Absolution, by Alice McDermott, is one of those novel’s that I finish still trying to put the pieces together. I think this is because it was a story told as a series of reflections, rather than a linear narrative. It is also a story about relationships – primarily between friends (one dominant, one unsure of…
Thomas Sowell – The Quest For Cosmic Justice
Today is a day of beginnings. It’s Rosh Chodesh. It’s the first day of my new Headship at Gesher Yehudah/Yeshiva Prep. And it’s the first time I’ve posted a book review to my blog but not sent out as a Monday Morning Reading to Netivot, which feels rather strange. I’m hoping it’s a good beginning,…
Last Monday Morning Reading, and Jonathan Haidt – The Anxious Generation
Before I talk about The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt, given that this is my last Monday Morning Reading, I wanted to share a few thoughts about reading. Through sharing in this space over the last few years, I’ve had lots of opportunities for conversation about reading, and it’s given me some food for thought. …
Last Monday Morning Reading, and Jonathan Haidt – The Anxious Generation
Before I talk about The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt, given that this is my last Monday Morning Reading, I wanted to share a few thoughts about reading. Through sharing in this space over the last few years, I’ve had lots of opportunities for conversation about reading, and it’s given me some food for thought. …
Paul Kalanithi – When Breath Becomes Air
I continue to think memoir is an exceptionally powerful form of writing, and When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi, was no exception. By all conventional metrics, Kalanithi was an accomplished and extraordinary person. He got a BA and MA in English literature at Stanford University, a MPhil in history and philosophy of science at…
David Foster Wallace – String Theory
David Foster Wallace is considered one of the great American writers of the late 20th century. My introduction to him came through his now-famous Kenyon State graduation address, This Is Water, which was gifted to me by a friend (please read it!). I’ll admit to being intimidated by his most famous book, Infinite Jest. I’ve…
Robert Kurson – Shadow Divers
When I was 17, one of my best friends wanted to learn how to scuba dive, so we took the course together and did pool-training. But I was neither that interested in it myself, nor was I really up for an open water dive in Tobermory (on top of being a little nervous about getting…
Rav Amnon Bazak – To This Very Day: Fundamental Questions in Bible Study
For many years I’ve been a big fan of Rabbi Amnon Bazak as an extraordinary example of the Gush approach to learning Tanach. In his book To This Very Day: Fundamental Questions in Bible Study, he takes a step back to look at the big questions modernity has raised about the study of Tanach. Using…
Western Lane – Chetna Maroo
I know – it’s Tuesday. There’s a book shop in Terminal B at Laguardia that always seems to have interesting books on display. This is not normally the case for book displays at airports (which I always check out, assuming I have the time). On a trip to New York a few months back I…
Books for Israel
Given that today is Yom HaZikaron and tomorrow is Yom Haatzmaut, I thought it was a good time for a survey of some great books on Israel, both fiction and nonfiction, that are worth reading (some of which I’ve written about in this space). The Making of Modern Zionism: The Intellectual Origins of the Jewish…