This novel is based on his experience through the Holocaust and the incredibly horrific measures that were taken against the Jews. He wanted others to be aware of what had happened to him and his community. More specifically, Wiesel looked at the greater problem of indifference and people's inability to take action when others are suffering. The intended audience of the book are the leaders in the world along with the greater society as everyone needs to be aware of this and what they can do differently in the future.

In this Ted Talk, she dives into the complex topic of indifference and why many people often fall victim to it. Indifference is extremely tempting because it is often easier to ignore others' suffering when it doesn't directly affect you. This is often what takes place subconsciously for most people. In the case of the Holocaust, many decided not to intervene as they were not Jews. They then put it to the back of their mind and continued on with their normal activities. This often happens in peoples' lives because they tend to be more concerned with things that directly pertain to them. It is important to be aware of this thinking as it will be easier to change this pattern and fight indifference.