Product Description

Most of us need to feel that we matter in some way; perhaps this explains the high value placed on titles, corner offices, and even fleeting celebrity. But most of us also need to feel that we are good people. In this luminous yet practical book of spiritual advice, Harold Kushner bridges the gap between these seemingly irreconcilable needs, showing us how even our smallest daily actions can become stepping stones toward integrity.

Drawing on the stories of his own congregants, on literature, current events and, above all, on the Biblical story of Jacob, the worldly trickster who evolves into a man of God --Kushner addresses some of the most persistent dilemmas of the human condition: Why do decent people so often violate their moral standards? How can we pursue justice without giving in to the lure of revenge? How can we turn our relationships with family and friends into genuine sources of meaning? Persuasive and sympathetic, filled with humanity and warmth, Living a Life That Matters is a deeply rewarding book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15438 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-20
• Released on: 2002-08-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780385720946
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
From the author of the international bestseller When Bad Things Happen to Good People, a profound and practical book about doing well by doing good.

Review
“A valuable companion . . . a set of guideposts for living a useful and fulfilled life, no matter what the future holds.” --The Boston Globe

“A wonderful, much-needed primer on the truly important things in life. Many thanks to Harold Kushner for reminding us what we should never forget.” --Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays With Morrie

“Full ofÉgreat stories and subtle wisdom....This is a book you don’t want to put down or allow to be too far from you in times of crisis.” --Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul

From the Inside Flap
Most of us need to feel that we matter in some way; perhaps this explains the high value placed on titles, corner offices, and even fleeting celebrity. But most of us also need to feel that we are good people. In this luminous yet practical book of spiritual advice, Harold Kushner bridges the gap between these seemingly irreconcilable needs, showing us how even our smallest daily actions can become stepping stones toward integrity.

Drawing on the stories of his own congregants, on literature, current events and, above all, on the Biblical story of Jacob, the worldly trickster who evolves into a man of God --Kushner addresses some of the most persistent dilemmas of the human condition: Why do decent people so often violate their moral standards? How can we pursue justice without giving in to the lure of revenge? How can we turn our relationships with family and friends into genuine sources of meaning? Persuasive and sympathetic, filled with humanity and warmth, Living a Life That Matters is a deeply rewarding book.

Customer Reviews

Another solid effort from the gentle rabbi...
Few authors writing today offer the kind of comfort that Harold Kushner does. In all of his books, including his latest "Living a Life that Matters," he deals with the big issues in life, and does it in a simple writing style that manages to be both profound and soothing.

Like his readers, Kushner lives in a dual world: a world of commerce and competition, and a world where he desires to be a good person, and feels guilt when he isn't. How does a person integrate these two worlds? As in his other books, Kushner draws on biblical stories that illustrate the universal and timeless nature of this conflict. In Genesis, Jacob is a character at first wily and ambitious (he steals his brother's birthright, among other things) but also a character who has the famous wrestle with an angel. Kushner sees this image as being a perfect symbol of man's struggle with his dual nature. Throughout the book he returns to his struggle of duality, which he believes is inherant to human nature. We all desire to be good, while needing our competitive side to survive in this world. Kushner encourages that balance between the two is key to living a life that matters.

With that resolved, Kushner delves into why life has meaning in spite of our nature. He believes, as do many religious people, that every life has value to God, and even the smallest decisions we make can affect others' lives for the good. There is a nice sentiment to his spirituality, and he is gifted at handling broad topics with grace --he references sources as diverse as the Old Testement, the movie "Witness," and the Jeckyll and Hyde story to illustrate his points, and does it without seeming heavy handed or moralizing. Somehow religion makes sense when Kushner explains it -- even something as baffling as eating kosher makes perfect sense when he is done explaining it.

I've enjoyed all of Rabbi Kushner's books. This one is on par with the rest -- graceful, moving and impactful.

Poignant
Kushner has written another wonderful book with piercing insights into what life is about and what makes a life matter. He uses the story of Jacob throughout to illustrate his points. Kushner discusses topics of revenge, and what is more satisfying than getting even. I thought this paragraph by the author really eloquent in showing the difference between religious people and Godly people regarding prophecy:

"If the words you speak are hard for you to utter and hard for others to hear, if you get no pleasure from speaking them but you feel you must, then you can believe that they come from God. On the other hand, if your words make you popular and win you easy applause, or if people don't like hearing them but you get a certain pleasure from speaking them...then you may have reason to suspect that those are your own thoughts disguising themselves as the Word of God. When I hear politicians and preachers condemning the sinful ways of the society around them, I often agree with their criticisms but I don't hear the pain in their voices. It ought to hurt them more to condemn their neighbors..."

This is so eloquent and so true. It shows that there's definitely something wrong when one sees religious people condemning others to hell or some horrible fate and not showing sadness or grief about it.

Harold Kushner covers so much ground in his book, so many topics, as to what really matters. So much of it he describes as love - loving others, making a difference in people's lives, making others' lives easier. All of these things make a life that matters.

But one of my favorite sections of the book was the afterward, added after the book had been out for a while. This book was originally published a week before the September 11, 2001, attacks in the USA. The author added an afterward that really spoke to my heart. It is very similar in tone to his book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." I found it to be very comforting and offer new insights on the attacks, the families who were directly affected, why God allowed them to happen, and more.

A very uplifting, very inspiring book well worth adding to your library or at least checking out from the library.

A thought-provoking little book!
Enjoyed the taped version of LIVING A LIFE THAT MATTERS by Harold S. Kushner, a rabbi . . . but the author's occupation shouldn't deter anybody from reading this thought-provoking little book that according to the subtitle, will help you in RESOLVING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIENCE AND SUCCESS.

Kushner, also the author of WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE (one of my all-time favorites), skillfully blends examples from the Bible, movies and literature into this effort
that got me thinking about the significance of my life.

He gave lots of useful suggestions, too . . . such as this one, in particular: if you ever had a teacher who made a difference in your life, drop that person a note to that effect . . . you'll be
amazed at how rarely that is done and, also, how positive the impact will be.

I also liked the following passages:
Most people are not afraid of ding; they're afraid of not having lived.

Goodness and love show us that we've got it [life] together.

People die, but love does not die. It is recycled from one life to another.

According to the Bible, a good person--even if dead--is still alive.