Best jewish books you have read?

Question

Any topic to do with Jewish culture,religion,philosophy, etc

I have been wanting Pirke Avos like the few posters mentioned! So many people don't know these great works it saddens me.

Answer 1

Pirke Avos. I am not Jewish but there is something absolutely fantastic about this ancient text. Even someone who does not believe in god, such as myself, can walk away awe-struck by the wisdom contained therein. I have read and bought books related to the Pirke Avos due to the personal significance I have found within it.

Answer 2

I could make all kinds of recommendations if you'd be more specific as to what you're looking for. Aside from the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Mishnah and Gemara (Avos is part of the Mishnah, one of the tractates that has no accompanying Gemara), and later halakhic texts, well, there's lots of great stuff out there. If you're into hashkafa (Jewish philosophy), and want something really deep, I recommend the works of Rav Joseph Soloveitchik, like "Halakhic Man." Even in translation though, it is not an easy read! For something a little less strenuous, and slightly more basic, but insightful and thought-provoking nonetheless, I recommend the essays of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (there are a few compilations in print - all of it is pure gold) as well as the works of Rabbi Leib (Lawrence) Keleman. His two-part set, "Permission to Believe" and "Permission to Receive," in my view, make a great introduction to Jewish theology, and ought to be required reading for anyone today who is curious about Judaism and its theoretical foundations, and who is not necessarily an expert theologian.

Again, there are lots of other great books I could suggest - if you would share with us perhaps which Jewish topic(s) you are more interested in, and what your own Jewish educational background is (to get a feel for what level of material would be appropriate), I'd be happy to do so.

Edit to Shoplifter: The book where the protagonist does to the liver that was to be his family's dinner what Jason Biggs is now famous for doing to the pie in American Pie (I wouldn't be surprised if the latter gag was inspired by the former), that was "Portnoy's Complaint" by Phillip Roth, by all accounts a brilliant piece of literature by a brilliant author, but not exactly kosher, and definitely not a "Jewish book" in the same way that say, the Psalms of King David, or Tractate Avos are Jewish books.

Answer 3

Notes From the Warsaw Ghetto.
And The Sun Kept Shining.
Jewish Literacy.
Ethics of the Fathers.

Answer 4

Of course the Old Testament.

The Red Tent is pretty good too. Anita Diamant, this is Jewish historical fiction of Rachael, Leah, and Dinah in the Bible.

Some holocaust literature:
NIGHT Elie Wiesel
Painted Bird (forget the name of the author)
Diary of Anne Frank
Man's Search for Meaning

The Giver (I think this is by a Jewish author)

Answer 5

"This is My God" by Herman Wouk
"Who Wrote the Bible" by Richard Elliott Friedman
"A Zionist Idea" by Arthur Hertzberg
"God in Search of Man" by Abraham Joshua Heschel
"The Sabbath" by Abraham Joshua Heschel
"A History of the Jews" by Paul Johnson
"How to Read the Bible" by James Kugel
"To Life!" by Harold Kushner
"The Israelis" by Donna Rosenthal
"Simple Words" by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
"We Jews: Who We Are and What We Should Do" by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
"A People Apart" by David Vital
"Souls on Fire" by Elie Wiesel
.

Answer 6

Tanakh and Pirqei Avot tractate "ethics of the fathers" which is a short chapter in the mishnah.

Answer 7

Every Goy's Guide to Common Yiddish Expressions

Answer 8

The Chosen by Chaim Potok. My favorite book ever.

Answer 9

Genesis thru Malachi... IHS Jim

Answer 10

Portnoy's Complaint, by Philip Roth.
How to Talk Dirty and Influence People, by Lenny Bruce
Mauus, by Art Spiegelman

SHOPLIFTER: Your book is first in my list above...