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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
Interesting, but not as well organized as the Marx book in this series. I was very confused at the beginning of the book since the author didn't do a very good job explaining the basics of Judaism. Even though this is supposed to be an introduction, the author seemed to assume that the reader had some sort of background in theology or Judaism.
The second half was much better imo and I enjoyed it. I particularly liked the section on Jewish traditions and Jewish ethics/philosophy.
The second half was much better imo and I enjoyed it. I particularly liked the section on Jewish traditions and Jewish ethics/philosophy.
Judaism seems quite complicated. I thought this book explained it well.
"The spirit of Judaism is freedom in doctrine and conformity in action."
- Norman Solomon quoting Moses Mendlssohn, Politics: VSI
Vol N° 11 of Oxford's Very Short Introductins series, Judaism, covers all its bases and delivers a useful, if uninspiring look at Judaism. Don't get me wrong. There are several sections I enjoyed, but even in the beginning, Solomon might have been able to condense Judaism down to 150 pages, but he extracted the joy and the energy. He is locked, in this book/format, in a strict academic style that both wastes time and patronizes. Let's just pretend a book by Oxford already exists that lets us know that in all following VSI books that 1) English isn't neutral, 2) the part is not the whole and the whole is not the part, and 3) religion can't be divorced from society, history, language, every group has the right to define itself. Great. Again, too much time spent on the appetizers and you've kind let the main course get cold.
- Norman Solomon quoting Moses Mendlssohn, Politics: VSI
Vol N° 11 of Oxford's Very Short Introductins series, Judaism, covers all its bases and delivers a useful, if uninspiring look at Judaism. Don't get me wrong. There are several sections I enjoyed, but even in the beginning, Solomon might have been able to condense Judaism down to 150 pages, but he extracted the joy and the energy. He is locked, in this book/format, in a strict academic style that both wastes time and patronizes. Let's just pretend a book by Oxford already exists that lets us know that in all following VSI books that 1) English isn't neutral, 2) the part is not the whole and the whole is not the part, and 3) religion can't be divorced from society, history, language, every group has the right to define itself. Great. Again, too much time spent on the appetizers and you've kind let the main course get cold.
Considering the second edition was published in 2014, there's some really outdated language in this and you can tell Solomon is a bit homophobic.
Given that the Very Short Introductions are a bit of a hit or miss scenario, I quite liked this one. It's hard for me to say whether the book covered a good sample of Judaism because I'm not really familiar but it felt like it's doing a good job.
I especially enjoyed the last chapters where Solomon tried to explain how 'modern' issues and topics are treated and/or incorporated in various "sects" and groups and how Rabbis interpret based on interesting precedents.
I especially enjoyed the last chapters where Solomon tried to explain how 'modern' issues and topics are treated and/or incorporated in various "sects" and groups and how Rabbis interpret based on interesting precedents.
Exactly what it says it is. It is a bit frustrating to receive such brief synopses of all aspects of Judaism the author chooses to include, but understandable given the series this is part of. I did appreciate the author’s emphasis on the diversity of Judaism, shaking up outsiders’ perceptions that Judaism is a monolith of maybe two denominations. I don’t know how I feel about the use of Shakespeare’s Shylock speech in the beginning, I feel a quote/summary from a Jewish author would have been more appropriate and more in spirit of introducing outsiders to literature and authors.