The YPK Book Store

Previous Selections

• Warrior: The Autobiography of Ariel Sharonby Ariel Sharon, David Chanoff

  Arguably Israel's most colorful and controversial public figure of the past decade, Sharon is known for his brilliant generalship in several wars, as well as his accomplishments as minister of defense and agriculture. In this engrossing autobiography written wth freelancer Chanoff, he reveals his private self: his upbringing on a farm in Palestine; his rise in army ranks amid alleged intrigue; his enjoyment of physical labor on his farm (and pride in the cooperative efforts of his Arab and Israeli employees); and personal tragedies, including the accidental death of his son...

• Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon

  15-year-old Eugene Jerome is desperately trying to uncover life's mysteries, but his family keeps hiding the clues. Even so, he manages to keep his priorities--baseball and girls--firmly in order throughout Neil Simon's hilarious adaptation of his Broadway hit about growing up in Brooklyn during the late 1930's.

• Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory by Deborah E. Lipstadt

  A forceful analysis of attempts to deny the Nazi Holocaust. Lipstadt (Religion/Emory University; Beyond Belief, 1985--not reviewed) traces the history of Holocaust revisionism and contends that it can no longer be ignored, showing how Holocaust-deniers, once dismissed as a lunatic fringe, have been growing in numbers and influence during the past 20 years....

• God Whispers: Stories of the Soul, Lessons of the Heart by Karyn D. Kedar

  This inspiring collection of stories . . . will touch your heart and soul. It points us towards the spiritual that is present in everyday life. ....Weaves together profound experiences from her own life to offer readers a glimpse into the sacredness of ordinary moments.

• Bee Season by Myla Goldberg

  In Myla Goldberg's outstanding first novel, a family is shaken apart by a small but unexpected shift in the prospects of one of its members. When 9-year-old Eliza Naumann, an otherwise indifferent student, takes first prize in her school spelling bee, it is as if rays of light have begun to emanate from her head. Teachers regard her with a new fondness; the studious girls begin to save a place for her at lunch. Even Eliza can sense herself changing. She had "often felt that her outsides were too dull for her insides, that deep within her there was something better than what everyone else could see."

• I Asked for Wonder : A Spiritual Anthologyby Abraham Joshua Heschel

  This book will satisfy the soul of any lover of wisdom. It's important to recognize that it's not just for followers of Judaism. Heschel is everyone's wise man. The best way to describe I Asked for Wonder is to think of a quotation book where you want to underline everything. Here is a deeper dimensionality of understanding where having a sense of wonder for God and the universe He created is the beginning of wisdom. Heschel himself is a wonder.

• Sacred Intentions : Daily Inspiration to Strengthen the Spirit, Based on Jewish Wisdom by Rabbi Kerry Olitzky

  Sacred Intentions, as its subtitle explains, offers "daily inspiration to strengthen the spirit, based on Jewish wisdom." Rabbis Kerry M. Olitzky and Lori Forman, both experts on Jewish spirituality, collaborated to create this pocket-size devotional companion. For each day of the year, Sacred Intentions provides a quotation from Scripture, Midrash, or other holy texts, or from contemporary writers such as Rabbi Lawrence Kushner ("The wilderness is not just a desert through which we wandered for forty years. It is a way of being. A place that demands being open to the flow of life around you.") and Rabbi Judith Abrams ("You don't want to change, yet at the same time you don't want to stay the same. So how does Judaism suggest you begin changing without toppling the construct of your existence? Change one tiny thing at a time.") Brief commentaries on each quotation will help readers bring to bear the wisdom of this devotional on every hour of their days. Sacred Intentions is well-designed, straightforward, and accessible. For many, spending time with this book will also be habit-forming. And what a habit--learning to see blessings everywhere we look.

• Tevye the Dairyman and the Railroad Stories (Library of Yiddish Classics) by Sholem Aleichem

  A superb introduction to the caustic wit and keen observations of one of the world's greatest storytellers. Included are "Tevye the Dairyman, " his masterpiece and the basis for Fiddler on the Roof, and all 21 Railroad Stories, in which human nature and the various shocks of modernity are perceived by men and women riding the trains from shtetl to shtetl.

• Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments by Shmuley Boteach In Kosher Sex, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach teaches the place of sex in marriage. But if you haven't yet stood under the chupah (or at the altar--Boteach's books are for everyone, not just Jews), the good rabbi has some advice for you in Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments.

  By using the 10 Commandments and the laws of the Old Testament as a guide to romance, Boteach advises how to find a soul mate (a person who completes you) as opposed to a partner (who is merely a companion). All of his sensible advice is inferred from the basic tenets of Judaism in a manner that will have you nodding your head in agreement (he extrapolates from the Fifth Commandment, "Honor your Father and your Mother," the ideals of gratitude in dating). Yes, some of his advice is commonsense, even at times downright silly ("try singing together on a date," he suggests), but many of his ideas are not only logical, they are presented in such a droll manner that you'll keep reading just to enjoy his whimsical style.

