Customer Reviews from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble
This page updated: 01-01-04
A Book for the thinking Person, November 3, 2003
Reviewer: Amanda Porter from New York, NY
A month ago, I heard Dennis Shulman, a psychoanalyst and rabbi, discussing his book on National Public Radio. During that interview, I was impressed with his ideas, his scholarship and his poetic use of language. I just finished reading Dr. Shulman's book. All of these characteristics also come through in his book, what he calls his 'biblical lovechild.' If you are interested in reading a fresh perspective on the Bible, which draws on the ancient Jewish and Christian sources for its inspiration, The Genius of Genesis is the book for you.
Thank You, Dennis Shulman, for This Excellent Book, October 3, 2003
Reviewer: Harold Schorsch from Riverdale, NY
A few weeks ago, I happened to hear Dennis Shulman interviewed about his book on National Public Radio, and I was so impressed with him and what he said that I immediately ordered his book. Shulman's book is an outstanding, comprehensive and loving analysis of the Book of Genesis. Although I have been reading these same Genesis stories for more than forty years, since my childhood, I now feel like I finally understand them. What's more, because of this wonderful book, these stories now speak to me. Shulman's book is a good read and a work of inspiration. Thank you, Dennis Shulman, for your book.
If You Only Read One Book This Year, September 12, 2003
Reviewer: Sarah Heschel-Goldman from Boston, Mass.
I just finished "The Genius of Genesis" by Dennis G. Shulman and I am moved.
If you only read one book this year about psychology or religion, it should be "The Genius of Genesis."
And if you only have time to read one chapter, it should be the final chapter, Chapter Six. In this chapter, the author integrates a vast library of thinkers and perspectives, including among others, Freud, Jung, Maimonides, Fromm, and develops a message that is not only scholarly and wise, but inspiring.
I hope that "The Genius of Genesis" gains the attention it deserves.
A Fresh Approach to Genesis, September 6, 2003
Reviewer: Solomon Mann from Cambridge, MA
When I received the E-mail from the Jewish Press announcing that Dennis Shulman's Genius of genesis was selected as its August Book Choice, I ordered it not expecting much. I have read many books about Genesis, from Norman Cohen to Aviva Zornberg to Bruce Feiler and most recently, Leon Kass; and found little in any of them that was new or interesting. Shulman's book surprised me. The scholarship is vast. The Genesis characters and narratives come alive. The perspective is open minded, interesting and novel. I highly recommend Shulman's book for anyone (Jew, Christian or agnostic) who is looking for a deeper understanding of the biblical stories they grew up with.
Shulman's Genius Book is a Breath of Fresh Air, August 23, 2003
Reviewer: Samuel J. Spiegelman, from West Palm Beach, FL
Now that I have retired from my firm on Wall Street, I finally have the time to read the books I always wanted to. These are mostly books on psychology or religion (Judaism, Christianity, Islam and others). Last week, my daughter gave me a true gift, The Genius of Genesis by Dennis Shulman. I could not put it down. After reading myriad tomes on the Book of Genesis, Shulman's Genius book is a breath of fresh air. It is well written, scholarly and religiously tolerant. These are unusual traits for a book on religion especially in these days of competing rigid dogmas and tightly drawn ideological battle lines.
If you want to learn something new and inspiring about the biblical book you have known about since you were a child, Shulman's Genius of Genesis is the book for you.
An Excellent Book About the First Book of the Old Testament, August 10, 2003
Reviewer: Joseph Barrington from Dallas, Texas
A graduate student of mine discovered, she said quite by accident, Dennis Shulman's Genius of Genesis on the Internet, and gave me a copy. I am very glad she did. This book is a well written, careful, respectful and I would even say loving analysis of the foundational stories of the Book of Genesis. It is an essential addition to any library devoted to the examination of the Bible, Old or New Testament.
Shulman writes with deep appreciation for complexity and with a tolerance for multiple understandings of the biblical texts, both of which are truly rare in contemporary books about religion. His breath of knowledge ranges from the traditional commentaries of the talmudic rabbis to those of John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Milton and even Mark Twain.
Although Shulman is a Jew, this book is quite appropriate for use in a classroom, like most of mine are, in which we study the Old Testament from a Christian perspective.
As far as I can tell, this is Shulman's first book. I look forward to his future work on the Bible.
I congratulate Dennis Shulman on a job well done.
A Great Book About the Bible, August 10, 2003
Reviewer: Samantha Rubin from Brookline, MA
I just finished the Genius of Genesis and I wanted to recommend it for others while it is still fresh in my mind. I learned of this book from my aunt who has heard the author, Dennis Shulman, speak two times at her synagogue. After just finishing four college classes on the Bible (I am a Jewish Studies major), I would have to say that this is, by far, the best thing I've read on the subject. For the first time, I feel like I finally understand what the creation stories are about and why Abraham would almost sacrifice his son who he loves. I wish my professors had assigned this book instead of some of the others they chose when we were talking about Genesis.
