Everything but Money [Paperback]

Sam Levenson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket (September 3, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671447432
• ISBN-13: 978-0671447434
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,322,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A warm funny loveable human being, January 29, 2007

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Everything but Money (Hardcover)

Sam Levenson in person was a small round bespectacled forever- smiling warm human being. He was a great television- star in the early days of the medium and made numerous guest appearances on Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson shows.

This book tells the story of his growing up as one child in a family of eight in a very very materially poor family. Levenson very early makes it clear that in the really important things, the love of parents, the caring relations between siblings, the warmth and humor and love which pervaded the family, the respect for hard work, the respect for other human beings and real appreciation of them the family was anything but poor.

Levenson writes especially warmly about his mother who kept the whole show running at home, and his father, a hard- working tailor. For Levenson's family education, was the way up and out of poverty. He tells us the story of each of his siblings. He also gives a wonderful picture of another time in America, poorer in some ways but so much richer in others.

Levenson is funny even when he is not trying to be. And this book is just a great great pleasure to read especially in the first narrative part before he provides solutions for 'world- problems' in the second section.

Here are some of the funny things Levenson said through the years. The List is taken from the entry on him in 'Wikipedia'.

"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it."

"Any beast can cry over the misfortunes of its own child. It takes a mensch to weep for others' children."

"It's not the sugar that makes the tea sweet, but the stirring."

"Any kid who has two parents who are interested in him and has a houseful of books isn't poor."

"Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children."

"I'm going to stop putting things off, starting tomorrow!

"The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy."

"You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself."

"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm!!'

"I admit that: my wife is outspoken, but by whom?"

"Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going."

"Happiness is a by-product. You cannot pursue it by itself."

"If you want to know how your girl will treat you after marriage, just listen to her talking to her little brother."

"We should not permit prayer to be taken out of the schools; that's the only way most of us got through."

One of the most heimishe mensch that ever doubled as a stand- up- comedian.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You don't get them like that anymore, August 15, 2001

By 

AnilMS "AnilMS" (Apple Valley, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything But Money (Paperback)

Ever felt like not having enough money. Read this once and you will realise that money and happiness are two separate things.

The book makes you laugh while it teaches you lessons in true human psycholgy - specially applied to children.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What makes an "American Family", August 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everything but Money (Hardcover)

This book will be old dog eared and cherrished. Your hardest problem will be keeping it for yourself as you will most likely lend it out and lose it along the way. Better to have two of these books. One personal and another for everyone else.