The Guide of the Perplexed [ABRIDGED] (Hardcover)

by Moses Maimonides (Author), Chaim Rabin (Translator), Julius Guttmann (Introduction), Daniel H. Frank (Introduction)
Key Phrases: active intellect, prohibited sexual relations, separately conceivable thing, The Guide of the Perplexed, Genesis Rabbah, Mishneh Torah (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This superb abridgement and annotated translation of Maimonides' monumental work includes discussions of divine language, the scope and limits of human knowledge, cosmological doctrines concerning the creation or eternity of the world, prophecy and providence, the nature and purpose of divine law, and moral and political philosophy.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Arabic

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 233 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company; Abridged edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872203255
• ISBN-13: 978-0872203259
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,900,639 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Way In To A Great Book, November 23, 2003

By	Timothy Dougal (Madison, Wi United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Since Amazon is lumping reviews of all 'Guide' translations together, this one is of the Guttman/Rabin translation/abridgement published by Hackett. To me, it might be called a godsend, since I first tried a headlong assault on an unabridged version, which quickly wore me down with its endless examples of words with multple senses and anthropomorphic references to God. Where's the beef? I wondered. This edition gets the novice reader straight to the meaty matters Maimonides considers, such as whether the universe was created or not, what the nature of prophecy is, what can be understood or even said about God, how the Bible can be reconciled to philosophy, and how traditional practices are to be viewed. His answers won't satisfy fundamentalists, either Jewish or Christian, but his discussion is always challenging, and mostly clear-minded (he lost me with many of his thoughts on the spheres, since in this area he was manifestly out of his depth). This abridgement is about 1/4 of the original, but the arrangement has a good, logical flow. The 1940's-early 50's translation is very readable, though the scriptural quotes leave something to be desired in the clear, modern English department. One additional factor that jumps out at me from the text is the sheer force of Maimonides personality. (I have the feeling he wouldn't approve of me studying him, but his work may yet have a salutary effect on my life, reluctant as he would have been to teach someone like me!) Be prepared to meet a great man.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Translation Available of an Arabic Masterpiece, May 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Guide of the Perplexed, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

There is no translation of Maimonides' Guide which compares to this, and, although Pines is known to side more with the Strausian school, his views are rarely if at all worked into this translation. For Maimonidian studies, this is a must buy.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unsurpassed translation of an unsurpassed classic, July 27, 2001

By	Avid reader (Jerusalem) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Guide of the Perplexed, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

No one can deny that the Guide is the most important single work in the history of Jewish philosophy. Until this translation appeared it was available either in the original Arabic, a medieval Hebrew translation (difficult even for native Hebrew speakers) or in an unacceptable English translation (Friedlander). This translation is wonderful and if at times it is difficult it is because it tries to copy the ambiguities of the original. The only thing I could say against the edition is that the introductions of Pines (somewhat) and Strauss (totally) are idiosyncratic and not so helpful for the reader who does not share their views on Maimonides/