Typically Jewish

In tackling a particularly tricky issue, what it means to be Jewish, librarian and author Maxwell (The ALA Book of Library Grant Money) describes a series of attributes she's identified as being "typically Jewish." Maxwell asks readers to reflect on what it means to be Jewish, especially in the absence of religious practice. What are the ties that bind liberal and conservative, secular and orthodox Jews to form their cultural identities? With chapters on Worrying, Kvelling, Dying, Noshing, Laughing, Detecting, Dwelling, and Joining, the narrative ranges from silly to thought-provoking to potentially controversial. Maxwell also shares details of her personal life, as someone who is married to a non-Jew but still raising a Jewish daughter. While input from the Talmud and religious experts is included, the author's point of view as a non-religious Jew might be difficult to overcome for more conservative readers. Yet that shouldn't prevent people from learning from her insights into everything from food, comedy, and notable Jewish celebrities.