The Art of Amazement [Paperback]

Alexander Seinfeld (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 2005

A step-by-step guide to discovering the untapped wisdom of Judaism.

Have you ever stopped to look at a breathtaking sunset and felt tremendous joy, calmness, or even timelessness? Has your entire body ever responded to something with awe? The Art of Amazement helps us to identify the source of that wonder, and to cultivate it and experience it daily-even hourly and minute by minute.

Rabbi Seinfeld's powerful book outlines the ancient Jewish spiritual arts in clear terms for any spiritual seeker. The art of amazement is practical and accessible to anyone, and does not demand a radical lifestyle change. Each chapter in the book offers a lesson paired with exercises to help make small changes in routine to ultimately achieve a larger shift in perspective.

Judaism is a profound and complex spirituality. Now The Art of Amazement brings this wisdom within reach of us all, and we can learn how to take joy and pleasure in even the smallest of everyday occurrences.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld received a B.A. in Classics and an M.A. in anthropology. He lived and studied in yeshivas with some of the most renowned Jewish mystics of our times. Currently he conducts Art of Amazement seminars around the world, and lives with his family in Baltimore, where he is working toward a Ph.D. in ancient Jewish texts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (May 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585424188
• ISBN-13: 978-1585424184
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,510,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Spirituality Book, Jewish or not, that I've Read, September 29, 2005

By 

Amaz Shiraz (Baltimore, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Amazement (Paperback)

I'm not exaggerating - there's something about this book that speaks to me more than others in the genre. I've read a lot of books on "spirituality", "meditation", "Jewish meditation", "Kabbalah", and so on, and this is the first one that really inspired me to become a better person. The reason may be Rabbi Seinfeld's philosophical clarity - the way he explains the philosophical way to understand "God" (which he calls "The Infinite"), really works for me. He then brilliantly spplies this framework to a number of basic Jewish customs. For the first time, I feel like I understand what the rabbi was always trying to do in Temple, but I think even he didn't understand. It's like the fog has lifted and I see not only Judaism but my whole life dfferently now.

The audio CD was also useful - it was the same content as parts of the book, but good to hear it while driving.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent starter for serious meditation, April 7, 2006

By 

Steve Uhlig (Berlin, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Amazement (Paperback)

Contrary to the apparent Judaic framework in which the author tries to fit this book, the content goes far beyond any particular culture or religion. The whole thread of the book is about introspection and starting to get into serious "meditation". Meditation is this process of going inside our beliefs, and questioning and reconsidering all choices we make in our life. This is the path of "mysticism", which is nothing else than going back to our human sources, those we knew while being kids, and which we covered with all sorts of social and cultural learning that makes us forget who we are.

Amazement is being able to see the beauty of Life in all its aspects, which is the achievement of any mystic path. If you seriously try to grasp fully the content of this book, you might be able to change your perspective on life for good.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Ju-Bus looking for a little more "Ju", May 8, 2006

By 

Lydia Musher - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Amazement (Paperback)

In the interest of full disclosure, I should start this review by saying that Rabbi Seinfeld sent me a copy of the book to review on Amazon.

Pros: Rabbi Seinfeld's writing style is engaging and colorful; it's a nicely written book. Also, the ideas presented therein, particularly after the first few chapters, of being mindful of and grateful for the sublime in our lives in specific ways is touching and important both to Judaism and to modern life. He also ends each chapter with specific exercises - both meditational and Jewish - that can help increase mindfulness and Jewish observance.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'm the ideal person to read - or review - the book. I have never been one to connect strongly with Eastern philosophy, for example, so the first few chapters - intended to draw in those who are perhaps so-called "JuBus" - were not appropriate for me but may be great for you.

I'd recommend the book strongly for anyone Jewish who has been interested in the mindfulness aspects of Buddhism and who feels he or she is lacking that feeling about Judaism, whether or not you're already observant. The mindfulness is there; we just weren't taught about it.