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]]>This is not a comprehensive list of all the books I read, nor is this a ranking of these books as the “best” of anything. Instead, I prefer to share the books I enjoyed reading in hopes that someone will find and enjoy something they otherwise might not have encountered. Enjoyment does not imply agreement with or an endorsement of their arguments, only that I found their content stimulating and engaging.
According to Goodreads, I’ve read 52 books this past year, which is about my average, though parenthood understandably puts a crimp in my “spare time.”
And now, on with the list!
Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier – Alan Zweibel
One of my favorite cultural shifts from when I grew up has been an increasing public recognition of the people “behind the scenes.” We all know the public faces of comedy and sitcoms, but the writers behind our favorite shows tended to remain in obscurity from the general public.1 I’m old enough to have remembered most of Alan Zeibel’s contributions2 but I had no idea who he really was until reading this book. Highly recommended if you’re a fan of comedy and/or grew up in the 70s and 80s.
Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 – Duane Tudahl
Another book that brought up feelings of nostalgia, this book dives deep into the creative process of one of popular music’s most enigmatic figures. The book does get redundant at times but there are more than enough anecdotes to make this book worthwhile not only for fans of Prince but for the dozens of adjacent artists.
The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel – Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell
Look, I’m going to like just about anything written by Neil Gaiman. In this case, it was the graphic novel version of The Graveyard Book,3 which was one of the many books my wife brought into our marriage. I’m not going to sing Gaiman’s praises any more than anyone else does, other than to say this is a fun fantasy/horror story.
A Fortress in Brooklyn: Race, Real Estate, and the Making of Hasidic Williamsburg – Nathaniel Deutsch, Michael Casper
The subjects of sociology, religion, urban planning, and New York City politics are each difficult to get right on their own, but A Fortress in Brooklyn weaves everything together to tell a captivating story.
The Birth of Conservative Judaism: Solomon Schechter’s Disciples and the Creation of an American Religious Movement – Michael Cohen
Speaking of sociology, Michael Cohen employs Max Weber’s theory of charismatic leadership to tell the story of Conservative Judaism. While other narratives focus on institutions or the laity, Cohen points to Solomon Shechter as the key ideological figure of Conservative Judaism and outlines how and why his influence spread as it did.
Bonus: Cohen’s theories apply to other movements driven by charismatic leaders e.g., Open Orthodoxy.
How to Think like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Renaissance Education – Scott Newstok
Shifting gears, this fun little book reconsiders what education ought to be. I’ll defer to historians to determine the historical accuracy, but the pedagogic insights are valuable on their own.
Spiritual Socialists: Religion and the American Left – Vanessa Cook
The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor – Kaitlyn Schiess
Religiously motivated political rhetoric and activism are typically associated with the political right, a perception with implications for both politics and religion. Spiritual Socialists documents a history of religiously motivated political activism from the political left, demonstrating important strategic similarities and differences from their counterparts.
Schiess’ Liturgy of Politics provides a corrective from the perspective of the religion. Just as the religious left in Judaism often co-opts religious rhetoric for political activism, Schiess objects to the same being done by the Evangelical right, while wrestling with not falling into the same ideological traps she criticizes.
Hebrew Law in Biblical Times: An Introduction – Zeev W. Falk
Introductory books have a tricky balance between accuracy and simplicity. I’m always going to read books about Jewish law with a more critical eye, and this one provides a worthwhile overview of Biblical law.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin’s book is on many people’s “Best Of” lists and for good reason. I’m adding this to the list of books I would have loved to have read years ago when I could have done more with Rubin’s ideas.
Social Justice Fallacies – Thomas Sowell
Social Justice Fallacies is typical Sowell with his eloquence and evidence, though I did notice he still relies on decades-old social science that may no longer be relevant. At any rate, fans of Sowell will appreciate this latest entry.
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]]>This is not a comprehensive list of all the books I read, nor is this a ranking of these books as the “best” of anything. Instead, I prefer to share the books I enjoyed reading the most in the hopes that maybe someone will find and enjoy something they otherwise might not have encountered. Enjoyment does not imply agreement with or an endorsement of their arguments, only that I found their content stimulating and engaging.
I’ve said the above before, but I’d like to stress a point for clarification. Last year I received a comment that my list didn’t include enough representation. What I read on an annual basis depends on a variety of factors and can include a range of authors. However, just because I read these books doesn’t mean I enjoyed them, or at least not to the extent I feel like spreading the word about them.
I should also mention that this past April, my wife and I welcome the birth of our first child which unsurprisingly affected my reading (along with everything else in my life). The 59 books I read in 2022 include several books related to children that I most likely would never have encountered including a wider range of authors. That’s just how it goes some years.
With all that said, on with the list!
Honorable Mentions:
Yitz Greenberg and Modern Orthodoxy: The Road Not Taken ed. Adam Ferziger
This book provides useful insight into how certain elements on Modern Orthodox’s left flank see themselves and those who had the temerity to disagree.
Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas–Not Less – Alex Epstein
Fossil Future is just as much about epistemology and moral philosophy as it is about energy policy. I’m not qualified or learned enough to address the policy claims and data in the book (which is why it’s an honorable mention), but it’s a worthwhile read for how to make an argument.
Winners (Ordered by when I read them):
Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity – Charles L. Marohn Jr.
I’m not sure why YouTube once recommended a video on the channel NotJustBikes channel, but I’m thrilled that they did because it’s one of the best and most accessible channels I’ve found on the complexities of urban design. It’s because of his series of videos that I found the book Strong Towns which I highly recommend in addition to the channel. Strong Towns deftly describes common economic mistakes made by municipalities, their long-term consequences, and offers sensible alternatives. I don’t know how many readers are in positions to effect civic changes, but Strong Towns should get people thinking differently about community politics.
Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility – James P. Carse
I added Finite and Infinite Games to the queue when I saw it cited in Strong Towns. I bumped it up in priority after learning my CEO relied on this book for the company’s vision. This is one of those books I wish I read earlier in my life because it would have had a more profound influence on my general worldview.
Thinking in Systems: A Primer – Donella H. Meadows
It’s not uncommon to find discourse related to “systemic” problems, but it’s rare to find articulations of what systems are, how they operate, and how people respond to the systems in which they find themselves. Thinking in Systems does a wonderful job explaining the concept of “systems” that so many people take for granted.
Nuclear Physics for Babies
Astrophysics for Babies
Optical Physics for Babies
Statistical Physics for Babies
– Chris Ferrie
Someone shared one of these books on Twitter and it turns out they are part of a larger series called “Baby University.” I got these books as a set in part to start teaching my baby important things and in part because many baby books are painful especially on repeated reads. I can say that my baby has enjoyed these very much so far as have I. We purchased a few other books in the series but were disappointed with those. If you’re in the market, stick with these.
The Lessons of History – Will Durant, Ariel Durant
This was a quick and fun read with some remarkable insights. Better than it has any right to be for such a short book.
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software – Charles Petzold
Here’s a book I wish I had when I was a computer science major in college. Code somehow manages to tell a story about fundamental unifying principles behind most of the technologies in use today. It’s an absolute must-read for anyone in a technical profession but I think there’s enough in here for non-techies to appreciate (even if some chapters might go over people’s heads).
Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans – Michaeleen Doucleff
Like many new parents, I don’t have a set idea about what I’m doing. Not that I’ve been panicking either, but Hunt, Gather, Parent, provides a nice corrective to alternative strategies of parenting that have been successfully practiced in cultures all over the world.
This brings me to the next entry (also cited in Hunt, Gather, Parent)…
Dream Babies: Childcare Advice From John Locke to Gina Ford – Christina Hardyment
Dream Babies can best be described as an intellectual history of childcare advice and how, for the most part, “experts” had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. It’s also amusing to see how ideas that were once popular come back into vogue 50-100 years later.
Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory – Raymond Wacks
The final book on the list is also another one I wish I had read earlier. Understanding Jurisprudence is by no means an easy read, but that’s mostly due to the complexity of the subject. Wacks provides an excellent survey and summary of key ideas and scholars. If nothing else, I’d say it’s shelf-worthy for reference.
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]]>But even if a degree of incivility is justified by rabbinic tradition, some insults are seen as outside the boundaries of acceptable discourse. One such insult is referring to a “Rabbi” with scare quotes.
Common objections include that rabbinic scare quotes are a uniquely offensive insult because it not only dismisses the personal effort (and sometimes money) invested but it is a complete delegitimization of everything the individual’s professional credentials and religious affiliations.
For their part, those who address rabbis with scare quotes would probably concede to these criticisms because that is entirely the point.
The MLA defines the purpose of scare quotes as, “to convey an ironic, skeptical, or even derisive stance toward the word or phrase they enclose.” It’s not uncommon to find scare quotes in the context of academic degrees or professions, the former referring to deficient qualifications and the latter being a comment on professional competency and integrity. Scare quotes around “Rabbi” may refer to either (or both) as well as impugning the implications of the rabbinic title such as a conveyer of religious authority. “Rabbi” in scare quotes signals the target is lacking expertise, unworthy of honor, an imposter of authority, and/or generally an illegitimate representative of Judaism.
This sort of rhetoric exists in part due to the complete lack of uniform standards for ordination. The original process for ordination has not been in effect for over 1,500 years which means no one since then has ever been a “real” rabbi.1 Without the original ordination, the criteria for bestowing the rabbinic title has varied wildly between institutions and “private” ordinations conferred by individual rabbis. The result, as I once put it, is that “an individual who has mastered a vast corpus of Jewish texts…may hold the exact same title as a functional illiterate with a guitar.”
When anyone can invent their own criteria for ordination, then we can no longer presume a shared baseline for expertise or even observance. And once the rabbinic title is conferred, these rabbis may then leverage the title to presume authority and legitimacy. This creates a religious tension beyond mere disagreements. These rabbis aren’t just seen as mistaken but as imposters who must be discredited in order to preserve the integrity of Judaism.
Quantifying the use of rabbinic scare quotes is difficult due to the quirks of search engines. Most search engines interpret quotes as a boolean AND operator rather than as strings to be searched (assuming the engine recognizes punctuation at all). The most I can share here are my anecdotal observations from spending way too much time online. And from what I have seen, the most frequent targets of “rabbi” in scare quotes are one of two types of rabbis: non-Orthodox2 and Messianists.
There are important distinctions between the various non-Orthodox denominations such as Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist, but for our purposes, their shared trait is that none of them are Orthodox. As such, they are more likely to deviate from “traditional” beliefs and practices. To some Orthodox Jews (and even some non-Jews) certain promoted beliefs and practices may be unrecognizable as “Jewish” and thus perceived to be inauthentic.3 From this perspective, rabbis who espouse these beliefs and practices are categorically disqualified and seen as appropriating the rabbinic title for presumptive legitimacy.4
The same arguments apply to Messianists, except now they are also made by non-Orthodox rabbis. When Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a rally with the Messianist Loren Jacobs, non-Orthodox rabbis criticized referring to Jacobs as a rabbi, with some invoking scare quotes around “rabbi.” As another explains:
“We don’t even recognize him as a rabbi,” Rabbi Marla Hornsten, past president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis, told NBC News. “Even to call him a rabbi is offensive.”
The Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism elaborates:
“Judaism itself is a multi-denominational religion that encompasses multiple forms of expression and belief,” said the Rabbinical Assembly, an organization that represents the rabbis of the Conservative Movement, in a statement. “Nonetheless, so-called ‘Messianic Judaism’ is not a Jewish movement, and the phrase ‘Jews for Jesus’ is a contradiction in terms, insofar as Judaism does not recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.”
Thus non-Orthodox rabbis may find themselves on both sides of the same rhetoric of rejection.5
Behind the seemingly juvenile practice of name-calling, debates over rabbinic scare quotes are several underappreciated points to consider.
First, the complaint that the use of rabbinic scare violates some collegial norm is not an argument of propriety as much as legitimacy. If scare quotes are justifiable in certain situations but not others, then the real argument is over who deserves it. As John Stuart Mill writes in On Liberty:
With regard to what is commonly meant by intemperate discussion, namely invective, sarcasm, personality, and the like, the denunciation of these weapons would deserve more sympathy if it were ever proposed to interdict them equally to both sides; but it is only desired to restrain the employment of them against the prevailing opinion: against the unprevailing they may not only be used without general disapproval, but will be likely to obtain for him who uses them the praise of honest zeal and righteous indignation.
Second, the rejection of Messianic Judaism and its rabbis necessarily implies a rejection of self-identification as a singular source of legitimacy. Basing Jewishness or rabbinic status on personal identification has its benefits such as affirming an individual’s chosen identity and sidestepping theological debates.6 Michael Satlow takes this approach in his indispensable introduction to Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice:
By Israel I refer to self-identity, the act of identifying as a member of am yisrael and the particular self-understanding of what that identification means. All groups that self-identify as Jews “count,” and, however much other Jewish communities contest their identity, their own self-characterization puts them on the map. These communities identify themselves as Jews, locating themselves (or not) within a sacred narrative and a bloodline. The objective truth of this claim is less important in this case than the community’s self-perception; being part of Israel begins with the claim to be, not with some outsider judging whether that claim is correct.(8)
But what happens when people self-identify as Jewish while holding obviously troubling theological positions? Satlow later qualifies:
The boundaries of tradition might be broad, but they do exist. Messianic Jews and Black Hebrews have, from a non-normative perspective, every right to call themselves “Israel,” but through their rejection of the postbiblical Jewish literature they have largely ceased to engage in the same conversation as other Jewish communities. Similarly, secular and humanistic Jews, with their rejection of God, puts them outside the limits of the conversation as defined by the tradition. (15)
Anyone can identify as “Jewish” but no one is entitled to acceptance. Satlow concedes that “boundaries of tradition” exist. But once we admit that conformity to “boundaries of tradition” is a requirement for recognition, then the conversation shifts to defining and defending those borderlines. For Satlow, these boundaries include rejecting God or the rabbinic tradition but others may have their own criteria.
This brings me to my final point that demanding religious recognition is no less of a theological imposition than those promoted by parochial rejectionists. Everyone seems to concede to the existence of boundaries, but there is much debate over setting those boundaries. A rejected group that demands recognition essentially denies others the right to set their own boundaries. The alternative is to claim that their chosen definitions are objective, universal, and I daresay, “orthodox.”
Eugene Borowitz (1924-2016), a leading intellectual of contemporary Reform Judaism acknowledges this point:
Theologically, Orthodoxy cannot recognize the teaching of Progressive Judaism as valid. The basic, authoritative Jewish texts of Jewish law clearly classify our modernist reinterpretation of Judaism as heresy, apikorsut…We cannot ask Orthodoxy to violate its own faith and accept Progressive Judaism, de jure, as a fully equivalent, if alternative, interpretation of Judaism.7
Even as R. Borowitz does not accept Orthodox Judaism for himself, he concedes that expecting Orthodox Jews to his way of thinking would be hypocritical.
I personally choose not to resort to using rabbinic scare quotes on the grounds they’re needlessly antagonistic ad hominem and do little to convince others. At the same time, I believe they’ll continue for as long as fights over religious legitimacy continue due to their simplicity and emotional impact.
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]]>This is not a comprehensive list of all the books I read, nor is this a ranking of these books as the “best” of anything. Instead, I prefer to share the books I enjoyed reading the most in the hopes that maybe someone will find and enjoy something they otherwise might not have encountered. Enjoyment does not imply agreement with or an endorsement of their arguments, only that I found their contents stimulating and engaging.
According to Goodreads, I read 63 books in 2021. Here are the ones I enjoyed the most.
