judaism

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

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!

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.