Amazon.com: The Ten Commandments: The Significance of God's Laws in Everyday Life: Laura C. Schlessinger, Rabbi Stewart Vogel: Books

The Ten Commandments: The Significance of God's Laws in Everyday Life (Hardcover)

by Laura C. Schlessinger (Author), Rabbi Stewart Vogel (Author) "According to numbers published by the New York Times Magazine (December 7, 1997), 96 percent of Americans said they believed in God; the words "In..." (more)
Key Phrases: honoring parents, Ten Commandments, Rabbi Vogel, Los Angeles Times (more...)

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Amazon.com
When it comes to the Ten Commandments, many theologians and spiritual leaders agree: the classic golden rules remain the best guiding principles available. Syndicated radio psychologist Dr. Laura Schlessinger utilizes these sacred Commandments to speak from her favorite pulpit of "do the right thing" therapy. Fans of Dr. Laura delight in her uncanny skill for zeroing in on the moral indiscretions and confusion at the core of most people's problems. With the Ten Commandments to back her up, Dr. Laura offers readers a day-to-day context for making healthy, loving, and morally correct choices. (So hopefully they can avoid the emotional pickles that her call-in guests frequently find themselves in.)

The esteemed Rabbi Stewart Vogel is the cowriter. As a result, the narrative fluctuates between real-life moral struggles (often based on people who've called into Dr. Laura's show) and biblical quotations that lead into intelligent, brief sermons. Readers who hunger for a clearer understanding of how the Ten Commandments can be applied to modern life will certainly be satisfied. Topics include "You Can't Ship God by UPS," "Which Vows Hold Water," "Honor Your Parents ... or Else," "Teachers Are Not Pets," and "Holy and Unholy Sex." --Gail Hudson

From Booklist
It's hard to argue with God, so there's no point in trying to contradict radio psychologist Dr. Laura Schlessinger as she emphasizes the gravity and import of the 10 Commandments in everyday life. As an Orthodox Jew, Schlessinger (along with Rabbi Stewart Vogel, who is barely noticeable as a presence in the text) is against moral relativism, rationalizations, and modern notions of sucesss. Using each commandment as a jumping-off place rather than a topic for discussion, she rails against modern mores in general and especially those that annoy her--single and/or working mothers, homosexuals having or adopting babies (older kids are okay), and ego gratification, be it in the form of jobs, possessions, or relationships. Although this book is clearly directed toward Christians as well as Jews, Jesus' name appears infrequently; readers familiar with both religions might wonder about the inherent tensions between a religion of laws and one of grace. The worst offense Schlessinger is guilty of here, however, is rhetorical not doctrinal: her text is tedious, her tone often hectoring. Despite her claim that the book will enlighten and elevate, many readers will feel they are stuck in a lecture that never ends. For a book that is more insightful and revealing about God's relationship with his children, see Naomi Levy's To Begin Again, reviewed above. Ilene Cooper

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