This book is not only intelligent but also well written. I didn't have to constantly go back and try to figure out what the author was saying.
I recommend the Genius of genesis for anyone interested in learning more about the Bible and Judaism. You don't have to be a Jewish Studies major to really like this book or learn a great deal from it!
Recommended for College Classes on the Bible, August 2, 2003
Reviewer: John C. Wheeler from Kansas City, MO
The Genius of Genesis is an excellent resource for college classes on the Old Testament. Dennis Shulman, the author, has a deep appreciation for the biblical stories and a keen insight into them. His analysis is wide-ranging and ecumenical.
This book is well written. Its level is appropriate for undergraduates and, I believe, will hold their interest.
This coming semester, I will be using this book in my two undergraduate intro classes to the Old Testament and my graduate seminar on the Pentateuch.
Strongly Recommended for Adult
Education Classes, July 3, 2003
Reviewer: Rabbi Joshua Nathanson from New York, NY
By pure chance, (a comment one of my colleagues made on a rabbinic chat room), I discovered Dennis Shulman's Genius of Genesis. I am very pleased I did. I just finished the book and I highly recommend it.
As a rabbi for eighteen years now, I have read many books about the Bible generally and about Genesis specifically. Shulman's book is unusual in two ways. First, it is so well written that it makes some rather complex material quite understandable to the average reader. Second, Shulman draws from a wide variety of sources, not just biblical or psychological ones, to make his point and to illuminate the texts under discussion. The effect is a sweeping appreciation of the beauty and uniqueness of the first book of the Bible.
I am looking forward to using this outstanding book as the focus of discussions in both the adult education seminars and the Hebrew high school classes I teach in my congregation.
A Great Read About Psychology and
Religion, June 30, 2003
Reviewer: Sharon Simon-Jones, Ph.D. from Chicago IL
For years, I have thought about the relationship between what I do in my psychotherapy practice and what I learned about when I went to Hebrew school thirty years ago. Dr. Shulman's book answers many of my questions. And what's amazing about the book is that Dr. Shulman writes so well that you don't even notice that the book is quite profound and scholarly.
The book looks at each of the major stories in Genesis that I studied when I was eight years old, and, so carefully studies them, analyzes them and elaborates on them, that you come out of reading each chapter with a message that is very modern and very important.
In the last chapter, Dr. Shulman examines three questions. Two of these, who the human is and how we change, are questions that are central to both contemporary psychology and the ancient biblical text. He makes a strong argument that the third question, I think he would say the most important of these, what gives our life purpose, is one that is dealt with much better by the ancient biblical "author" than by the contemporary psychologists and psychoanalysts. I am a psychoanalyst and he even convinced me!
You don't have to be a practicing religious person or a mental health professional to gain a great deal from this book. Whoever you are, this book takes you gently by the hand and makes the study of Genesis quite a lovely learning experience.
A Great Read for All Interested in
Psychology or the Bible, June 26, 2003
Reviewer: Bruce Stanton from Albany, NY
For anyone interested in the Bible or modern psychology, whether you are a Christian, a Jew or a nonbeliever, Shulman's Genius of Genesis is a great read.
The book treats the stories of the Book of Genesis with great respect. Shulman looks at each of these stories, for example, creation, Abraham's sacrifice of his son, Jacob's transformation to a more mature figure, Joseph's personality, and derives profound lessons for our time. Shulman draws from a wide range of sources in his analysis of each of these stories--ranging from ancient Babylonian texts, to the rabbis of the time of Jesus, to John Calvin, Martin Luther, Maimonides, and Martin Buber. And yet, amazingly, the book is not dense or difficult to get through.
While I am a Christian and Shulman is a psychoanalyst and a rabbi, I think the book would even be a comfortable read for people who are not connected to a religious tradition.
His last chapter, in which Shulman compares modern psychology and ancient biblical perspectives, is a must read. In it, he does a great job of answering the age-old question: What is it that gives our life purpose?
My book group is going to be reading this book as its first book in the fall. I'm looking forward to the discussion to come.
The Genius of Genesis is included on the following Amazon "Listmanias:"
1. Outstanding Books About the First Book of the Bible:
A list by John C. Wheeler, Professor, Old Testament
2. New Books Essential for Understanding the Bible:
A list by Rabbi Joshua Nathanson, Teacher, Torah/Midrash/Talmud
For additional information about the book and the author, Click Here
To order your copy of The Genius of Genesis,
Telephone:
1-800-805-1192 (toll free; within the USA)
1-201-321-7091 (outside the USA)
E-mail Genesis@DennisShulman.Com