Everything I Know: Basic Life Rules From A Jewish Mother

by Sharon Strassfeld

The author shares the advice she gave her children when they went off to college, including "Know who you are," "Know where you are going," and "Know before whom you will one day stand in judgement"

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 1998

Reviews

[Chava · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet again, not a fan of memoir. The idea behind this book is interesting: a mother writing a combination family history, love letter, advice list to her daughter who is leaving and going to college, and then writing one for her son. People who are interested in doing this for their children should definitely read the book.

The book was extremely personal, chronicling family history and drama, focusing on her children's strengths and weaknesses. For me, whose children are way past that stage, and like her son, would probably not save and cherish the book nor appreciate the effort, there was little to take away. And, when the subtitle is "Basic Life Rules from a Jewish Mother," I expected more universal wisdom.

[Merrill Medansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author created this book for her son and daughter, capturing what she learned from her parents, uncles and other family members, and her own experiences. Makes me want to write my own guidebook for my sons, with the life lessons I learned.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

technically 3.5 stars I guess..
it was quite a pleasant read but the stories are quite haphazardly arranged and I felt there was a problem with continuity? you can't really call them a collection of short stories per se because they were really just recounts of incidents. I think the only really coherent parts were the ones where she addressed her children and wrote specifically about/to them.