The People and the Books 18 Classics of Jewish Literature [Hardcover]

[A]n astute and accessible introduction to 18 Jewish literary classics... [Kirsch's] laser focus on these works' most topical themes makes them feel so urgent that curious readers of any religious persuasion will want to read them all.Lucid,vivid and likely to provide helpful instruction& [Kirsch] has, like SimonSchama, a keen eye for the revelatory detail in discussing his historicalsubjects.Anyonelooking for a single-volume introduction to Jewish civilization& will findnothing better in print& A deeply serious meditation on the meaning of Jewishexistence.[A]n entertaining and enlightening review of eighteen classic works and,at the same time, Judaisms most important ideas and ideals. It deserves to beon the Jewish bookshelf along with the eighteen books it opens for its reader.Through profiles of eighteen indelible figures and chronicles...Adam Kirsch uncovers the unfailing excitements of a living, creative, and abiding civilization. And more: in this superbly clarifying panorama, he illumines how in the history of ideas Jews, despite so many permutations of approach, have faithfully adhered to a single sublime Idea.The people of the book are often unaware of thebooks of their people. Kirsch opens, unfurls, and illuminates the great worksof Jewish tradition and history; he is our intellectual Sherpa, guiding ussure-footedly through the heights.Luminous& The secret of the Jews, [Kirsch] shows, is found within these classic works. Anyone interested in penetrating that secret should readAn essential exploration of a rich literary tradition from the Bible to modern times, by a rare literary authority (