Jews and the American Soul: Human Nature in the Twentieth Century

(Paperback)

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Description

Recognizes the central role Jews and Jewish values have played in shaping American ideas of the inner life. This book aims to overturn the widely shared assumption that modern ideas of human nature derived from the nation's Protestant heritage. It also provides fresh interpretations of Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, and Western views of the psyche.

Reviews

Runner-Up for the 2005 National Jewish Book Award in American Jewish History, Jewish Book Council Finalist for the 2004 Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute Book Award, University of Scranton One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books for 2004 "[M]asterfully weaves together several strands of American and Jewish intellectual, cultural and social history ... this important book succeeds brilliantly."--Paul Lerner, Times Literary Supplement "[A] groundbreaking, wonderfully researched and consistently provocative book... Heinze has a fluid, readable style and supports his larger arguments and history with an abundance of compelling anecdotes and facts... [He] writes splendid social history. This is an important addition not only to Jewish studies, but to American cultural studies as well."--Publishers Weekly (boxed and starred review) "Indeed, it is difficult to imagine the full history of [the] psychologization of American ideas about the psyche and human nature without considering the vast influence of Jewish writers... This is a sharply argued contribution to American cultural and intellectual history that will deservedly be cited for decades to come."--Robert C. Fuller, American Historical Review "Heinze's argument is that Christian America doesn't realize how Jewish it is. And while it would have been simple enough to round up the usual suspects ... Heinze's choices are refreshing."--Joel Yanofsky, National Post "[This] fascinating and innovative book could not have arrived at a better time... The book deserves a wide readership."--Elaine Margolin, Jerusalem Post "[O]utstanding ... Heinze cogently and elegantly traces the flow of Jewish values, attitudes, and arguments into the mainstream of American thought."--Ilana Mercer, Jewish Chronicle (London) "This ambitious undertaking raises many very interesting questions about the role of Jewish thinkers in exploring the American mind. Andrew Heinze presents 20th-century Jewish psychiatrists, psychologists, and rabbis who have never been included in discussions of this topic before."--Choice "One of the more remarkable revelations of Andrew Heinze's Jews and the American Soul is ... The interpenetration of the American and the Jewish outlook ... Ranging from the thunderous impact of Freudianism through the popular ministrations and down-to-earth advice of Dr. Joyce Brothers... Heinze writes well and often colorfully."--Charles Morris, Commonweal "A major contribution... Anyone interested in the afterlife of European psychology in America; anyone interested in the difference between Jewish and non-Jewish attitudes towards psychological structures needs to read this book... You will find it a pleasure to read and you will learn something new on every page (and in virtually every footnote)."--Sander L. Gilman, American Jewish History "Heinze makes an admirably detailed study of how Jews in America became party to the important discussion of the place of the psyche in the lives of Americans."--Edmund Connelly, The Occidental Quarterly "Andrew R. Heinze's Jews and the American Soul: Human Nature in the Twentieth Century is a sweeping, ambitious study of Jewish contributions to Americans' self-understanding... In his chronicle of Jews who have aided Americans in their search for meaning, Heinze has provided us with fascinating insights into the cultural work of many of these conversations."--Marjorie N. Feld, American Studies

Author Bio

Andrew R. Heinze is Professor of American History and Director of the Swig Judaic Studies Program at the University of San Francisco. Raised in New Jersey, he graduated from Amherst College and earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. Andrew Heinze has written widely on history, religion, and current events and is the author of "Adapting to Abundance".