Foreskin's Lament

A Memoir

By: Shalom Auslander

Narrated by: Shalom Auslander

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

Shalom Auslander was raised with a terrified respect for God. Even as he grew up and was estranged from his community, his religion, and its traditions, he could not find his way to a life where he didn't struggle against God daily.

Foreskin's Lament reveals Auslander's youth in a strict, socially isolated Orthodox community, and recounts his rebellion and efforts to make a new life apart from it. Auslander remembers his youthful attempt to win the "blessing bee" (the Orthodox version of a spelling bee), his exile to an Orthodox-style reform school in Israel after he's caught shoplifting Union Bay jeans from the mall, and his 14-mile hike to watch the New York Rangers play in Madison Square Garden without violating the Sabbath. Throughout, Auslander struggles to understand God and His complicated, often contradictory laws. He tries to negotiate with God and His representatives: a day of sin-free living for a day of indulgence, a blessing for each profanity. But ultimately, Auslander settles for a peaceful cease-fire, a standoff with God, and accepts the very slim remaining hope that his newborn son might live free of guilt, doubt, and struggle.

Auslander's combination of unrelenting humor and anger renders a rich and fascinating portrait of a man grappling with his faith, family, and community.

©2007 Shalom Auslander (P)2007 Peguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic reviews

“Fierce, funny, and subversively heartfelt...With his middle finger pointed at the heavens and a hand held over his heart, Auslander gives us Foreskin’s Lament. Mazel tov to him. And God? Well, he’ll survive.” (New York Times Book Review)

“A laugh-out-loud quarrel with God.” (Newsweek)

“A terrific book I was sad I read in so few sittings, because I wanted more.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

Best book I've listened to in a long time

This book is funny throughout, thoughtful, and clever. Shalom Auslander is a great author and narrator.

Funny with a side of wry

Loved it overall and especially Auslander's dry narration. Totally worth the purchase. Can't wait to listen to his other book.

Shoutout to all my fellow foreskins out there!

So if you’re in the mood for a book that’s themes focus predominantly on not if, but when, the metaphorical/metaphysical shoe will drop then this will be a good read for you! Every chapter is hilariously uncomfortable and unapologetically pessimistic! If you enjoy very dark humor You’ll Laugh bitterly through every page of this literary gem. Reading Auslander’s memoir makes me feel so damn seen! I can’t help but relate to feeling crippling level of cynicism towards most people places and things. It’s inspiring to see an artist turn their trauma/pain inside out . This book embodies the meaning of that old phrase“if I don’t laugh I’ll cry”!

Hysterical Odyssey of a Flawed Hero Escaping a Dark & Loveless Orthodoxy

The funniest (laughed out loud throughout) odyssey of a human born into a violent household, an orthodoxy that he figures out for its hypocrisies & abuses, and how he escapes to create a new, honest, life, family and find the understanding & love we’re all in search of of. A fascinating memoir of survival & re-birth.

Sad & intense

Well...while there were some very humerous parts, this was one hell of a sad and intense story about a very sad and intense young man.

I don't think it upset me as much that he hated his parents and the way he was raised (being Jewish myself !) but his anger at God and the name calling was a dead giveaway at how troubled and conflicted Shalom is.

Yet...oddly - while disavowing his heritage he still chooses to keep his given name (not Anglicize it)which highly identifies him as a Jew and he still suffers from tons of "Jewish Guilt".

I hope his own son is able to get through the world in one piece !!!

Awesome. God is out to get us.. well, him at least

There are people who write as they talk (Sedaris comes to mind) and perform they're work perfectly. There are those who just get in the way. This story was perfectly read. Like military service, religion binds us together against a common enemy sometimes...and Shalom goes the distance with the humor that shows us why the bonds run so deep and produce the best humor. There are those who say all humor is from pain - only the really good stuff. It's not Portnoy's Complaint... but in all honesty, i listened to it through a crown and two fillings and actually LAUGHED during that. I'm not even making that up. A favorite listen by far.

Foreskin's Lament

Shalom Auslander's recollection of growing up in the Orthodox Jewish world of Monsey, New York is absolutely hysterical. Listening to it on a slow day at work, I found myself laughing out loud.

As a young boy and then young man Shalom engages in the dialog that all Jews will recognize - that conversation with G*d about how to navigate reality and what it all means. His mother's parenting is framed by the her abstraction from reality and obsession with keeping kashrut and the spector of death. His impatient, frustrated, bitter alcoholic father's parenting skills extend to beating Shalom and his brother for their suspected sins and transgressions; of which there are plenty. The rigid insular world of the religious Orthodox, (lacking the mystical joy of the 18th century Hasidim), quickly becomes too confining for a maturing, self-reflective Auslander. He finds himself neck-deep in trayf, porn, and engaged in the search for self. A great read! I highly recommend this book.

Great book

I never feel moved to read books or see movies more than once. I know that I will listen to this book again. It feels like a friend. The kind you meet somewhere random, end up talking to the whole night. And you're amazed how much you have in common, although you really don't have much in common. I love this book. I particularly love that it is read by the author - I don't think anyone else could have done it justice.

Best 7 hours I've had in ages.

So damn funny... and poignant and sad and touching and so damn funny. No review I could write would be able to describe how enjoyable it was to listen to this book. His writing style is thoroughly entertaining and his delivery spot on. Literally laugh-out-loud-holy-shit funny.

Really good

Serious and funny at the same time. I do recommend it. I've learned that catholics and Jews share some experiences.