Rarely does a book come along that tackles a perennially difficult human issue with such clarity and intelligence. Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi facing his own child's fatal illness, deftly guides us through the inadequacies of the traditional answers to the problem of evil, then provides a uniquely practical and compassionate answer that has appealed to millions of readers across all religious creeds. Remarkable for its intensely relevant real-life examples and its fluid prose, this book cannot go unread by anyone who has ever been troubled by the question, "Why me?"

From Publishers Weekly
When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this book features Rabbi Kushner's perspective on how people can better deal with evil that enters their lives.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Rabbi Kushner delivers his enormously popular work with warm and avuncular aplomb. An old hand at homey sermons, he discusses harrowing personal losses, confronting some of life's biggest challenges. The audiobook's abridgment, however, reduces the helpfulness of the material. The single CD feels more like an introduction to Kushner's humane take on God's intentions when sorrow strikes rather than a usable framework of knowledge. The recording quality is adequate; it's the content that suffers, leaving the listener craving more information. For instance, what about when bad things happen to good self-help books? D.J.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Where Is God When You Need Him Most?

Every day we see evidence of innocent people suffering from catastrophe and cruelty, and yet we can't understand or make sense of the question "why?" If there is a just and all powerful God, then why do bad things happen to good people?

Based on the nationally acclaimed bestseller, this program features the distinguished Rabbi Harold S. Kushner in a touching, heart-warming conversation. Inspired by the death of his 14-year-old son and his family's shared ordeal, Rabbi Kushner tells how to deal spiritually with an unfair loss or tragedy. He gives us wise and compassionate advice on how we can cope, what we should do about our anger and how we can keep from feeling guilty that we are the cause of bad things that happen. On this cassette Rabbi Kushner reaches out to people of all faiths as he offers a message of love and peace.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this book features Rabbi Kushner's perspective on how people can better deal with evil that enters their lives. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile