What do Joyce Brothers and Sigmund Freud; Rabbi Harold Kushner and philosopher Martin Buber have in common? They belong to a group of pivotal and highly influential Jewish thinkers who altered the face of modern America in ways few people recognize. So argues Andrew Heinze; who reveals in rich and unprecedented detail the extent to which Jewish values; often in tense interaction with an established Christian consensus; shaped the country's psychological and spiritual vocabulary. Jews and the American Soul is the first book to recognize the central role Jews and Jewish values have played in shaping American ideas of the inner life. It overturns the widely shared assumption that modern ideas of human nature derived simply from the nation's Protestant heritage. Heinze marshals a rich array of evidence to show how individuals ranging from Erich Fromm to Ann Landers changed the way Americans think about mind and soul. The book shows us the many ways that Jewish thinkers influenced everything from the human potential movement and pop psychology to secular spirituality. It also provides fascinating new interpretations of Sigmund Freud; Alfred Adler; and Western views of the psyche; the clash among Protestant; Catholic; and Jewish moral sensibilities in America; the origins and evolution of America's psychological and therapeutic culture; the role of Jewish women as American public moralists; and more. A must-read for anyone interested in the contribution of Jews and Jewish culture to modern America.
#796043 in Books Princeton University Press 1999-09-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .77 x 6.14 x 9.21l; #File Name: 0691029407288 pagesGreat product!
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Darkness and Light.By RobertHaving lived through the "long summer" I was reminded and informed that in the midst of darkness there were "children of light." Good research and excellent writing make the characters of this book real; and reminds us why the "LONG SUMMER" must never be forgotten.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five Intertwined livesBy Marie JThis book focuses on five individuals who lived through and took part in the civil rights movement. I enjoyed this book; as I learned about activists I never knew about before reading this book. I learned a lot about America's history in regards to the race and social movement; and I learned a lot about the type of people who tried to progress/prevent the civil rights act of 1964. This is a 'heavy' book; but it is worth the read if this subject interests you or if you want to learn about an important part of the world's history.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Powerful and InsightfulBy MJThis book is a must-read for anyone desiring a fresh view on 5 totally different Americans during the Civil Rights timeframe.There were emotional moments that can make you upset at the inhumane treatment of one human being to another. There are moments that make you wonder; "Are we serving the samd God?"The "take a-way" from this book is each of us has our unique view and understanding of who God is so we should ask ourselve or at least take inventory to determine if our God is the same God that Jesus pointed to?
