jjares reviewed Let There Be Laughter: Treasury of the World's Greatest Jewish Jokes and What They Mean on + 3582 more book reviews
Don't start reading this at night because you will be up all night reading this engaging book. The author knows lots of Jewish jokes and he shares them and then adds the cultural background and meaning of the jokes and stories. Krasny shows how some of these jokes are used to hold on to traditions, to show the pressure to succeed, to face their fear of loss of identity (in an increasingly secular world), to show that Jews can assimilate to a new place.
The author's insight is wonderful and he shares it in such an interesting way. The only thing I would have liked to have had was a glossary of the Yiddish words explained in the back of the book for reference. Otherwise, this was a book that I read from cover-to-cover in one sitting -- it was too good to set aside for dishes, or sweeping, or cooking meals.
Other Books by This Author
Off Mike: A Memoir of Talk Radio and Literary Life (2009)
Sound Ideas (with M E Sokolik) (2009)
Spiritual Envy: An Agnostic's Quest (2010)
** Let There Be Laughter A Treasury of Great Jewish Humor and What It Means
The author's insight is wonderful and he shares it in such an interesting way. The only thing I would have liked to have had was a glossary of the Yiddish words explained in the back of the book for reference. Otherwise, this was a book that I read from cover-to-cover in one sitting -- it was too good to set aside for dishes, or sweeping, or cooking meals.
Other Books by This Author
Off Mike: A Memoir of Talk Radio and Literary Life (2009)
Sound Ideas (with M E Sokolik) (2009)
Spiritual Envy: An Agnostic's Quest (2010)
** Let There Be Laughter A Treasury of Great Jewish Humor and What It Means
