Everything I Know: Basic Life Rules From A Jewish Mother [Hardcover]

Sharon Strassfeld (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 1998

What began as a mother's letter to her college-bound children is now a beautiful volume filled with life lessons that we all want our children to take on their lifelong journeys.

In three sections labeled "Know Where You Come From," "Know Where You Are Going," and "And Know Before Whom You Will One Day Stand in Judgment," Sharon Strassfeld relays a colorful mix of anecdotes and advice:

* Accept who you are. Don't be at war with yourself.
* Wherever you live, find a Jewish community. This is not about being insular. It is about staying close to the family.
* It is not necessarily a good thing to believe that the career you choose when you are twenty-one is the same career you will be pursuing when you are forty-five.

Everything I Know is rooted in the homey warmth of traditional Jewish culture. Yet through its celebration of Yiddish wit and wisdom, this book delivers on a subject that all parents hold dear.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Strassfeld's newest book of homespun wisdom (she coauthored three editions of The Jewish Catalog) grows out of the mini-books she compiled as gifts for two of her college-bound kids as a kind of "armor/treasure to take on [their] journey." In the three sections ( "Know where you come from..."; "Know where you are going..."; "And before whom you will one day stand in judgment..."), Strassfeld attempts to help readers navigate difficult questions of faith and identity through family lore, anecdotes, advice and even recipes imparted in catchy one-liners as well as longer, more thoughtful pieces. Her family stories reflect the importance of being a mensch?to be generous and not to hold grudges. She advises her kids to perform active volunteer work rather than sit on boards; to realize that interesting people exist in all walks of life; and to participate in the raising of their own children. While her "Basic Life Rules" invoke universals ("Take care of your body," "Trust your instincts," etc.), her advice remains grounded in traditional Jewish life. Strassfeld encourages people to form personal relationships with Israel and lets her children know that in searching for a mate, her bottom line is "no intermarriage." While Strassfeld's writing doesn't always transcend idiosyncrasy, her rough-hewn charm and honesty are often as comforting as a bowl of hot soup.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Chaim Potok Everything I Know is a deeply personal, unflinching, homey offering of motherly advice, memory, and wisdom -- from a woman deeply involved in community. -- Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (August 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684847256
• ISBN-13: 978-0684847252
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a well-written book from a mother's heart, February 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everything I Know: Basic Life Rules From A Jewish Mother (Hardcover)

what a shame that one of the reviewers gave this lovely book only one star because the author, a Jew, advised her children to not seek a marriage outside the faith. 1990's, 1890's - it does not matter. I am not Jewish, but I teach religion on the university level. The number one nail in the coffin of Judaism is, in my opinion, intermarriage. Studies have shown that the majority of children raised in Jewish/Christian homes do not become religious Jews. Because the writer is a Gentile female, her children are not considered Jews at all except by the most liberal congregations and would have to convert if they ever did choose their father's religion. I thought this book was charming and liked the down to earth writing style of the mother. I bought it for my Jewish sister in law (who converted for marriage) and she loved it as well. If you never had a Jewish mamma at home to confer with, or if you'd like to get another mamma's p.o.v. this book is great.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing, perfect, couldnt put it down, December 16, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything I Know: Basic Life Rules From A Jewish Mother (Hardcover)

this book gave me such insight on jewish life, Im jewish and I never knew how complex and deep it realy is. strasfeld has some personal opinions wich I dont agree with but I dont think that it calls for the fanaticism of the last revieer. but this book is not just for jews, the amazing insights should be read by ANYONE, bottom line: a must read for anyone and everyone

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Chicken Soup, Kugle and some home spun advice, November 21, 1999

By 

David Sabghir (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything I Know: Basic Life Rules From A Jewish Mother (Hardcover)

Sharon Strassfeld's work is autobiographical, yet conveys to her children some of the history and good advice which she thinks they need to be successful in life. Other than keep your priorities around family and some Jewishy values, almost no where does one see anything about the children's father, as if he never existed, which the reader would be excused if he/she came to that conclusion.

The advice is good, wholesome and includes some great recipes, but nothing about how you keep a marriage together.

Given the college age of the children for whom it was written, that looks like a pretty glaring error.

The book reflects the savviness of the author and her reluctant admission that in this day and age, this may be about the only way you can influence children short of direct bribes (which is also part of the author's strategy; It is a shame that not everyone can bribe a child into giving up the Dalton School for a trip to Paris)

This is a book that one can pick up, open anywhere and enjoy and close again. In short, it is enjoyable and readable from beginning to end and shows the considerable talent of its author, whose credits include classics such as the Jewish Catalogs.

I would conclude that her children are fortunate to have such a wise Jewish Mother!