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Rating: 
Summary: Maybe we should examine more closely all we ever wanted....
Review: ...and why we want so much..In my opinion, society doesn't want it's members to ever feel like everything is ever good enough or you are ever perfect already enough without all this stuff. I trip because our world, our universe is already miraculously designed to be perfect and just to witness some of the things and people in it should have us well pleased, but that ain't the case. My mom used to say "God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them and WE have the nerve to be dissatisfied with the heavens and the earth and everything in them..." As an example, look how much money is spent on advertisements and commercials during "events" like the Super Bowl or the Oscars...the money spent on a 15 second spot gets up to the millions. This sensory bombardment is one of the ways this insecurity creeps in--And, for why? The American Dream? To make sure everybody has the opportunity to stay ahead of the game? To flesh out some Madison Ave. photocopy? The questions are--are you really less of a person without this jazz? And why is it such an empty feeling even after we've gotten all we ever imagined wanting?--Most people I know, however, disguise this emptiness with a competitive nature thing akin to the ol' "Nah, nah, na-nah! I've got a new bike and you don't" stance of the neighborhood kids...are we that spoiled? And what happens when that emptiness returns after we can't find anyone to compete with? Do we look within or do we look for new competitors...? Don't get me wrong, I would be the wrong person to endorse unproductive activity. I would suggest some kind of healing activity.... Kushner's book is about this 'looking within'. He uses the book of Ecclesiastes to help us thru the 'vanities of vanities', our human restlessness, our desires and our sufferings. I agree with what the several other reviwers have stated. It is a book everyone should read, if only to witness a well elucidated interpretation of Ecclesiastes.
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Summary: Excellent, and way cheaper than therapy!
Review: After reading this book I quit my job, got a divorce, and moved 3000 miles across country where I vaguely knew 2 people -- No- I was in the process of doing thoses things when I read the book. It did open my eyes to the fact that I thought I believed one way while I had been living my whole life another way. Now what I have is what I want, and it's enough
Rating:
Summary: Very thought provoking
Review: And are you really willing to do what it takes to get it?Above material wealth and external power, we need to belong to at least 3 people with whom we share the recesses of our soul. We cannot really feel good about ourselves if we don't know that we are free to be visible to others, growing in their presence and truly making a difference that will live on, long after our earthly existence. If you are looking for wealth, I invite you to read this book, with a very open mind. You must search for internal wealth; that is, being human amongst humans, while you share something of yourself. I also love this book for telling the readers, "If we obey God because we are afraid of Him, because we don't want to offend Him, or because we are so overwhelmed by His might that we do not dare to challenge Him, then He has our obedience but He does not have our love." It's important that we find a purpose for our being on this earth, and live within that purpose -- this is what we attract what we really want. Thank you Rabbi Kushner.
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Summary: A different opinion
Review: Beautiful. Kushner attacks many of the world's carnal attitudes and inputs thoughts and principles that help combat them. Though he is not Christian, this book is full of principles that help you avoid being conformed to this world and be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
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Summary: This is the voice we need...
Review: I have read and enjoyed all of Rabbi Kushner's books, and everytime I read a new one I'm sorry that voices like Kushner aren't the ones we hear blared through tv and radio. Why do the Jerry Falwells and Laura Schlessingers get a bigger audience than Kushner, who has a gentle and humanistic approach to spiritual matters? Is it because, as he says in this book, a life of value has nothing to do with fame or money, and knowing this, he doesn't have the desire to be a celebrity pundit? I wonder. As with all of his books, "When All You're Ever" is gracefully written and brief, and thus hard to put down (I read it over a Sunday afternoon and evening.) Despite its brevity, it touches on many relevant themes, from ennui to materialism to biblical relevance in modern lives. He frames these discussions around the story of Ecclesiastes, which has always been one of my favorite books of the bible. Until I read Kushner's perspective, I didn't realize why. Unlike so many books of the bible, Ecclesiastes is written by someone who lacks purpose in life, and comes to appreciate the small pleasures. It lacks much of the fire and brimstone of other parts of the OT, and therefore has more to say to the modern reader than the more archaic (and spiritually immature) sections. All of Kushner's books are wonderful. Read them!
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Summary: Very thought provoking
Review: I read this during a time when I needed to get motivated and had some general questions and doubts about life, and it gave me some great ideas and some needed answers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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Summary: Point well missed
Review: I wish everyone would read this book and the world would be a much better place! This book is so inspiring for the person with a negative outlook on life. I read this book and wanted to invest more time in bettering my relations with people who are important in my life, and it gave me a different outlook on the importance and the impact I can make on other peoples lives. To give more of myself in relations with everyone. It is so well written, I think Harold Kushner has a gift from God that he is sharing all his insight with us. Everything he says, is beneficial to anyones belief. Very, very inspiring I am buying it for all my friends and family to read.
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Summary: The Author Gets a 5, The Publisher Gets a 1
Review: The author takes you on a journey with Ecclesiastes to try to find the meaning of life. I will not spoil the outcome for you, but it is an outcome that many people who are monotheistic, agnostic or atheist eventually discover as did Ecclesiastes. The answer is applicable for any generation. Although written by a Rabbi, the wisdom in this book is applicable to anyone of any belief. Although I don't believe that this is Kushner's most popular book, it just might be his best. He actually ends up answering several questions rather than just THE ONE - this is exceptional work. As well written as the book was, the quality of the printed book was awful. It looked like the printer was short on ink and many pages (not just 2 or 3) were tough to read primarily at the edges. Since I generally rate a book based upon the author's work, I will give it five stars and hope that the poor quality print of the book I had is an isolated incident.
Rating:
Summary: The Author Gets a 5, The Publisher Gets a 1
Review: This book is a treasure - the best I've seen on what is truly important in life. I buy it for all my friends.
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