YOU SHALL BE AS GODS

Dr. Fromm's new work is billed as a radical interpretation of the Old Testament and its tradition. It is indeed that, interpreting ""radical"" in its basic meaning to signify the roots, or root-ideas, of the Old Testament. It is not, however, ""radical"" in the sense that it is a fundamentally new or different approach to the Book. Fromm's thematic concern is that of human freedom, and he illustrates his thesis that there is, inherent in the OT, a real humanism, by showing that human freedom is implicit in the Biblical concept of man as created in God's image. In that context, it is significant that the first act of man's history--Fromm places the beginning of human history at the ""Fall""--was an act of freedom: the freedom to disobey even a divine command. Although the author is concerned chiefly with Jewish thought, both in the OT and as expressed in the Mishnah, Talmud, etc., his message is one of non-theological humanism, one contained in both Judaism and Christianity although neither of those faiths hitherto have shown signs of recognizing its importance: the basis for human unity and for peace, even for human survival, ""is not that all men believe in the same God, but that they act justly and lovingly."" Dr. Fromm's authority, vivid style, and popular appeal should make this book, despite its rather ""special"" subject, one for which there will be considerable demand.