Jewish as a Second Language [Paperback]

Molly Katz (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Co Inc.,U.S. (1990)
• ASIN: B0010XWIRE
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,480,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Molly Katz is a native Neyawka, as if you couldn't tell. A former stand-up comedian, she is the author of the humor best-seller Jewish as a Second Language, as well as the psychological thrillers Nobody Believes Me; Love, Honour, and Kill; No One Saw Anything; and Presumed Guilty. Her best-selling fiction is published in over 20 countries. She has also written seven humorous romance novels.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious book on Jewish life is one vitz after another, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jewish as a Second Language (Paperback)

Former stand-up comic Molly Katz, inspired by her marriage to a goy, has written a book for Gentiles who marry Jews. Katz expects - even demands - that you will yiddify your worldview, body language, eating habits, gastro-intestinal issues, child-rearing ideas, etc. when you join a Jewish family. Tidbits like "all Jews worry about everything all the time" and "you can have a Jewish wedding without a chuppa but not without a Viennese Table," while slight exaggerations, ring true. Having myself grown up Jewish I recall countless hours spent obsessing over medical problems, Chinese food, money, curtains, schools, etc. A bit more emphasis on Yiddish would have been a plus but the tips Katz gives on word usage and phraseology alone are worth the price of the book (eg, "How long are you married" for "how long have you been married"). Molly Katz is a letz (wit) who gently and affectionately pokes fun at our sometimes overwhelming, always delicious culture, mind-body axis, and worldview.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy!, September 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Jewish as a Second Language (Paperback)

I see myself -- and half my relatives in this upclose and personal look at ourselves.

If you liked this, you also love a great little package I found called, "A LITTLE JOY, A LITTLE OY" The book and the calendars are not only funny and filled with Yinglishisms, manner-Yidims, but also serious and poignant moments.

Randy from Brooklyn

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars But, some of my best friends are Jewish, July 3, 2005

By 

A Southern Reader (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jewish as a Second Language (Paperback)

I'm not Jewish, though after reading Katz's book, I'm thinking about converting. This is one funny book. Lot of laugh out louds. A side benefit is the non-Jewish reader will develop much more of an appreciation of ( or toleration of ) his/her Jewish friends.

So, what's not to like about this book ? Get you some lox and bagels and hunker down for a really fun read.