[HYK]⋙ PDF Outwitting History The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books Aaron Lansky 9781565125131 Books

Outwitting History The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books Aaron Lansky 9781565125131 Books

Download As PDF : Outwitting History The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books Aaron Lansky 9781565125131 Books

Outwitting History The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books Aaron Lansky 9781565125131 Books

Aaron Lansky’s Outwitting History presents an interesting counter-trend to modern habits of reading: in an age when physical books are being less and less read, Lansky has spent his whole life rescuing Yiddish books.

Lansky’s account of rescuing the literature of a quickly dying language has both sad and triumphant overtones. As he first starts collecting Yiddish books, many Yiddish writers and readers are alive, if not old, and Lansky gets to see glimpses of their world. As an American Jew, Lansky knows what he has missed: the world of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Yiddish, working together to form a seamless world.

Through Herculean effort, Lanksy and others eventually create the Yiddish Book Center, a home to a million and a half Yiddish books. Yet that world is gone, and after the Center is built, Lansky has some interesting and sad things to say about Jewish continuity, or the lack thereof.

All in all, this is a fascinating book that documents the steady decline of a civilization and in relatively short space of time, and a group of people’s determination to save a piece of it.


Tags : Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books [Aaron Lansky] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. “Incredible . . . Inspiring . . . Important.” —Library Journal, starred review “A marvelous yarn, loaded with near-calamitous adventures and characters as memorable as Singer creations.” —The New York Post “What began as a quixotic journey was also a picaresque romp,Aaron Lansky,Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books,Algonquin Books,1565125134,Books,Yiddish,Book collecting,Book collecting.,Language revival,Language revival.,Lansky, Aaron,National Yiddish Book Center (U.S.) - History,Yiddish imprints,Yiddish imprints.,Yiddish language - Revival,ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES Books,Antiques & Collectibles,AntiquesCollectibles,BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY,Books & Reading,FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY Yiddish,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY Jewish,History - General History,JEWISH SOCIOLOGY,Jewish - General,Literary CriticismBooks & Reading,Non-Fiction,United States

Outwitting History The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books Aaron Lansky 9781565125131 Books Reviews

While an undergraduate at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, Aaron Lansky took a course about the Holocaust and became interested in the sociological study of Jews. He found a professor at UMass who taught him Yiddish and this resulted in his first hand experience of how difficult it is to find Yiddish books to read. Thus began a career of scooping up Yiddish books from all over the world and storing them at the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst. "Outwitting History" is Lansky's memoir of starting that now-flourishing institution. It is told straight-forwardly with lots of amusing anecdotes. Lansky's descriptions of the elderly Jews he meets in book collecting brings alive Yiddish life and culture which is disappearing in today's world. His enthusiasm for the subject is contagious, and this makes "Outwitting History" a wonderful book to read.
This book really took me back and got me thinking again about my family's heritage. There was so much that my grandparents and great-aunts/uncles DIDN'T talk about - and this book gave me a bit of insight into what their experience might have been like. I attended a Workmen's Circle school as a child, and learned a great deal about my Jewish and Yiddish heritage. We were culturally Jewish (as opposed to religiously). This book helped to fill in some blanks.

In addition, the stories of Mr. Lansky's collecting experiences were wonderful and I was sorry when the book ended. I loved meeting people who reminded me of my relatives, now long gone.
One of the best true stories I’ve read in a long while. Reads like an adventure story yet the depth of insights, the sweetness of the humor, the panoramic vision and dedication of the author to save this literature for future generations tells a tale that most Americans know little or nothing about. And a must read for anyone interested in the culture of and way of life almost lost in the ashes of the flames of hatred that engulfed so much of our world culminating in Second World War.
In reading Lansky's book, I experienced the similar thrill of an evening of going from one Jewish home to another eating the first superb meal followed by an extravaganza of delectable dishes in the next homes, and then mouth watering desserts at yet another home. These extraordinary feasts represent the outstanding features of Lansky's book. He examines the Yiddish language, culture and diversity, and all who have contributed to making these important aspects of Judaism persevere over centuries. He brought to life Jewish writers, scholars, philosophers, politicians, artists, philanthropists, comedians, artists, survivors of the Holocaust, ordinary Jews living decent lives, and decades of Jews lost in pogroms, ousted from almost every country in the world, despised, vilified, tortured and ultimately put to death. Lansky accomplished this with poignancy, intelligent writing, and humor. All of the idiosyncrasies and concerns of his characters, real people with names and places, made for fascinating reading.
So much of Yiddish writing and literatures concerns itself with Yiddishkeit, what it means to be Jewish, and how it plays a role in the day to day lives of all Jews. The writings teach us about humanity, performance of mitzvahs, regard for one's fellow man, respect for education, and continuity of family and tradition. Lansky has helped many of us who fail to understand why we cling to our roots in this modern world; we go to shul maybe once or twice a year, have an occasional Passover dinner, or attend a children's Purim festival. His book has served as a wake up call. There is more to Yiddishkeit than marginal participation. He has opened my eyes to the extensive world of Yiddish literature. Even though my memory of the language is vague and I can only read a little in Yiddish, the fact that these books are now available in English translation is a phenomenal achievement. Up until now, I have read only books by Isaac Bashevis Singer and Malamud; available is a myriad of genius writers that I can access.
When the feast ended, I realized the feat of his travail. His book is a testimony to the efforts of one, and many others as well, to preserve our Jewish history and language. Lansky made me laugh and cry from page to page as he educated me in the re-appreciation of Yiddishkeit.
An amazing book that really was an eye-opener in regards to a part of Jewish history that tells the story of not only of our Yiddish-speaking relatives in the US but an almost forgotten history of Jewry in Eastern Europe. Not only was our culture practically wiped out during the Holocaust but then almost again, with the destruction of these books that Mr. Lansky and his zamblers had the foresight to save. Really a must read!
As a young student Lansky began the herculean task of rescuing the Yiddish language and its literature. In this book he tells the story of his efforts (along with a colorful cast of volunteers and supporters) that have made the Yiddish Book Center the great success it is today.
In this book he tells his story intelligently, with an engaging mixture of humor and pathos.
It is entertaining, informative, and inspiring.
I have no hesitation giving it five stars.
Aaron Lansky’s Outwitting History presents an interesting counter-trend to modern habits of reading in an age when physical books are being less and less read, Lansky has spent his whole life rescuing Yiddish books.

Lansky’s account of rescuing the literature of a quickly dying language has both sad and triumphant overtones. As he first starts collecting Yiddish books, many Yiddish writers and readers are alive, if not old, and Lansky gets to see glimpses of their world. As an American Jew, Lansky knows what he has missed the world of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Yiddish, working together to form a seamless world.

Through Herculean effort, Lanksy and others eventually create the Yiddish Book Center, a home to a million and a half Yiddish books. Yet that world is gone, and after the Center is built, Lansky has some interesting and sad things to say about Jewish continuity, or the lack thereof.

All in all, this is a fascinating book that documents the steady decline of a civilization and in relatively short space of time, and a group of people’s determination to save a piece of it.