Customer Reviews

The NinJew

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4 star:		(2)
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I did not sense the irony of that question until I finished page 84 of Richard Walters' "The NinJew". It was then that I realized how much I had taken away from this reading experience; how an author's request that I might read and review his practical and humorous memoir would somehow affect me so deeply... To explain this effect, I'll start with what remains vivid in my mind first... the grand finale of the book:

"DON'T MESS WITH D'JEWS!" (pg. 84)

This exuberant and emphatic declaration ends the story but begins my review...

I enjoyed the twist of the storyline from semi non-fiction to semi-fiction in the last one third of the book. Walters' tale mildly reminded me of the books I have greatly enjoyed by the Christian author, Frank Peretti. For being his first foray into writing a book, especially one that is a hybrid of genres and encapsulates a varied content, Walters does a remarkable job keeping his reader alternately enthralled and on the edge of one's seat! He uses just enough fantastic imagery to lose the reader in a surrealistic atmosphere of the espionage capers of a Jewish warrior and his Jewish sidekick while drawing on the everyday knowledge that we are truely faced with the very real dangers of terrorism, not only here in the United States but abroad as well.

Walters engages us with tidbits of his familial history by way of relating stories to his wife Marsha and/or sidekick Buddy as a way of entertaining distraction or encouragement. He creates images of days gone by in Pittsburgh, his hometown; days when his father was growing up in "a smoky, dirty, steel mill town" and coal was the source used for heating their homes. Days when hearing "hucksters" call out "Apples for Sale!" was common and his father watched other boys lose every hard-earned penny they'd made shooting craps. A lesson of "gamblers never win" was passed down to his son who later learned that Jewish law frowns on gambling. In turn, Walters and his wife made a conscious decision together to learn more about Judaism for the sake of their children. It was this decision that remains evident throughout this story of "The NinJew". (pg. 55)

"Because of his [Rabbi Moshe Weingarten] teachings, we were inspired to a new way of life. I AM STILL FAR FROM PERFECT. At least, though, I have a Lighthouse to guide me when I am lost at sea." (pg. 55)

Walters' dedication to his Faith plays an innate role in not only his day to day home and spiritual life but also in his calling to share with others the vital importance of clean living and taking proper care of the bodies God has given us. He guides us through the setting and meeting of goals of healthy eating and strength training as he teaches them to his student Barry (who also doubles as Walters' sidekick as the story rolls on).

He provides a brief step by step instructional for strength training coupled with his magic formula called "Sixty-Thirty-Ten-M-S". He outlines how to apply the formula starting on page 21 and does a wonderful job explaining the process complete with examples as well as some philosophical and intellectual support from noted sources.

In my own newborn quest to find my way to healthy living and personal fitness, I find "The NinJew" to be a treasure trove of solid advice and support settled in a practical bed of knowledge. The road to revelation is embellished with bits and pieces of the life and times of a modern day Jewish warrior: Richard Walters by day and "The NinJew" by night...

I'm please to make your acquaintance!

~Diane Anjoue
Author of "Collection de Jolie-Laide, wanting to be lost within..."
www.aclassofasin.com

The mind-body connection has been explored by writers, philosophers, and doctors. Richard Walters offers a new take on this idea. In his semi-autobiographical book NINJEW, he unites practical health advice with spiritual insight. Ostensibly a book about strength-training, this work is also a musing on man's connection to G-d. In fact, the writing defies traditional categorization by genre as it is at once a memoir, a physical fitness guide, an action-packed novel, and a philosophical search for identity, meaning, truth, and justice. This is the ultimate self-help book, exemplifying one man's attempt to maximize his potential and underscoring "the capability of man to rise to nobility." The author's description of life also serves as an apt description of his terse and intense book:

"In G-d's great Omnimax Theater... life is filled with drama, comedy, violence, adventure, man against man, man against nature, and man against himself. It is my opinion that the last, man against himself, is the most difficult and challenging scene for each of us to face. As to myself, my battle rages on...."

"The Ninjew" delivers on multiple levels. The storyline is exciting, engaging, and thought provoking. The main characters are admirable and reflect the type of person that we should all strive to become. The Ninjew is not just an entertaining read, but an informative one as well. After finishing the book, the reader can always refer back to it for the wealth of real-world fitness and weight training knowledge that it provides.

This book is an interesting and unusual mixture of adventure, fitness guidance, and spirituality. At first I thought it would be like a detective or adventure story with a Jewish main character. It is more than that. The book is a quick read, but also one you want to come back to again and think more deeply about the issues it introduces. You can go to the book's website (...) to explore further, and even ask the author fitness questions.

