The Art of Amazement: Judaism's Forgotten Spirituality

Contrary to the apparent Judaic framework in which the author tries to fit this book, the content goes far beyond any particular culture or religion. The whole thread of the book is about introspection and starting to get into serious "meditation". Meditation is this process of going inside our beliefs, and questioning and reconsidering all choices we make in our life. This is the path of "mysticism", which is nothing else than going back to our human sources, those we knew while being kids, and which we covered with all sorts of social and cultural learning that makes us forget who we are. Amazement is being able to see the beauty of Life in all its aspects, which is the achievement of any mystic path. If you seriously try to grasp fully the content of this book, you might be able to change your perspective on life for good.

Imagine a cake. Now take away the eggs, sugar, water, milk, icing sugar, chocolate...and what's left? A bowl of flour. Now cup your hand, grab a big scoop of flour, and put it in your mouth. And that's what Judaism tastes like for most Yids. We call it chocolate cake, but most shuls taste like a bowl of four. The Art of Amazement provides numerous theories/practices/ideas to instill profound meaning into the day to day activities of our lives. Rabbi Seinfeld's book provides tools that could, if read, absorbed, practiced, shared and taught (at both the individual and organizational levels) revolutionize the way we live our lives as Jews. If nothing else, you'll think twice about the roots of meditation.

Wow! For Jews who have looked elsewhere for meditation (like I did) this is a welcome surprise: we didn't have to leave OMMMM after all... And for Frum Jews whose brachas sometime become a little unemotional (like me), Rabbi Seinfeld's "mind manual" will put a lot more KICK into them! You'll even surprise yourself with your kavanah...

I am reading and slowly working on absorbing and making my own this illuminating book. There is so much to learn and I am going at it slowly as the author suggests. I am thankful for this wonderful gift and I will indulge myself in the CD soon.

I am just about to complete reading this book and I cannot wait to start it over again! I am convinced that reading it a second and a third and a forth time will reveal a deeper understanding. This book is very well written. I have noticed how the author very skillfully takes the reader by the hand and enables him or her to reach plateaus of intellectual discoveries and understanding earlier perceived as not possible. This little book fits perfectly in my purse and whenever I visit the libaray with my children or wait in the car to pick them up from school I take this book out and read it. This book is almost impossible to put down once you started it. Do not let another day pass by without reading it - you will have not regrets!