The Book of Job, Harold S. Kushner
The Book of Job, Harold S. Kushner
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The Book of Job
When Bad Things Happened to a Good Person

Author: Harold S. Kushner

Narrator: Harold S. Kushner

Unabridged: 5 hr 55 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/02/2012

Synopsis

Part of the Jewish Encounter series

From one of our most trusted spiritual advisers, a thoughtful, illuminating guide to that most fascinating of biblical texts, the book of Job, and what it can teach us about living in a troubled world.
 
The story of Job is one of unjust things happening to a good man. Yet after losing everything, Job—though confused, angry, and questioning God—refuses to reject his faith, although he challenges some central aspects of it. Rabbi Harold S. Kushner examines the questions raised by Job’s experience, questions that have challenged wisdom seekers and worshippers for centuries. What kind of God permits such bad things to happen to good people? Why does God test loyal followers? Can a truly good God be all-powerful?
 
Rooted in the text, the critical tradition that surrounds it, and the author’s own profoundly moral thinking, Kushner’s study gives us the book of Job as a touchstone for our time. Taking lessons from historical and personal tragedy, Kushner teaches us about what can and cannot be controlled, about the power of faith when all seems dark, and about our ability to find God.
 
Rigorous and insightful yet deeply affecting, The Book of Job is balm for a distressed age—and Rabbi Kushner’s most important book since When Bad Things Happen to Good People.

About The Author

Harold S. Kushner is rabbi laureate of Temple Israel in the Boston suburb of Natick, Massachusetts. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he is the author of more than a dozen books on coping with life’s challenges, including, most recently, the best-selling Conquering Fear and Overcoming Life’s Disappointments.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Tom LA on November 27, 2023

In this book, Rabbi H. Kushner offers an analysis of the Book of Job, one of the thorniest and most complex books of the Bible. While listening to Kushner's own voice narrating the audiobook, I discovered many interesting facts. For example, that the Book of Job is in fact in all likelihood a patchw......more

Goodreads review by Brian on August 09, 2013

I come to this book as a conservative orthodox Christian. Rabbi Kushner is obviously not. I do appreciate several insights he provides from the Jewish perspective. Being that the book was written by a Jewish author, there are several gems Kushner offers that many other authors might miss. In particu......more

Goodreads review by David on June 29, 2021

Kushner has some interesting insights about the story of Job. One of his biggest stances is that the text is very much a mirror to the reader; theology determines interpretation. The argument of this book about the source of evil boils down in the end to God setting aside two things outside of his ab......more

Goodreads review by Frank on February 13, 2013

Five stars are not enough. Inspiring, moving, and erudite. I don't want to summarize how the author interprets the Book of Job, as that would deny the reader the essential experience of encountering the text of Job for themselves. Suffice it to say that Kushner's interpretation and commentary are the......more

Goodreads review by Frederic on October 11, 2012

Theodicy for the layman...well argued if ultimately unconvincing.........more

Quotes

“A current, accessible examination of a difficult and wondrous jewel of world literature.”
-Kirkus
 
“Kushner skillfully analyzes this complex story, surveying many sources along with offering his own impressive interpretation.”
-Publishers Weekly

“Kushner’s analysis challenges popular understanding of a text written and rewritten by unknown authors perhaps separated by centuries…No one can explain why evil exists, let alone in 200 pages. Still, Kushner’s tragic loss lets him assail an insolvable problem with authority.”
-The Washington Post

“Harold Kushner first brought comfort and insight to many in 1981 with his best-selling self-help book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Since then, he’s continued to offer life- and faith-affirming messages…In Job’s anguish and anger toward God, Kushner finds lessons on how one might remain faithful to a God who does not protect us from suffering.”
-Vox Tablet (weekly podcast of Tablet Magazine)
 
“Kushner’s lifelong experience with and study of the central questions of Job make almost every page of his masterful reading stimulating and often provocative and will turn many readers to the text.”
-Jewish Book Council

“Harold S. Kushner…share[s] the gifts of scholarly foundations, challenges to conventional theology, and a style that enlightens and inspires the decidedly un-Biblical among his readers…Kushner does a wonderful job summing up what he takes away from the Job story (it is actually something of a spoiler to paraphrase it, so buy the book) and handily condenses thinking from some of the great Jewish thinkers.”
-The Seattle Times

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