The Old Jewish Men's Guide to Eating, Sleeping, and Futzing Around

by Noah Rinsky

From the viral social media account @oldjewishmen comes a hilarious and irresistible guide and perfect gift for every OJM and the people who put up with him

Here is a humorous, surprisingly stylish, and crotchety celebration of a most fascinating group of  Old Jewish Men. In this essential guide, readers learn how to eat, dress, get around town, and schmooze like a seasoned OJM. Ever wonder why Old Jewish Men eat so much cottage cheese and melon? If Larry David and Bernie Sanders have the same barber? Who is the next great up-and-coming OJM? ( You don’t need to be old, Jewish, or a man—it’s a lifestyle.) Plus, there’s helpful jargon, detailed deli and coffee shop rundowns, and the ten OJM archetypes, from New York Schlubs to Tough Guys to Grumpy Intellectuals. A perfect gift for any Jewish dad/granddad/uncle/brother or anybody who likes a healthy shmear of classic Jewish humor, the book is full of hilarious full-color illustrations and chapters How to Exist in This Fakakta World; The Art of the Schmooze; How to Live Forever; and King of the Temple.

Genres: Jewish, Humor, Reference

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm biased and it was so silly hehe
now i feel like i have to go to nyc asap

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny, lighthearted read that makes a great gag gift for Jews everywhere. It heavily relies on stereotypes, but for those who can see the accuracy behind some of it while still taking it with a grain of salt and recognizing that this is a humor book, it's a fun read. There's a wide range of humor in this, too. Some of it had me laughing out loud while some of it had me cringing real hard, so I guess there's something for everyone. Regardless, your Zeide will love this one.

[Leigh Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loves it. Funny easy read. My Jewish husband loves it too!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since nobody as written the Old Jewish Women's Guide to anything, I did the second best thing by reading this book. It relies heavily on stereotypes, but if you're older and Jewish you'll easily recognize the truth behind some of them and it is amusing to read. The mention of the 2nd Avenue Deli with no follow up was a bit of a shock to me. But all in all, it's a nostalgic trip down memory lane for anyone with a New York City relative.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's a quick and fun read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lighthearted look at OJMs (Old Jewish men). The humour hit me right from the start. Some of it is laugh-out-loud funny and some is juvenile. Some is cringeworthy and some is insightful. However, I describe it, the book was fun to read and the illustrations were a large part of it. Thank you to Netgalley and Workman Publishing Company for the advance reader copy.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine that one of the old writers from MAD Magazine, had been retired for too long a period of time and decided that they needed something to do in their retirement. This would be the result of that "something". It's well written and illustrated, but don't expect to find any real mind boggling revelations about old age. It's cute and great to read in the bathroom or at the beach.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speaking as an Old Jewish Man (OJM), I heartily recommend this book to anyone who is or who aspires to be an Old Jewish Man!!

[Max Troiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gee, what fun!

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah I already knew all this, and my mother complains about it everyday

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda stupid. Some interesting things. Not as funny as you’d think it would be. Thank G-d it was a gift.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some funny lines-but overall I just didn't like this book. The stereotypes are out there-but I don't need a book telling me about them.