Nine Essential Things I've Learned About Life by Harold S. KushnerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A short book that touches on many of the themes of Rabbi Kushner’s work. It’s a balance of stories, theology, and religion. Mixing life advice with biblical and Talmudic commentary, Rabbi Kushner covers topics from his conception of God, the problem of evil, morality, forgiveness, and meaning in life.
It is interesting and touching with generally good (if not a bit anodyne) advice about living a more meaningful and satisfying life. But it is also too familiar—that is, having read Rabbi Kushner’s work, there were few surprises or innovations. It was still good to reiterate and refamiliarize myself with these ideas and Kushner’s approach, but I think I was hoping for something a bit different or new.
What I found most engaging was when Kushner would explain his interpretations of different biblical stories. From the Garden of Eden to the binding of Isaac, Kushner’s approach is enlightening and compelling; providing a context to understand these stories in ways that are more interesting (and less concerning) than many traditional interpretations. As a linguistic nerd, I also enjoyed how he rooted his approach in the original meanings of the Hebrew texts.
Though this book is very much rooted in a theistic framework, I think nontheists and agnostics will find value in many (though not all) of Kushner’s discussions.
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