A Maimonides Reader

Want a sampler of Maimonides' writing that is readable, discerningly selected, so one hears this unique voice beloved by many over the past millennium? Further, do you want a generous book, one thick, rich, abundant in size and broad in scope from excerpts from the "Guide of the Perplexed" to the luminous letter answering a convert unsure of whether he could pray to "Our Lord?" Additionally, do you seek a book with scholarly introductory essays about Maimonides the physician, astronomer, leader, thinker? Look no further. Twersky's "A Maimonides Reader" is all this, and in translations that surely echo the beauty and swift incisive thought of the Arabic originals. (Maimonides also wrote in Hebrew and Spanish but this selection is mostly from the Arabic spoken in his native Cordoba.) His birthplace and early residence now is a place of pilgrimage in the still-extant Juderia in Cordoba. It is not far from the Moorish Mesquita, a mosque where 40,000 could unroll their prayer-rugs, sadly later architectually raped by their Most Catholic et cetera by ripping out much of the interior to insert a sort of Gothic cathedral. The only remaining synagogue in Cordoba is near the statue to Mainmonides and the architecture echoes his thought. Of utmost simplicity, like the columned Mesquita, there is nothing to distract thought, the worshippers concentrating wholly on the Lord. To Maimonides, the perfect man loves the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul. He is filled with love for the Lord, only of the Lord, thinking constantly, exclusively of the Lord, disdaining all else except as needed to avoid shameful economic dependence on others. Even then, the perfect man's limbs may move but his thoughts dwell entirely on his Lord. Many of the excepts exhort us to strive for this perfection that we may share in the world to come. Maimonides brings subtle,close reasoning to such beliefs. Those familiar with Abelard's efforts to harmonize faith and reason or with the nature of proof and argument in these long-ago centuries will find Maimonides' arguments familiar. Proof comes from Biblical citations, the Bible being inerrant, as well as from the works of the sages: many citations and no apparent search for counter citations. He regards the Bible as poetic, rather than entirely literal, however, as in his teaching on the Song of Songs. That's the way it was then as the accepted intellectual method, just as it was accepted to refer to young children, women, and imbeciles as those who are not to be exposed to the fine and subtle arguments because they are incapable of understanding. Thanks a lot, fellas, but at least you offered increasingly complex, rich, deep teachings so the children (male) could advance if they choose toward the perfect man. My review should be, however, about Twersky's splendid reader, not about my take in 2012 of Maimonides. He was a giant for his time and ours, too, and this is a superb reader. An excellent value, leading one to buy and study copies of the full books of which these readings are excerpts. And if these are parts, what must the whole be like and how did one man, even in a long long life, have the power and strength to write so much and so wisely!

A Maimonides Reader (Library of Jewish Studies) I love this book. It is a classic and a very good introduction to Maimonides and the variety of his scholarship. Twersky does a wonderful job introducing Mamonides and the various books excerpted in this anthology. I am particularly impressed with the English translations used. There are good ones and not so good. Twersky has chosen wisely. I own and cherish the original hardback edition. I wanted this softcover edition to carry around with me. I hope that reading this anthology will spark a desire to study Maimonides in depth.

If you have an earlier (2007) Kindle, it will not accept this book. Otherwise, my usual issue is that there is no way to go to page numbers as found in the print edition. Amazon does include a note, not in the most obvious way, stating which Kindle devices that are compatible with the ebook edition, but it does not state which are not, and I didi not know the name of my second generation model. I am sure that if you call Amazon before buying they can tell you if it works on your model. They now agree to take it back, but we need it and can read it on the iPad, which was not my first choice.

Twersky pulls off an impressive balancing act. He provides context (of Maimonides life and philosophy) and emphasizes the important themes but he manages to quickly gets out of the way and let's Maimonides speak in his own voice through a translation that stays close to the original text.

Where a Christian would describe his Religion as "Faith in Jesus Christ", a Jew would describe his Religion as "faithfulness to God's Laws'. - Rabbi Leo Adler. "Theology is the Menu; Religion is the Meal".- Martin Buber. The Torah, both spoken and written describes all of the acts of Worshipping and living in a virtuous manner which a person should try to follow (religiously) as his path toward Righteousness. It is the way to achieve Health, Wealth and Happiness in this life. What one believes, is less important than how one behaves. Virtue has its own rewards! Read the Book!

I can't judge the translation because I don't read the language, and, therefore, to some extent I can't judge the commentary, but, on its surface, it seems fair and reasonable based on my other readings about Maimonides. It was helpful.

The books arrived very quickly, excellent prices, some were used in excellent condition. We passed them on to a dear friend. I believe the final resting place for many to enjoy will be donated to the local library. Thank you, for the amazing experience. Shirley

Maimonides, possibly the originator of the "golden rule," (do unto others as you would have done to you, although Maimonides wrote it as in a negative form, do not do to others what you do not like done to you), was a GREAT man in so many respects. I have long sought a compilation of his sayings but had trouble finding one until I came across this book. I was not interested in reading Maimonides complete works or even his "Guide for the Perplexed." The reason I only gave this book 3 stars is due to the extremely dense writing style of the author. I TRIED to wade through the 30+ page introduction and had extreme difficulty. THANKFULLY, the quotes from Maimonides are MUCH better written (or translated) and MUCH easier to comprehend. I had the distinct feeling that Twersky is an academic trying to impress other academics. While I spent 12 years in universities, I am NOT an academic. I appreciate plain and understandable language.

A wonderful trove of knowledge.

AMAZING !!!!!!!!

Brand new and no markings inside however delivery could've of been a little faster.