Timeless wisdom made fresh and accessible.
Mehlman and Padawer present a new translation of Buber’s classic work of philosophy.
Martin Buber was one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century, probably best known for I and Thou (1923), in which he argues that humanity reaches its fullest expression in relationships with God and with other people. In this collection of talks he gave in 1947, the author presents legends and parables that exemplify his understanding of Chasidic Judaism, adding his own thoughts on these stories. The God who emerges from these tales is a paradox: infinite and ineffable, but also ever present. This is a God who meets people where they are. The rabbis we encounter here are similarly puzzling: They are renowned for their wisdom, but when followers come to them for guidance, these holy men invariably instruct their questioners to look inside themselves for answers. Their philosophy is perhaps best summarized by Rabbi Eliezer when he says, “Forget yourself and have the whole world in mind!” Buber, however, is a warm and generous guide. Taken as a whole, his meditations on these tales articulate an openhearted philosophy of living centered on service, and Mehlman and Padawer have followed his lead in crafting this very inviting translation. The syntax they use is elegantly simple, and contemporary readers will appreciate their use of gender-neutral language. Scholarly supplemental material makes up a considerable portion of this slender volume, and its presence is a valuable addition. While it’s true that the translators’ comments on the text would have been easier to process as footnotes than as endnotes, their observations are immensely helpful. Two forewords, a translators’ introduction, and a substantive and fascinating epilogue offer valuable guidance and context—even to the reader who may already be familiar with this work.
Timeless wisdom made fresh and accessible.Pub Date: July 10, 2023
ISBN: 9780881236378
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Reform Judaism Publishing (CCAR Press)
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
PERSPECTIVES
A frank and funny but uneven essay collection about neurodiversity.
An experimental, illustrated essay collection that questions neurotypical definitions of what is normal.
From a young age, writer and comedian Myers has been different. In addition to coping with obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks, she struggled to read basic social cues. During a round of seven minutes in heaven—a game in which two players spend seven minutes in a closet and are expected to kiss—Myers misread the romantic advances of her best friend and longtime crush, Marley. In Paris, she accidentally invited a sex worker to join her friends for “board games and beer,” thinking he was simply a random stranger who happened to be hitting on her. In community college, a stranger’s request for a pen spiraled her into a panic attack but resulted in a tentative friendship. When the author moved to Australia, she began taking notes on her colleagues in an effort to know them better. As the author says to her co-worker, Tabitha, “there are unspoken social contracts within a workplace that—by some miracle—everyone else already understands, and I don’t….When things Go Without Saying, they Never Get Said, and sometimes people need you to Say Those Things So They Understand What The Hell Is Going On.” At its best, Myers’ prose is vulnerable and humorous, capturing characterization in small but consequential life moments, and her illustrations beautifully complement the text. Unfortunately, the author’s tendency toward unnecessary capitalization and experimental forms is often unsuccessful, breaking the book’s otherwise steady rhythm.
A frank and funny but uneven essay collection about neurodiversity.Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780063381308
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2025
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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