  Using his own marriage and the failed dates of others as fodder, he explores the proper way to treat a date, with suggestions on what to talk about and how to behave. At times, the language does not sound as if it is coming from a man of the cloth--he jokingly confesses to having memorized all of Portnoy's Complaint, and he refers with ease to Viagra, Tweety Bird boxer shorts, and rubber dolls. But when you dig beneath the lighthearted tone, the advice is sound: listen to your date; care for him or her as you would the Sabbath, a sacred day to be honored and guarded; be generous with your compliments and slow to anger.

  While you may not agree with all he has to say, Boteach is never preachy (even when stating his views about abstinence until marriage, he is firm without being close-minded). Dating Secrets is a fun yet constructive guide, and just might help you on the way to finding your soul mate.

• Jew vs. Jew by Samuel G. Freedman. This is Samuel G. Freedman's passionate story of the "struggle for the soul of American Jewry." Freedman believes that three fundamental questions are rending the American Jewish community today: "What is the definition of Jewish identity? Who decides what is authentic and legitimate Judaism? And what is the Jewish compact with America?" Exploring these questions leads Freedman down a number of wild paths. He listens patiently to the fierce neighborly squabbles in Great Neck, New York; he reconstructs the tension-filled final days of a labor Zionist summer camp in the Catskills; he witnesses orthodox Jews attacking American conservative Jews worshiping at the foot of the Western Wall. Freedman expertly sketches the major conflicts in American Judaism--"secularist against believer, denomination against denomination, gender against gender, liberal against conservative, traditionalist against modernist even within each branch." The book's conclusions (such as "America without Jews is unimaginable, and the brave assimilationists made that possible, even if the price was much of their own distinctiveness as Jews") are not particularly groundbreaking. But Jew vs. Jew is a thoughtful and beautifully written assessment of the precarious situation of Jewish identity in America today.
• Boychiks in the Hood: Travels in the Hasidic Underground by Robert Eisenberg. Eisenberg's study of the Hasidim took him from Brooklyn to Israel and included such remote outposts as Postville, Iowa, and Uman, Ukraine. Even more remarkable than his encountering Hasidic communities in such distant places is how openly their insular members responded to his inquiries. The result of his travels is a rich chronicle of survival through and revival since the Holocaust as well as of constant resistance to assimilation. Eisenberg clears up many misconceptions about Hasidic belief, and although clearly respectful of Hasidic religious viewpoints, he writes so lightheartedly that, while it is hard to believe a fine book on Talmudic scholars could be so much fun, fun it is.
• Happiness is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual, by Dennis Prager. In this unique blend of self-help and moral philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager asserts that we're actually obligated to be happy, because it makes us better people. Achieving that happiness won't be easy, though: to Prager, it requires a continuing process of counting your blessings and giving up any expectations that life is supposed to be wonderful. "Can we decide to be satisfied with what we have?" he asks. "A poor man who can make himself satisfied with his portion will be happier than a wealthy man who does not allow himself to be satisfied." Prager echoes many conservative political commentators in complaining that too many people today see themselves as victims; he submits that the only way to achieve your desires is to take responsibility for your life rather than blaming others. Whether or not you agree with that view, if you're willing to put some thought into achieving a happier outlook, you will find plenty to mull over in Happiness Is a Serious Problem.
• Essential Nostradamus or The Nostradamus Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference Guide to the Work and World of Nostradamus (which is 50% off!) -- both by Peter Lemesurier. Nostradamus and his prophecies still fascinate people almost 500 years after his death yet deciphering his predictions can be a daunting task for the casual reader. With this in mind, Peter Lemesurier delivers the last word on the subject--"The Nostradamus Encyclopedia", at once a comprehensive guide to the life, world, and work of the Prophet of Provence for the layman and an invaluable reference tool for the established scholar.
  
  
• For the Relief of Unbearable Urges by Nathan Englander. For the Relief of Unbearable Urges is "an accomplished debut collection.... Englander's voice is distinctively his own--daring, funny and exuberant, keenly attuned to both the absurdities of life and its undertow of sadness and disappointment." says the New York Times.  Amazon.com continues: Whether Nathan Englander is creating the last days of 27 condemned Soviet writers or the first in which a Park Avenue lawyer finds religion (in a taxi, no less), his gift is everywhere in evidence. Englander's specialty is the collision of Jewish law and tradition with secular realities, whether in Brooklyn, Tel Aviv, or Stalinist Russia.
  
  
• Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy by Rabbi Shmuel Boteach. The focus of this book is sex and the central position it occupies within marriage and relationships. Sex for pleasure is an end in itself. But Kosher Sex is the fire of sexual attraction that creates union in the bedroom and closeness and intimacy in life. Kosher Sex will change how you view, discuss, and approach sex. 
  
