"The Jewish Phenomenon" by Steven Silbiger

Brian Gongol


"The Jewish Phenomenon" is an ambitious attempt both to catalogue evidence of exceptional success by the Jewish community in America, and to interpret that evidence in a way that offers prescriptions for duplicating that success. While the book sometimes dwells a bit heavily on documenting the actual success (sometimes belaboring the point), the prescriptions are spot-on. Obtaining a lot of (useful, practical) education, training children to be comfortable with questioning everything (and with being in the spotlight), and concentrating one's work efforts on those things most likely to produce tangible rewards...these are all relatively common-sense ideas, yet they aren't widely exercised.

Verdict: Generally recommended, especially for those who have high aspirations for themselves and their offspring. A quick read; written in a conversational tone.