The NinJew by Richard Walters
Published 2005 Dorrance Publishing
ISBN# 0-8059-6794-X


Upon opening up the envelope a slim volume fell into my hands, a few pictures of two men sparing and one with a man wearing tefflin and a prayer shawl saying his prayers adorned the front along with the title The NinJew. The "E" had been replaced with a Star of David. An interesting package for what was proposed to be an interesting story, half fiction, half biograpy.

Richard Walters takes us through his training to become a healthier person, how he finds a side kick, how they learn to eat better and somehow squeeze in time to fight some terrorists that have infiltrated their area.

The basis for the plot was an interesting idea, it involved how to stay spiritual within your everyday life; everything from eating, to sleeping to working out in the gym. Mr. Walters even uses his spirituality to take us on his quest to fight terrorism.

Richard Walters (the main protagonist) and his sidekick Barry, met at Walters gymnasium when Barry came in to learn. Although Walters is writing about himself in the title role, he just never seems to develop who he is. We are giving snippets of his personal life, but never enough to round out who he is, other than someone who is almost fanatical in his own right, about lifting weights and praying while he does that, looking for guidance. Barry quickly follows in his footsteps. When we finally meet The Big One towards the end of the book, we get a physical description of him, but again never enough to really have a feel for who he is.

The biggest detractor in the book was putting the two appendices right after the chapters rather than at the end of the book. This made for some very disjointed reading. I would have rather looked at them in my own time after I had read the book rather than having them forced upon me in the beginning of my reading time. The plot, while a good idea, never really gelled. It seemed to jump from time to time with no real segues or interludes to help you understand that time had passed. For instance, how did Barry go from holding a bow and arrow for the very first time to a page later (written as if it were a day later) using it to send out six arrows in perfect precision? Suspension of disbelief was stretched thin.

I think this is a good start for a better story, a longer novel in the future. Perhaps if Mr Walters were to engage a writing coach he would lose the disjointedness, smooth the transitions and flesh out his characters.

Teenagers and young adults would enjoy this as a quick evening read.


I received a complimentary copy of The NinJew by Richard Walters as a member of the
Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit [...] to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Richard Walters has crafted a unique tale that brings together fitness advice and an adventure story with philosophy thrown in for good measure. This is a quick read that includes a food plan as well as exercise instructions for getting rid of excess body fat.

Yet because The NinJew is also an adventure story, it's more fun to read than a straight fitness/diet/exercise book.
-- Phyllis Zimbler Miller

The NinJew is billed as "Philosophy - Spirituality - Humor - Action - Adventure." It is a self-published 84-page paperback which jumps wildly from an adventure tale to a workout guide to a nutrition workbook. The text is accompanied by low resolution black and white images of the use of gymnasium equipment and the real-life adventures of the NinJew. Author Richard Walters has promoted his book via a campaign of [...] Friend Requests.

The workout and nutritional information are well-founded and easy to follow, but there are plenty of easier-to-use books on the market. The adventure is just weird beyond belief, and the text is smattered with references to G-d and his great Omnimax theater. If you in author Richard Walters's inner circle of friends and family, this is probably a wickedly funny book, but as an outsider, well, I am just baffled. This appears to be a fun gag and nothing more.

REVIEWED BY IAN HEISS

Rich Walters has written a first of a kind exercise book. I think he has
created a new genre. This book starts out as a fitness and exercise book, with
sound exercises and good illustrative photography. Rich also offers a healthy
diet regime, a balanced food intake to help us to nourish the new bodies we are
building.

Unlike most workout books, Rich introduces us to the idea that we should
have a good profile towards our spiritual being, and through a combination of
anecdotes and narrative, explains that a healthy mind and spirit complement and
enable a healthy body. It is refreshing to entertain the concept that physical
development goes hand in hand with that of the mind and the spirit.

We are then made privy to the fact that the author is a practitioner of the
martial arts and skills of the Ninja.

In effect this makes Rich Walters the world's first Ninjew. This book now
transforms into an adventure book in a method akin to a murder mystery cookbook
before our eyes. Rich and his student are in pursuit of a nasty group of
villains protected only by their martial skills and the dark night.

By the end of the book, you may have a structure for developing body
strength, muscle tone, and diet. You will be on the edge of your seat till the
last page. At that point you have exercised no other part of your body, you will
have exercised your mind.

***** Five Stars in my opinion. Started reading the book and couldn't wait till I had finished it. Packed with excitement, suspense and excellent information. I highly recommend Rich's book.