Jewish Bestsellers: Explore the Biggest Books of the Past 75 Years


Wednesdays at 6 p.m. ET

March 26 - April 16

All classes will be recorded and sent to registrants.


“Exodus” by Leon Uris, “Portnoy’s Complaint” by Philip Roth and “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant. What do these books have in common, besides the fact that they were written by Jews?


While other books won more literary prizes and were perhaps more highly acclaimed, these were three Jewish books that captured the imagination of everyday Jews (and non-Jews) — and sold like hot cakes in their respective times. 


In this distinctive new My Jewish Learning course, we’ll discuss some of the most popular Jewish books written since World War II and ask why they had such an enormous cultural impact on the decades in which they were published.


Your teacher is Andrew Silow-Carroll, a former editor in chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and the New York Jewish Week — and an award-winning writer who often focuses on Jewish books and book culture.


Books to be discussed in the course include: “Exodus” by Leon Uris; “The Source” by James Michener; ”This is My God” by Herman Wouk; “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant; The “Rabbi Small” books by Harry Kemelman; “Portnoy’s Complaint,” “Goodbye, Columbus” and “The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth; “World of Our Fathers” by Irving Howe; “Everybody Loves Dead Jews” by Dara Horn; and “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride.


But you don’t have to read the books in order to enjoy the course! 


Class sessions 


Lesson 1: Israel and Jewish Pride (The 1950s) 


Lesson 2: Jewish Security and Insecurity (The 1960s and ‘70s) 


Lesson 3: New Voices, Different Stories (1980s - 2000) 


Lesson 4: An Uncertain Future (2000-present)




Each class is approximately 1 hour long. There are no refunds for this course. Your registration does not come with any of the books to be discussed.


Choose a Pricing Option

About your teacher


Andrew Silow-Carroll is editor at large for 70 Faces Media, the parent company of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and the New York Jewish Week. He was formerly editor in chief of JTA and the former editor in chief of the New York Jewish Week. He is also the former editor in chief and publisher of the New Jersey Jewish News, and the author of a curriculum on Jews and humor for the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning.






Check out more My Jewish Learning offerings:

Inside Jokes: Explore the Essence of Jewish Humor with Andrew Silow Carroll

A captivating six-part series delving into the world of Jewish humor

My Jewish Learning

My Jewish Learning

$100

Dreamscapes: The Art and Imagination of Bruno Schulz

My Jewish Learning

My Jewish Learning

$54

Cooking through the Jewish Holidays

The Nosher

The Nosher

$100