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claire_not_rebecca's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This book was exactly what I expected it to be. Methodical and kind, Kushner gently breaks apart our understanding of bad things happening to even the best of people and offers an alternativw perspective, one formed by incredible hardship.
samsundaram's review against another edition
I read this one because it was recommended to me — and I can see why it was! This is full of good wisdom for people who are not religious (it’s me, hi), and are grappling with some of life’s big questions without a particular faith or tradition to anchor them.
This was helpful for getting a broader sense of why people respond to some of life twists and turns the way they do (e.g. needing to justify “bad” things as having happened/been caused by someone’s immorality, rather than accepting that life events are often messy, random, and in no way correlated with “goodness.” Goodness itself is such a wild concept but I DIGRESS).
As I listened to this book, I could see the influence some of my own cultural conditioning (in my perception of “goodness”), and also gained some insight into where other folks have taken away some LOADED messages from their own faith traditions.
Not an everyone-should-read-this book, but was a worthwhile read for me.
Worth noting: The language about disability(ies) is very dated.
This was helpful for getting a broader sense of why people respond to some of life twists and turns the way they do (e.g. needing to justify “bad” things as having happened/been caused by someone’s immorality, rather than accepting that life events are often messy, random, and in no way correlated with “goodness.” Goodness itself is such a wild concept but I DIGRESS).
As I listened to this book, I could see the influence some of my own cultural conditioning (in my perception of “goodness”), and also gained some insight into where other folks have taken away some LOADED messages from their own faith traditions.
Not an everyone-should-read-this book, but was a worthwhile read for me.
Worth noting: The language about disability(ies) is very dated.
lutheranjulia's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
olivia1997's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
arisol's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
I feel so surprised to have found this book nearly perfect. The exceptions to a 5 star rating are related to some of the outdated language used, but perhaps there is already an updated version that remedies that.
As someone who typically shies away from traditional religion, especially as it relates to theologies of never questioning God, I felt so comforted by Harold Kushner's writing. The questions addressed in this book have come up for me often, but never as prominently as this year. And in wanting to seek comfort in my own faith, I have been relieved to realize that the way I have come to understand God is not far removed from someone else's - an "expert" - understanding: God is not meant to fix all that is horrible and wrong, but to provide a space of comfort and support in our selves and community with others.
A book I will recommend as appropriate to people in my life, and one I imagine returning to in the future.
As someone who typically shies away from traditional religion, especially as it relates to theologies of never questioning God, I felt so comforted by Harold Kushner's writing. The questions addressed in this book have come up for me often, but never as prominently as this year. And in wanting to seek comfort in my own faith, I have been relieved to realize that the way I have come to understand God is not far removed from someone else's - an "expert" - understanding: God is not meant to fix all that is horrible and wrong, but to provide a space of comfort and support in our selves and community with others.
A book I will recommend as appropriate to people in my life, and one I imagine returning to in the future.
waynediane's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book over 35 years ago and it still holds true today. The author a Rabbi just past, but his words of wisdom are as relevant today as back then. G-d doesn't punish nor someone died because it was their time. He offers insights on what to say to someone who is grieving. Highly recommend for a reality check.