A central theme of Buergenthal’s memoir is the fundamental rights of humans. This is expressed through Buergenthal’s family’s experiences and the decisions of individuals to both act and not act. Questions of basic human rights are inherent in the taking of people’s land and possessions, starving them, indenturing them into servitude, and taking their lives. The issue of human rights is further explored in the aftermath of the Holocaust, in discussions of the moral implications of how to treat those complicit in the Holocaust and their descendants. In addressing such issues, Buergenthal considers both what is morally right and what is necessary to end the cycle of hatred and violence.

Buergenthal spends much of his memoir grappling with the moral decisions of others. Less concerned with Nazi officers, Buergenthal reckons with the moral decisions of ordinary people presented with a choice to preserve their humanity or give-in to their most vicious tendencies. Buergenthal explores these decisions in ordinary citizens, Jewish ghetto residents, concentration camp inmates, Nazi officers, and others in the conflict. Buergenthal grapples with these issues introspectively as well, examining his own tendencies—a process which led him to devote his life to preserving human rights.