The Genius of Genesis: A Psychoanalyst and Rabbi Examines the First Book of the Bible [Paperback]

Dennis Shulman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2003

As the first man and woman leave the Garden I am with them. I feel their longing to return, their guilt and shame, and their fears about the future. I feel their anxiety about their Creator: Is He still with them? Does He still love them? I feel their rising panic as they realize that this no-longer-so-cozy world might make life impossible for them.As Abraham walks silently up the mountain to sacrifice his son I ask the questions he asks. Should I obey the dictates of my God, or is there a higher good involving the sanctity of human life? Can I be Abraham if I refuse to listen to the God I revere? Can I be Abraham if my beloved God demands human blood for His adoration?As Jacob wrestles throughout the long dark night I am with him. Like Jacob, I sweat as he faces his betrayal of father and brother; as he witnesses, full-face, his character, naked and base. Then, the next morning, I weep as he and his brother weep.Join me on this pilgrimage into the wisdom that is Genesis. For this journey, it is Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even God who serve as guides. It is my fervent hope that by journey's end we will find ourselves.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rabbi Dennis Shulman, Ph.D. has been a clinical psychologist-psychoanalyst for twenty-eight years. He practices psychotherapy in Manhattan and New Jersey. Rabbi Shulman is a popular teacher of religious and mental health professionals at the Reform Jewish seminary in NYC and at psychoanalytic institutes throughout the United States.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (June 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595280250
• ISBN-13: 978-0595280254
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Only Read One Book This Year, September 12, 2003

By 

Sarah Heschel-Goldman (Boston, Mass.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Genius of Genesis: A Psychoanalyst and Rabbi Examines the First Book of the Bible (Paperback)

I just finished "The Genius of Genesis" by Dennis G. Shulman and I am moved.
If you only read one book this year about psychology or religion, it should be "The Genius of Genesis."
And if you only have time to read one chapter, it should be the final chapter, Chapter Six. In this chapter, the author integrates a vast library of thinkers and perspectives, including among others, Freud, Jung, Maimonides, Fromm, and develops a message that is not only scholarly and wise, but inspiring.
I hope that "The Genius of Genesis" gains the attention it deserves.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh Approach to Genesis, September 6, 2003

By 

Solomon Mann (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Genius of Genesis: A Psychoanalyst and Rabbi Examines the First Book of the Bible (Paperback)

When I received the E-mail from the Jewish Press announcing that Dennis Shulman's Genius of genesis was selected as its August Book Choice, I ordered it not expecting much. I have read many books about Genesis, from Norman Cohen to Aviva Zornberg to Bruce Feiler and most recently, Leon Kass; and found little in any of them that was new or interesting. Shulman's book surprised me. The scholarship is vast. The Genesis characters and narratives come alive. The perspective is open minded, interesting and novel. I highly recommend Shulman's book for anyone (Jew, Christian or agnostic) who is looking for a deeper understanding of the biblical stories they grew up with.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You, Dennis Shulman, for This Excellent Book, October 3, 2003

By 

Harold Schorsch (Riverdale, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Genius of Genesis: A Psychoanalyst and Rabbi Examines the First Book of the Bible (Paperback)

A few weeks ago, I happened to hear Dennis Shulman interviewed about his book on National Public Radio, and I was so impressed with him and what he said that I immediately orderd his book. Shulman's book is an outstanding, comprehensive and loving analysis of the Book of Genesis. Although I have been reading these same Genesis stories for more than forty years, since my childhood, I now feel like I finally understand them. What's more, because of this wonderful book, these stories now speak to me. Shulman's book is a good read and a work of inspiration. Thank you, Dennis Shulman, for your book.