Rating: 
Summary: Great book!
Review: Rabbi Kushner has written a book that I believe will be remembered for hundreds of years to come. In a non-judgemental way, he talks about bad things and how good can still exist in the world. Reading his book gave me more profound hope for the world. Although some fundamentalists are offended with his words, I found then comforting. Kushner helped motivate me to write a book about my autistic son called "Our Brown Eyed Boy"Thank you Rabbi Kushner!
Rating:
Summary: Find a New Cause
Review: Before reading this book, the first thing that came to mind, as I noticed the title was, "They find a way to turn things around." I had no idea that this book would be such a wonderful book about accepting life, on life's terms. But first, let's look at what causes bad things: 1. The laws of nature
2. Chaos
3. An act of nature
4. Human choices
5. Self-punishment when things go wrong
6. Accidents
7. Expectations of others that can't be fulfilled
8. Denial of emotional immaturity
9. Our reactions to our own hurt and anger This book teaches readers how to accept any kind of loss as part of the human condition. This book also tells us that God doesn't cause accidents, sickness or disasters. When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge, they chose to live a life of choices, as knowledge is about choices. They were no longer in the category of animals. And with those choices God gave humanity choices, feelings and a need to congregate with other human beings, to affirm who we are. God is here to build strength, courage, and a sense of human connection - when we are ready to ask ourselves, "Now that this has happened, what am I going to do about it?" And, "Whom does this suffering serve?" "Let me sugggest that the bad things that happen to us in our lives do not have a meaning when they happen to us. They do not happen for any good reason which would cause us to accept them willingly. But we can give them a meaning." It is a book to be read over and over again, to become more compassionate, as compassion is the language of God.
Rating: 
Summary: Is it quite the right issue?
Review: I'm sure that the question "why do bad things happen to good people?" is one of the big questions that spiritually-minded people have always asked themselves. Even non-spiritual people may also find themselves dealing with this issue, if they are ever unfortunate enough to have something bad happen to them. It's good that there is a book like this, in case such people need something to read on the subject. As a very spiritual person myself, though, I find myself much more likely to be pondering the opposite question : why do good things happen to bad people? This phenomenon can be just as distressing, if not even more so, depending on how spiritual you are. The two things are very related - both questions stem from our wish to get all the good things for ourselves, and give all the bad things to someone else. Why bother being good if I don't get good things? Why don't I just be bad? I'd be just as likely to get good things anyway. The moral and spiritual question of how to palm off all the bad things onto someone else, while skimming off all the good things for ourselves, has always apparently tortured us, and never more so in this age of envy and greed. Where is the motivation for doing or being "good" if good things go to bad people? Considering this book was written 20 years ago, you'd think it could have been updated by now to incorporate this more spiritual approach to the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Three Books to Read When Bad Things Happen
Review: I read "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" when it first came out five years ago. At that time, I found it interesting. But it was not until I lived through the deaths of two of my closest friends and I reread Kushner's classic that the book hit me with full force.
Two recent books also were important to me during this dark period. I recommend all three of these books for anyone going through difficult times:
During the early summer, two of my best friends, both women in their 40's, died of breast cancer. I searched for books that would offer me help with my grieving, and a perspective on what I was going through. Most of the books I found were long on faith and hope, and short on thought. And then I discovered two books, both recently published, that saved my life. These were Harold Kushner's "The Lord is My Shepherd" and Dennis Shulman's "The Genius of Genesis." I thank Harold Kushner and Dennis Shulman for giving me a way of understanding life and death in a broader context.
All three of these books tenderly guided me through my valley of the shadow of death and toward healing, and, for this, I am grateful.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't give this as a gradutation gift.
Review: I was given this book as a graduation gift. Not only was I insulted; I was forced to READ IT!!
AHHH!!!THE AGONY
I felt like I was back in preschool having a old lady tell me how to be a "good little boy".
Kushner here's some advice for you: Bad things happen to everybody,
except when they happen to an SOB
you think they deserve it.
Rating: 
Summary: We Not Alone!!
Review: A small but powerful little book. One to share over and over again, one to give when just sharing isn't enough.
Rating:
Summary: Deep, meaningful and worthwhile
Review: This is a deeply moving book that challenged me to review my life perspective and reframe it in a way that works. I highly recommend this book, and consider it a classic. I also strongly recommend Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self. Optimal Thinking showed me how to accept what is out of my control and optimize anything and everything within my control. Both of these books are first-rate!
Rating:
Summary: A Classic of profound knowledge...
Review: When I faced incredible loss a few years ago, I was amazed at the insensitive words my so-called friends offered in their "compassion", words that cut me right to the bone of my soul. It seemed that my grief was a burden for many. I painfully watched many of my closest friends distance themselves from me and even resent me for the tragedy and emotion that I had no control over. I questioned my feelings, my thoughts, and even my faith. This book is a comfort for all people who have been forced to swallow such stupid sentiments in their times of grief and loss. It is an exploration of how we comfort each other in such terrifying times, and the dumb mistakes we make. Most of these sentiments wax on about God, why He created a world in which such pain exists: Is this all part of a greater good, a higher order? Is God testing you, expanding your soul for your own good? Has He taken your loved ones to a better place? This book gets right to the heart of the matter, that people in fact say such things as disguised justification for their own lack of understanding. They say things in defense of God to keep their world in order and the senseless tragedy in your life out of theirs. For example, someone might tell you, "God gave this grief to you as a test, because He loved you so very much, and knew you would become a better person for it," (to which the author replies, "If only I had been a weaker person, my daughter would still be alive.") And yet, author Harold Kushner weaves this with a deep exploration of God and how He helps us and loves us. This is no cheap excuse for shallow religion. The knowledge Kushner shares has obviously been earned through incredible personal pain. You will never feel like some therapist is philosophizing about some subject they know nothing about - this is the Real Deal. Kushner makes no apologies or defense for his anger and pain, and fearlessly questions the ways we comfort each other, and God Himself. Having lost my own faith for a time, I found every word in this book deeply satisfying, the logic pure. Strong recommendation for anyone with deep pain in their life.
Rating:
Summary: A MOST fortunate book!!!
Review: It is unfortunate that while our son was dying of cancer we did not know about this profound book. Our son (age 22) kept asking "why me?" and wondered what he had "done wrong" to deserve cancer. Kushner's book helped us to deal with his death and gave us the answers to the unanswerabe questions, "why me, Lord?" I disagree with the Garner, NC reviewer completely. If he claims the book is blasphemous, perhaps he'd better re-read Job and reconsider its meaning. For if God is all powerful, than the conclusion would be that God is also unjust. Our family has reread "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" many times. We buy the book by the dozens and give copies to people we know who are suffering (from any cause) and looking for answers. Rabbi Kushner, you have written a most fortunate book!
Rating:
Summary: VERY THOUGHTFUL AND WELL WRITTEN
Review: The book was very uplifting. My son was born with severe autism. My wife and I have been wondering from time to time, why did God do this to us? The book helped me see things in the grander perspective they are meant to be seen in. It also gave me solace after 9-11. Bad things happened to good people at the World Trade Center. There is no doubt about it. Kushner's soothing words helped me when I was very angry about the nature of warfare and human kind's inability to make peace.
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