the history that surrounded it. This book not only gives a new perspective on World War Two, but provides a closer look at the jazz scene of the twentieth century as well. Schumann grabs your interest and lets you witness his beautiful, humorous and shocking experiences from up close." -- BLVD (The Netherlands) Coco Schumann's career as a jazz and swing musician spans more than seventy years and is replete with honors. But for decades Schumann bore his wartime experiences as a Holocaust survivor in silence, with only the pleasure of composing music and performing for live audiences to ease the burden of his most haunting memories. In his memoir, Schumann recounts the vibrant underground club scenes of Berlin in the years surrounding World War II as well as providing backstage glimpses into Berlin's famous nightlife, where he shared the stage with such jazz notables as Helmut Zacharias, Tullio Mobiglia, Toots Thielemans, and American visitors like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald. At the same time, The Ghetto Swinger offers Schumann's harrowing testimony from 1943-1945 about daily life inside Theresienstadt (Terezin) and Auschwitz, and provides readers with the important perspective of a Jewish Holocaust survivor who remained in Germany after the war. In his home country, Schumann is a celebrated personality. But until now, his life story hasn't been accessible to English-speaking audiences. Featuring rare photographs and an Afterword by Weimar- and Nazi-era culture scholar Michael H. Kater, The Ghetto Swinger is an engrossing historical document as much as it is a heartwarming memoir.

"Engaging stories of modern survival with uplifting and often surprising takeaways." --Gay Hendricks, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Big Leap and Conscious Loving "Bouncing Forward shows us how adversity can turn us toward our deepest inner resources of trust, wisdom, and love." --Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge "Discover the advantages of adversity and find meaning in the messiness...[Bouncing Forward] shows the reader how to cultivate the mindset of resilience that can catalyze healing and growth from catastrophe. Brilliant, inspiring, to be read, re-read, and treasured." --Linda Graham, MFT, author of Bouncing Back Thrive in the face of challenges and radically change your perspective on adversity and loss with the cutting-edge science of posttraumatic growth and these powerful methods to grow from victim to survivor in this "great message of hope" (The Huffington Post). Learn how to become stronger, happier, and more resilient in the face of life's inevitable setbacks through twelve inspiring stories from survivors of cancer, addiction, PTSD, the Holocaust, loss of a love one, and childhood abuse. Michaela Haas, PhD, presents these stories with practical methods on how to transform pain into a journey to wisdom, love, and purpose. In Bouncing Forward, Haas draws upon powerful storytelling, psychology, history, and twenty years of Buddhist practice to reshape the way we think of crisis. Through interviews with the late Dr. Maya Angelou, who shares with us how her childhood trauma led her into a passionate life of meaning; ex-POW Rhonda Cornum, who found a new purpose after being captured in Iraq; renowned autistic pioneer Temple Grandin, who overcame crippling panic attacks; and famed jazz guitarist Coco Schumann, who played for his life in Auschwitz, Haas provides a deep understanding of the strength of spirit and five powerful practices to transform your own life. This treasury of wisdom shines a light when life seems overwhelming.

Many of us dream of exchanging our day-to-day responsibilities for a heartfelt life full of purpose, but few of us ever get around to doing something about it. The women featured in Dakini Power are contemporary teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, both Westerners and Asians, who teach in the West and are the exception. These twelve women followed their intuition against all odds, made dramatic and unusual decisions, and sometimes had to fight for their survival in order to lead the lives they envisioned. All were criticized for being too conservative or too rebellious, too feminist or not feminist enough, yet they pulled through with immense determination and bravery. Today all are recognized as accomplished practitioners and brilliant teachers. What can we learn from these women? How do they handle the cultural differences? How do they deal with the more controversial aspects of Buddhism? The Westerners among them risked alienating their families and closest friends by immersing their lives in a completely foreign culture. Often, this necessitated radical life changes. What did they find on their journey? Was the price they paid worth it to them?