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Every Goy's Guide to Common Jewish Expressions Paperback – December 12, 1985

4.6 out of 5 stars 27

dredl: A dump little square top that won't spin right to play with on Chanukah.

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...

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From the Inside Flap

p little square top that won't spin right to play with on Chanukah.

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

Arthur Naiman has taught biology to wayward girls in a convent, written ads, and guided boatloads of trusting souls into every rock on several western rivers. His missionary work among the shiksas is legendary.

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
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 27

About the author

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Arthur Naiman
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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

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
27 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2015
I had the very good fortune, as a goy, to attend a high school with a lot of first-generation Jewish kids. This was class of '62 and most of the kids parents were the smart ones who got out of Europe while they still could. The reasons I was fortunate to have Jewish classmates were that I was exposed to a rich culture and that I found out how driven these folks were in school. This was also the era of the Eichman trial and of Rise andFall of the Third Reich. Many of my classmates had relatives who could confirm Shirer's book. So the kids spoke American but if you met their pare non ts it was part English and part Yiddish.
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.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2013
Most people in life have some level of mentally that goes something like this: "us versus them".

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)
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2006
I don't care if it *is* out of print and we're paying $15 for a used "ok" condition one--It's a wonderful book that should be reprinted and kept in print forever!

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.
6 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2009
I was given this book 20 years ago and have worn out my copy. I can recite most of it and grab it off the shelf often. It's great bathroom reading and full of jokes you can steal. I'd like to give it to all my friends but don't want to pony up that much money. As a goy, I limit my purchases to retail. So - I await the next printing or edition. If I had only 3 books I could bring to a desert island, this one be one of them. There I'd train a parrot to recite the book to me to keep me sane. I'd love to buy the author an egg-cream.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2011
This is a well-written, funny and informative look into Yiddish. I (being Jewish) gave it to my girlfriend (Shiksa from Hawaii) so she could understand me more fully. She, in return, gave me "Pidgin to Da Max" so I could understand her. Get this book!
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2019
good
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2004
This book is a mitzvah if you need Yiddish translations. I keep it by my computer next to Websters so I can quote from it when I need Jewish flavoring in my e mails. A MUST for Jews and a wonderful gift for your non-jewish friends. There are many adorable jokes included.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
Yiddish is a wonderful language—even for goyim!

Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2014
USEFUL