Title: Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books
Author: Aaron Lansky
First published October 5, 2004
328 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781565125131 (ISBN10: 1565125134)
Rating: 4.23
Overview
“Outwitting History” by Aaron Lansky is an inspiring story of a young graduate student who set out on a seemingly impossible quest to save the world’s abandoned Yiddish books. Lansky’s journey, filled with near-calamitous adventures and unforgettable characters, has been called “the greatest cultural rescue effort in Jewish history.” Along the way, he collected over a million books and discovered poignant and often humorous stories from the people he met.
This book is a picaresque romp, a detective story, a profound history lesson, and a poignant evocation of a bygone world. Lansky introduces us to a dazzling array of writers and shows us how their almost-lost culture is the bridge between the old world and the future.
This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of great literature to unite people.
About the Author
Aaron Lansky, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, is an exceptional individual who founded the Yiddish Book Center to preserve and restore Yiddish literature. In the early 1980s, when Lansky began his mission, the number of existing Yiddish books was believed to be less than 70,000.
He received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1989 in recognition of his contribution.
Outwitting History (2004) is Lansky’s autobiographical account of his journey to save Yiddish books from the 1970s to the present day. This book won the Massachusetts Book Award in 2005.
Editoral Review
Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky is a compelling memoir that offers readers an insightful look into the world of Yiddish literature and the efforts of one man to save it from oblivion. First published in October 2004, the book tells the story of Lansky’s lifelong quest to rescue, collect, and preserve Yiddish books, which were on the brink of extinction.
Lansky, who is also the founder of the National Yiddish Book Center, takes us through his journey, from the early days of his career as a graduate student to his travels across the world, where he met with Yiddish-speaking communities and gathered books that were about to be thrown away. He describes the challenges he faced, including the lack of interest in Yiddish literature and the opposition he encountered from some members of the Jewish community who believed that Yiddish was a dead language.
The book is a captivating and informative read, providing a glimpse into a lost world of Jewish culture and history. It is also a testament to the power of one person’s passion and determination to make a difference.
Lansky’s story is an inspiration to anyone who believes in the importance of preserving cultural heritage and fighting against the forces of assimilation and homogenization.
The writing style of Lansky is both engaging and informative, and it is clear that he is a passionate advocate for Yiddish literature. The book is well-researched and filled with fascinating anecdotes about the books he collected and the people he met along the way.
The author’s love for Yiddish literature is palpable, and it is impossible not to be swept up in his enthusiasm.
One of the strengths of Outwitting History is the way that Lansky weaves his personal story into the larger narrative of Yiddish literature. The book is not just a memoir, but also a history of a language and a culture that was nearly lost.
Lansky’s personal experiences provide a human touch to the story, making it all the more compelling.
The book is not without its flaws, however. Some readers may find Lansky’s writing style to be overly sentimental at times, and the narrative can be slow-paced in parts.
Additionally, some readers may find the book to be too specialized, as it is primarily focused on Yiddish literature and may not appeal to a broader audience.
Despite these minor criticisms, Outwitting History is a valuable and important work that deserves to be read. It is a testament to the resilience of a culture and the power of one person to make a difference.
It is recommended for anyone interested in Jewish history, Yiddish literature, or the power of the written word to connect us to our past.
Overall, Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky is a beautifully written and inspiring memoir that is sure to capture the hearts and minds of its readers. It is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of literature to connect us to our cultural heritage and to each other.
The Washington Post gives it a score of 4 out of 5, and recommends it to anyone interested in Yiddish literature and Jewish history.
