In fact, says Cannon (1992, 31), this was what Levi dreaded most of all while in Auschwitz-that no one would listen to his story when he finally made it out of the camp. He learned during the rest of his lifetime that he was not alone. Other survivors had the same concern. However, this was a needless worry. By the 1960s, Survival in Auschwitz had already sold millions of copies, translated into eight languages and adapted for the theater and radio.

             In the "Afterword" of the book with author Philip Roth, Levi says that his recording of what was occurring around him was one of the ways that he could survive mentally from moment to moment, day to day, during his ten months in the camp. "And yet what you say, that for me thinking and observing were survival factors, is true."(1996, 180). He admits, however, his survival included sheer luck, as well. .

             Levi was relatively lucky, if one wants to call it that, considering his overall situation compared to others in the camp. He made it through the ordeal only due to a series of unusual happenings. Because he knew some of the German language from reading scientific publications, he was more useful than other Italian prisoners. Also, his previous work in chemistry helped. He received the position assistant in the Buna laboratory, which was supposed to produce synthetic rubber. This kept him inside where it was warm, rather than slaving outdoors in the freezing temperatures with other prisoners. Further, as a chemist he knew he could eat cotton wool and drink paraffin and a non-Jewish guest worker secretly gave him extra helpings of soup. Finally, before the camp was freed by Russians, he got scarlet fever and was left behind after everyone went on the death march. .

             In his conversation with Roth, Levi says about his role at the camp, "I remember having lived my Auschwitz year in a condition of spiritedness. I don't know if this depended on my professional background, or an unsuspected stamina, or on a sound instinct" (1996, 180).