Chutzpah

Rating:
Summary: Readable, Clear, and full of Chutzpah
Review: Dershowitz's succinct analysis and flowing prose make for a powerful read. The author recounts his Brooklyn youth, law school, and his career at Harvard University. He also examines anti-Semitism, separation of church-and-state, assimilation, and other facets pertaining to Jewish and non-Jewish life in America. Dershowitz emphasizes that American Jews must stop maintaining low profiles or feeling anxious about our success (and non-success), as doing so is the essence of second-class citizenship. His point is well taken, but perhaps newly arrived immigrants from Russia and other anti-Semitic lands will doubt his premise. I didn't always agree with the man's pro-Israeli views, but on balance this is a very thoughtful and informative book.

Rating:
Summary: Readable, Clear, and full of Chutzpah
Review: Dershowitz's succinct analysis and flowing prose make for a powerful read. The author recounts his Brooklyn youth, law school, and his career at Harvard University. He also examines anti-Semitism, separation of church-and-state, assimilation, and other facets pertaining to Jewish and non-Jewish life in America. Dershowitz emphasizes that American Jews must stop maintaining low profiles or feeling anxious about our success (and non-success), as doing so is the essence of second-class citizenship. His point is well taken, but perhaps newly arrived immigrants from Russia and other anti-Semitic lands will doubt his premise. I didn't always agree with the man's pro-Israeli views, but on balance this is a very thoughtful and informative book.

Rating:
Summary: Great portrayal of cultural Judaism.
Review: Good reading, but one thing bothered me. Alan is wrong by stating American institutions of higher learning follow Yale and Harvard's lead. Yale & Harvard are still crusty with traditional ideas and time-honored perspective. Schools like Virginia, Stanford, Texas, Michigan, UCLA, George Washington and Northwestern are the pioneers of the future. Check Harvard's spending on research as a percentage of total spending; it does not compare.

Rating:
Summary: Outspoken, wonderful, full of chutzpah
Review: I love this book. Not only is it the story of Dershowitz, it is very insightful to Judaism in America. Even if you're not Jewish, you should read this, because it can be enjoyable, witty, frustrating, and a real wakeup call.

Rating:
Summary: A very long "rant"
Review: I was initially engrossed while reading about the history of the Dershowitz family and their lives in Brooklyn. As the book progressed, it was more like a very long "rant" about anti-Semitism, and the miserable plight of American Jews. As an American Jew living in the rural western US, I cannot relate to the discrimination described and felt by the author. As with any religion outside the mainstream of the popular culture, Jews will always be considered as "different". We set ourselves apart from others by our values, moral beliefs, and our observances.

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary
Review: One of the most beautiful and well written books, I have ever read. The book gives a comprehensive idea about how to deal with the dilemma of being a jewish living in a society that thinks that every jewish has to go to live to Israel. It also, points out in a very clear way that the fact that one is Jewish has nothing to do with the fact that that same person is perfectly able to live in any conutry of the world and because of that he/she is not going to be treated as a second class citizen.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging and Biased
Review: Overall, I am a huge fan of Dershowitz's books. I thoroughly enjoyed the Best Defense, From Genesis to Justice, and even his novel, A Just Revenge. I felt, though, that Dershowitz went a little overboard with his views of Jews in America. In many ways, I am almost embarassed to be viewed in the same light as him (As a Jew) because of his extreme views. He made it seem as if the world was out to get Jews, even in America. He does make many good points about Jewish identity in America, but to me he comes across as whining more than discussing.

He does use some great arguments and has a pretty clear account of Jewish history in America. His description of his family and neighborhood is nice to read to understand where he grew up and what his background is. I especially liked his description of his own family as I was reminded in many ways of my own.

I gave the book 2 stars but that is compared with his other books. It is not a bad book or a bad read. In many ways, I found it very informative but I would choose one of his other books rather than this one.

Rating:
Summary: Too much venting, too little substance
Review: Overall, I am a huge fan of Dershowitz's books. I thoroughly enjoyed the Best Defense, From Genesis to Justice, and even his novel, A Just Revenge. I felt, though, that Dershowitz went a little overboard with his views of Jews in America. In many ways, I am almost embarassed to be viewed in the same light as him (As a Jew) because of his extreme views. He made it seem as if the world was out to get Jews, even in America. He does make many good points about Jewish identity in America, but to me he comes across as whining more than discussing.

He does use some great arguments and has a pretty clear account of Jewish history in America. His description of his family and neighborhood is nice to read to understand where he grew up and what his background is. I especially liked his description of his own family as I was reminded in many ways of my own.

I gave the book 2 stars but that is compared with his other books. It is not a bad book or a bad read. In many ways, I found it very informative but I would choose one of his other books rather than this one.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging and Biased
Review: The essential question is... Are his people persecuted because they are obnoxious or are they obnoxious because they are persecuted?

Rating:
Summary: Dershowitz' Own Chutzpah and Ignorance on Display
Review: The only positive thing I can say about this book is that it provides a comprehensive overview of how Dershowitz views his experience of being an American Jew. The rest of the book is mediocre. Unfortunately, Dershowitz does not even practice what he preaches. For instance, he notes that Polish anti-Semitism is fueled by the large numbers of Jews involved in Communism and other anti-Christian systems, and suggests that Jews should be treated as individuals (hence only Jews involved in Communism should be thus condemned). But he has no problem stereotyping Poles as eternal anti-Semites without the benefit of treating Poles as individuals. And, for a person who is a Harvard professor, his ignorance about certain historical matters is truly shocking. He actually says (p. 179) that no Polish families were killed by the Nazis solely because they were Polish. Unbelievable! On what planet does Dershowitz live on? Fact is, there were 3 million Polish gentiles murdered by the Germans during WWII. This included large numbers of families captured during roundups. Most of the 3 million Poles WERE murdered solely because they were Polish, as they had not been involved in anti-German activities at all. Contrary to Dershowitz' denials, the fact is that the Slavs WERE to be eventually exterminated. But, because there were tens of millions of them, this was to take place in stages, the latter of which were to take place after Germany won the war. First the intelligent Slavs were to be murdered, and this is what actually took place during the German occupation of Poland. The remainder were to be "resettled" (same euphemism for murdered as used for Jews), or subject to mass sterilization rather than mass shootings and gassings.