Otto Friedrich's slim book is an intensely personal account of the infamous Auschwitz death camp. The entire history of Auschwitz, from its impractical site in a Polish swamp through its construction and terrible purpose, is covered in short chapters punctuated with eyewitness accounts and testimonies. Black-and-white maps show the layout of the camp along with its relation to other nearby camps and transfer points. A must for the visitor wanting a deeper understanding of one of humankind's darkest creations.  (PLD04, $11.00)