The Power of Sibling Influence: Extraordinary Acts of a Family Hero

Stories in Our Roots

Amidst the shocking history of his family's escape from Austria during the Nazi invasion, Christopher Bock discovers the remarkable life of his great-uncle Paul Patek, a metal worker and artist who played a key role in their survival, inspiring Bock to write a book about him and uncovering hidden talents in his own family lineage.

"[Researching] really did make me understand my family a lot more in a lot of ways."
Key Points:

• Traverse Christopher Bock's lineage, as we uncover the intricate details of his ancestry.
• Learn about the gripping escape from Nazi-occupied Austria and the challenges of starting anew.
• Comprehend the value of investigating family histories and the talents concealed within.
• Discover the profound influence of family tales in shaping our self-awareness and identity.

About Christopher:
Everything Christopher Bock does is with passion and thoroughness fueled by curiosity. The list is diverse—photography, collecting baseball cards, keeping bees, and his own hardwood flooring business, Geronimo Floors. But he never thought of writing a book until he was handed his grandfather’s autobiography. That same curiosity and passion led him to the extraordinary story of his grandfather’s escape from Austria in 1938—and the key role a mischievous uncle played in the family’s survival.
Christopher's book, "An Ordinary Man: from Vienna to Japan and Back During World War II" is available on Amazon. (affiliate link)

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