• The Book of Job

  • When Bad Things Happened to a Good Person
  • By: Harold S. Kushner
  • Narrated by: Harold S. Kushner
  • Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (103 ratings)

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The Book of Job  By  cover art

The Book of Job

By: Harold S. Kushner
Narrated by: Harold S. Kushner
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Publisher's summary

Part of the Jewish Encounter series

From one of our most trusted spiritual advisers, a thoughtful, illuminating guide to that most fascinating of biblical texts, the book of Job, and what it can teach us about living in a troubled world.

The story of Job is one of unjust things happening to a good man. Yet after losing everything, Job—though confused, angry, and questioning God—refuses to reject his faith, although he challenges some central aspects of it. Rabbi Harold S. Kushner examines the questions raised by Job’s experience, questions that have challenged wisdom seekers and worshippers for centuries. What kind of God permits such bad things to happen to good people? Why does God test loyal followers? Can a truly good God be all-powerful?

Rooted in the text, the critical tradition that surrounds it, and the author’s own profoundly moral thinking, Kushner’s study gives us the book of Job as a touchstone for our time. Taking lessons from historical and personal tragedy, Kushner teaches us about what can and cannot be controlled, about the power of faith when all seems dark, and about our ability to find God.

Rigorous and insightful yet deeply affecting, The Book of Job is balm for a distressed age—and Rabbi Kushner’s most important book since When Bad Things Happen to Good People.

©2012 Harold S. Kushner (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Kushner skillfully analyzes this complex story, surveying many sources along with offering his own impressive interpretation.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Kushner’s analysis challenges popular understanding of a text written and rewritten by unknown authors perhaps separated by centuries…No one can explain why evil exists, let alone in 200 pages. Still, Kushner’s tragic loss lets him assail an insolvable problem with authority.” (The Washington Post)

“Harold S. Kushner…share[s] the gifts of scholarly foundations, challenges to conventional theology, and a style that enlightens and inspires the decidedly un-Biblical among his readers…Kushner does a wonderful job summing up what he takes away from the Job story (it is actually something of a spoiler to paraphrase it, so buy the book) and handily condenses thinking from some of the great Jewish thinkers.” (The Seattle Times)

What listeners say about The Book of Job

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Insightful, informative and interesting

Rabbi Kushner has written extensively on the problem of suffering from his own deep experience. He reads his book with warmth and clarity, and revisits the broad outline of "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" with 30 years more experience and reflection. It still doesn't solve the problem, but great insights into both the Book of Job and life.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Having doubts about life and suffering?

Having doubts if there is a God? and why would a loving God allow suffering? This book by Harold Kushner is a good source for these challenging questions.

The author goes through the book of Job in great detail and he develops a consensus that God doesn't give us suffering but he does give us are our humanity and are freedom of choice.
Most of our suffering is caused by our own self
and we are responsible for going through the healing process. It would be so much easier to blame another. Our first step is to forgive oneself. This is the only way to be able to forgive the one who has trespassed against us. In looking into our own heart, we realize that we are one with each other.
Of course we can't deny that much suffering is caused by accidents, natural disasters, illnesses that we are not responsible for, so how do we heal these painful situations?

Harold Kushner will walk you through this path. This path that he was obliged to take on.

We have choices and we can go around living our Lives in pain and suffering or we can choose to transform our suffering and heal.

The choice is always ours.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Awesome

A great opening up of difficult material. Reviews top thinkers on thoughts on the subject

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book, but can't.

Would you try another book from Harold S. Kushner and/or Harold S. Kushner?

I have 3 Kushner books and with each purchase, I hope it will be a masterpiece of biblical wisdom and insight. But here again, the author is way too academic for lay person to care. These long PhD. style lectures make the reading as dry as sawdust.

What was most disappointing about Harold S. Kushner’s story?

Here, the author had a prime opportunity to offer insight into Job's suffering, but instead I received long lectures about how the text was translated from Aramaic to Hebrew and then into blah, blah, blah.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Harold S. Kushner?

No, he did fine.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not really, no.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

long

long winded author..... put too much into explanations before getting to the meat of Job.... had a hard time continuing with it

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

Powerfully written and researched. I recommend this to anyone who wants to explore the meaning of suffering.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent learning

I'm listen to it twice and gonna listen to it again . I recommend it to anybody struggling with suffering .

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

Kushner’s book is brilliant, well informed, and creative. Surveying varied readings of the difficult book of Job, Kushner comes to a new and excellent reading. A work of art.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Just What I Was Looking Fot

Having recently read The Book of Job in its entirety, I found myself quite puzzled and confused. Some parts were almost incomprehensible, and I still wasn’t sure what was the “solution” to the question of why there is innocent suffering. Kushner explains why it’s such a difficult read, examines every section, and offers his own views as to a satisfying answer to the question. It’s approachable, warm, learned, and wise. Highly recommend!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I love this book

The Author gives excellent insight and understanding into both the book of job and human suffering. Better than any job study course ive read or heard.

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