  
• Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This: The Holiness of Little Daily Dramas , and A Rabbi Confesses by Rabbi Bob Alper, called the "only Rabbi commedian -- really!" It's been written, about one of these books: "By discovering holiness in humble places so often overlooked by others, Rabbi Alper shows us how the stuff of daily life can become an unfolding triumph of the spirit". The Detroit Free Press gave the other book a 4 star review, calling it a "volume of spiritual gems."

 
• The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka. A harrowing -- though absurdly comic -- meditation on human feelings of inadequecy, guilt, and isolation, The Metamorphosis has taken its place as one of the mosst widely read and influential works of twentieth-century fiction. As W.H. Auden wrote, "Kafka is important to us because his predicament is the predicament of modern man."

 
• Words That Hurt Words That Heal : How to Choose Words Wisely and Well by Joseph Telushkin (author of Jewish Literacy, and many other Jewish best-sellers). A reviewer writes: "In an original and thought-provoking exploration of the hidden power of words, the spiritual leader for the Synagogue for the Performing Arts guides readers through the many dilemmas they face when they talk about others--though gossip, rumor, and private revelation--and to others--through anger, criticism, humiliation, and lying--and shows how to incorporate these lessons into daily life." (Also available in paperback).

 
• It's a Mitzvah! Step-By-Step to Jewish Living by Bradley Shavit Artson - A guide to Jewish living, this book is the starting point for everyone who wants to increase his or her level of Jewish commitment, but doesn't know where or how to begin. From lighting candles on Shabbat to spending a night in a homeless shelter, this book identifies hundreds of opportunities to transform daily living into Jewish living. Over 100 pictures detail the richness and diversity of Jewish life in action.

 
• Does the World Need the Jews?: Rethinking Chosenness and American Jewish Identity, by Daniel Gordis. From Booklist , 08/19/97: "Rabbi Gordis makes a vigorous attempt to reconnect U.S. Jews to their religious heritage. He argues that as they became assimilated into the mainstream, Jews gradually lost their central Jewish identity. For example, they stopped learning Hebrew and drifted away from the Torah's teachings. They also left behind the fundamental belief in being a chosen people, because, Gordis contends, they didn't want to be seen as different by U.S. society. He calls for Jews to no longer shy away from their chosenness and to embrace it as the only way to reclaim their 'authentic voice.' It's only in being different, he stresses, that Jews can offer something to the larger world. And this difference will be found with a return to Jewish teachings, laws, and culture. Provocative, forceful, and exquisitely reasoned, the book should spark much debate in the Jewish community.

 
• The Vanishing American Jew: In Search of Jewish Identity for the Next Centuryby Alan M. Dershowitz - In an earlier book, Chutzpah, Dershowitz celebrated an end to Jewish isolation and institutional anti-Semitism in America; in his latest book, The Vanishing American Jew, he decries the perhaps inevitable result of this desegregation: assimilation.

 
• The Sabbath : Its Meaning for Modern Man, by Abraham Joshua Heschel, Ilya Schor (Illustrator) - A classic of Jewish spirituality, first published in 1951, this book provides a brief yet profound meditation of the meaning of the Seventh Day, the enormously influential idea of an "architect of holiness" that appears not in space but in time. This book was chosen as one of four books as part of the UAHC Jewish literacy program.

 
• As a Driven Leaf - by Milton Steinberg - The magnificent work of modern fiction that brings the age of the Talmud to life. The characters include the well-known historical figures: Akiba, Yohanan, Joshua, Eleazar, Beruriah, and Elisha ben Abuyah, whose struggle to live in two worlds destroyed his chance to live in either. Foreword by Chaim Potok.  This book was also chosen as one of four books as part of the UAHC Jewish literacy program. (Paperback, also available in hardcover)

 
• To Life! A Celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking by Harold Kushner - in a remarkable work, the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, writes movingly and informatively on Judaism for practicing Jews who want to learn more about the religion they already cherish

 
• The Jew in the Lotus: A Poet's Rediscovery of Jewish Identity in Buddhist India by Rodger Kamenetz - A personal journey of Jewish spiritual renewal in dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Summoned by the Dalai Lama to Dharamsala, a group of eight Jewish leaders goes to India for a week of discussions in order to teach the Tibetan spiritual leader what the Jewish tradition has learned about religious self-preservation. Jewish poet and designated eyewitness Kamenetz comes along for the ride and on the way learns about the richness of his own Jewish identity by hearing about its similarities to Tibetan Buddhism

 
• Taking Judaism Personally: Creating a Meaningful Spiritual Life by Judy Petsonk - Many Jews have given up on standard Jewish observance. They find it inaccessible or unable to meet their spiritual needs. But the lively, concerned, and creative people in the vanguard of Jewish renewal have interpreted traditional Jewish sources with an innovative eye--forging new ways of practicing Judaism. Petsonk tells the stories of these people.