Jewish Law: History, Sources, Principles Vol. 1-4 – Menachem Elon
I’ve been reading this set off and on for the past several years as my Shabbat reading and finally finished it in 2021. Originally written in Hebrew,1 this is an excellent and accessible translation of a magisterial work that shaped an entire academic field.
One part I found particularly fascinating was the fourth volume that discusses the role halakhah ought to play in the State of Israel. Elon is remarkably optimistic about the integrity of the Rabbanut which leads him to make some sweeping claims. Nevertheless, whoever has the knowledge and acumen to write the first three volumes has more than earned the right to opine in the fourth.
In short, I think this set belongs on the shelf of any practicing rabbi or anyone who pontificates about Jewish law and the halakhic process and I’d even say it ought to be required reading of all rabbinical students.
What’s Wrong With Morality?: A Social-Psychological Perspective – C. Daniel Batson
While researching for a project, I came across the scholarship of C. Daniel Batson, a social psychologist who has written extensively on morality. In one sense, What’s Wrong With Morality summarizes Batson’s research, but it also shows Batson wrestling with the disturbing implications of his findings. While I find his answers unconvincing, the questions he poses are critical for understanding how people understand, practice, and invoke morality.
The Study of Judaism: Authenticity, Identity, Scholarship – Aaron Hughes
Another theme in my reading this year has been questions of legitimacy and authenticity, something I’ve been thinking about for at least 15 years. The Study of Judaism is less an academic work than a polemic against the current state of Judaic Studies in academia. Specifically, Hughes questions outside influences on academic institutions that seek to define authentic Jewish identity in ways that suit them. Hughes’ own preferences are no less subjective and suspect than those he rejects, but he asks important questions that are worthy of consideration.
The Knowledge Machine: How Irrationality Created Modern Science – Michael Strevens
A great survey of the history of science and a fun read for anyone interested in epistemology.
Critical Race Theory: An Introduction – Richard Delgado, Jean Stefancic
Critical Race Theory is currently one of the most controversial issues in America. This book, co-authored by one of CRT’s founding scholars, provides an excellent overview of what CRT is and how CRT scholars view the world. While it is in no way comprehensive, it’s a far better representation of CRT than most of what you’ll find in the media such that if you’re going to formulate an opinion about CRT, it’s a great starting point.
I picked this up because my wife has many classic leather-bound editions. First published in 1854, much of Thoreau’s message of minimalism and simplicity resonates today.
Jewish Identity: Who is a Jew? – Baruch Litvin
In 1950, Israeli President David Ben-Gurion solicited opinions from rabbis and academics all over the world to answer the question, “Who is a Jew?” Jewish Identity collects the wide variety of answers given from legendary figures of contemporary Jewish history.
For another entry in the moral philosophy department, Virtuous Violence offers a theory of morality as a means of maintaining social relationships. This approach explains why individuals may commit violent acts not in spite of their moral principles, but because of them.
Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide – John Cleese
Shifting gears, this is a fun little book about trying to be creative, written by a legendary comedian.
Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed – James C. Scott
According to one school of thought, the government has the mandate (if not obligation) to improve the lives of its citizens through its unique position of centralized power. However, such attempts inevitably come at costs, some more severe than others. Scott provides a theory, backed with several examples, explaining why government intervention can fail, and in some cases fail miserably. Seeing Like a State is not a case for Libertarianism as much a series of cautionary tales for those who advocate for government intervention. In theory, those who are aware of how things can go wrong and why can take preventative measures when crafting policy.
Peter Singer is no stranger to controversial positions and the subsequent attacks because of them. Any book that tries to take things down a notch is welcome reading these days.
My Larger Education – Booker T. Washington
I’m genuinely curious about how Washington would perceive contemporary society and how he would be received by it. My Larger Education isn’t merely biographical, but it outlines Washington’s approach to racial reconciliation based on the realities on the ground and with more than a little contempt for academics and intelligentsia. There are several notable quotes in this book, but more importantly, I think it provides some lost wisdom essential for addressing our most intractable problems.
In what has become an annual tradition, every December I review the books I read in the past year and pick out my favorites to share with other avid readers.
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