Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Every Goy's Guide to Common Jewish Expressions Paperback – December 12, 1985
from that you make a living?: The correct response to someone who tells you they're an artist, a musician, a writer, or a blue-collar worker.
goyim nakhes: The kind of things that gratify the stereotypical goy-a new motor home, bagging the limit duck hunting, a promotion to major, etc.
mother (Jewish): I don't personally believe that Jewish mothers are all that different from other kinds of mothers. For one thing, my mother was nothing like the stereotype. She used to abandon me on our cabin floor for days at a time while she went out deer hunting...
- Print length192 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBallantine Books
- Publication dateDecember 12, 1985
- Dimensions4.25 x 0.5 x 7 inches
- ISBN-100345335988
- ISBN-13978-0345335982
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
from that you make a living?: The correct response to someone who tells you they're an artist, a musician, a writer, or a blue-collar worker.
goyim nakhes: The kind of things that gratify the stereotypical goy-a new motor home, bagging the limit duck hunting, a promotion to major, etc.
mother (Jewish): I don't personally believe that Jewish mothers are all that different from other kinds of mothers. For one thing, my mother was nothing like the stereotype. She used to abandon me on our cabin floor for days at a time while she went out deer hunting...
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Ballantine Books (December 12, 1985)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 192 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0345335988
- ISBN-13 : 978-0345335982
- Item Weight : 2.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.25 x 0.5 x 7 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #321,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Arthur Naiman has written, co-authored, edited, designed and/or published more than thirty nonfiction books. In each of those categories, his books have sold over a million copies.
He's best known for The Macintosh Bible, a compendium of tips, tricks, shortcuts and product reviews for early versions of the Macintosh computer. He created, designed, edited and published the first four editions, and and wrote most of the material in them as well. The Macintosh Bible received many awards and favorable reviews, sold 875,000 copies worldwide and raised the bar for clarity and accessibility in computer books. It must be the only one that’s ever been described, in an unsolicited reader’s comment, as being “better than sex,” or that a reviewer said was “impossible to read without laughing out loud.”
Naiman started two publishing companies and launched the Real Story Series—short, readable books on political subjects from a leftist perspective, including four by Noam Chomsky and two by Gore Vidal. Of the fourteen titles in the series, more than 900,000 copies are in print, in English and eighteen other languages.
Naiman’s first book, Every Goy’s Guide to Common Jewish Expressions, was also a bestseller. Henny Youngman called it “fantastic” and Carroll O’Connor (who created the character of Archie Bunker on All in the Family) said it “should be a part of every goy’s library.” Another early bestseller was Introduction to WordStar.
After living in Paris and traveling in Europe, Naiman settled in New York City and then in the Bay Area. He taught English, remedial reading, social studies, biology, art and other subjects in high and middle schools, as well as self-contained classrooms of emotionally disturbed students. During the same period, he worked as an advertising copywriter, an experience he credits with teaching him how to write, design and think visually.
Naiman was born in Chicago. He graduated from Brandeis University and later earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Bank Street College of Education. He currently lives in Tucson.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Which is a very long way around to explaining why I love this book. Naiman has selected a few hundred words and phrases that I, as a gentile, think give the richest feeling for what Jewish culture is like. Remember, a language is more than just vocabulary. It is a way to understand the manner of thinking in that culture.
The fact that the humor is funnier than Jewish vaudeville is another good reason to love this book. The only gripe I have is that Mr. Naiman occasionally allowed himself to become a bit political.
For example, outlaws see themselves as "us" and they view law enforcement as "them".
Restaurant servers see themselves, the wait-staff, as "us" and the restaurant patrons as "them".
All ethnic groups, to some level of degree, see themselves as "us" and all other ethnic groups as "them".
That's what this book is all about -- forcing you to see yourself, NOT as "us", but as one of "them" -- and THAT's what brings all the laughter! It's hysterical to switch identities -- !!! Have you ever tried it? (no, I don't mean identity theft, god forbid; what I'm talking about is switching ethnic groups -- and see how funny you appear from 'THE OTHER SIDE' of things !!!!) --
If you don't follow here -- then this book is not for you. But - if you understand the gist here -- then do yourself a huge favor, and purchase this book! It's like seeing yourself in the mirror for the first time: it's shocking how you actually appear, to others! - and it's not how you think you appear, not at all!
It's like an obese person convincing themselves that they're skinny (when they're not) -- and then, one day they actually get a glimpse of themselves in some reflective window -- and they're SHOCKED at how they really appear in real life!
Only that won't bring laughter -- but this book will -- because, the author has a subtle way of not insulting you -- but (still) telling you the truth about yourself!!
Wow -- buy the book -- and see for yourself, if I'm not telling you the truth here. Bon Voyage -- (on your journey of discovery about yourself)
Arthur defines 500 common Yiddish expressions, then illustrates each deftly with a (*very* funny) Jewish joke. After reading this many years ago, I got comments from my Jewish friends: "How do you know *that* word??"
I was once describing the book to a friend when I realized I had given away all my copies and decided to go on the then-brand-new Web site everyone was talking about--Amazon.com I think it was called ;-) -- and found used paperback versions (it was already out of print by then) and bought *5* of them so I'd always have some in stock. The experience was so smooth that I've been an Amazon customer ever since. And yes, I ended up giving away all five volumes, so I'm back at Amazon buying one of the few remaining used copies--and paying three times what I paid back then--and NOT COMPLAINING, if that tells you anything.
I'd like to close with some apt Yiddish expression, but I'm too busy laughing at the memory of Arthur's many jokes! Thanks, Arthur! Your first Wordstar book was great, but you'll go down in history for Every Goy's Guide to Common Yiddish Expressions!==best regards, Mac McCarthy.

