The Jewish Phenomenon: Seven Keys to the Enduring Wealth of a People

by Steven Silbiger

With truly startling statistics and a wealth of anecdotes, Silbiger reveals the cultural principles that form the bedrock of Jewish success in America.

Genres: Business, Self Help, Finance, Money, Nonfiction, Judaism, History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 25, 2000

Reviews

[Taiwo Adepoju · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear,

It is a great day to be alive and I have decided to share the parchments of the summary of the book - The Jewish Phenomenon as summarized by one of my masters.

We have a common ancestry ‎- there are lessons to learn - and possibly imbibe.

THE JEWISH PHENOMENON

THE SEVEN KEYS TO JEWISH SUCCESS
(1) Understand that real wealth is portable; it's knowledge
(2) Take care of your own and they will take care of you
(3) Successful people are professionals and entrepreneurs
(4) Develop your verbal confidence
(5) Be selectively extravagant but prudently frugal
(6) Take pride in individuality: encourage creativity
(7) Be psychologically driven to prove something

Pattern... Principles
Quality EDUCATION
Portable wealth and skills
Social mobility
Networking

Restless optimism... Struggles... Change... Ability to survive... New answers... Pursue alternative paths... Extraordinary results

The Jew... He has made a marvelous fight in this world, an all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him

Jews possess... Achievement drive... Pursue academic excellence... Creative excellence....

Need for affiliation... Need for power

Jewish religious teachings... On individual responsibility for personal actions and extensive self- education... In order to prove their individuality and mastery of their own destiny, Jews are motivated to achieve and succeed

Jewish family norms are conducive to stimulating the motivation for high achievement in their children....
Five indicators for high achievement:
(1) Interest in making long- range plans
(2) Tendency to work harder at tasks requiring mental manipulation
(3) Preference for decisions taking prudent risks
(4) Working hard for tangible and intangible rewards
(5) Desire to take personal responsibility for decisions and see the results

DIFFERENT- LY
For one day... Some days...
Try to do all your daily routines in a different way:
Go to work a different way...
Eat out at a different restaurant...
Choose an odd number...
Go out of your way to meet people you normally do not...
Create new situations... New possibilities...

Jewish philosopher- Maimonides...
Free will is offered to all men. If they wish to follow the path of goodness and become righteous , the will to do so is in their hands, and if they wish to follow the path of evil and become wicked, the will to do so is also in their hands.



Taiwo Adepoju
The Master Apprentice
Twitter: @tizadepoju
BBM PIN: STRETCH1

[Ina Cawl · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was very entertaining book about life success and as a self help book

the main thesis of the book is trying to answer Jewish Exceptional success in where they live
and especially their success in Finance Sectors
this book is very helpful as a self help book and if you are jewish Heritage lover and somewhat loser in life who wants salvation from banality of living
Muslims and Arabs should read this book rather than wasting their time with translating and reading the International Jew or protocols of the elder of Zion which is complete fabrication

[Michael Weaver]

This was a excellent must read. the principles are extremely sound an an excellent reminder for those who needed to re-embrace core values. I particularly enjoyed Be selectively extravagant but prudently frugal and Celebrate individualism and promote creativity. This seems to be forgotten and abandoned in the hyper political, cookie cutter, "yes-man" work place.

[Donna Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous! This book is a model for raising children, community togetherness, and wealth building. I highly recommend this book.

[Tom Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit like "How to Make Friends and Influence People, or "The Seven Habits of Successful People", I feel this book could have been synthesised down to a single page. And if all you want to know are the secrets to making and keeping money, then all you probably need to do is read the contents page. If what you you want is a light and at times amusing perspective from within the US Jewish community that also gives you a sense of the culture of this phenomenally successful people, with some amazing stats (2% of the US population account for 30% of the millionaires), then this book is a worthwhile read that won't take more than a day to skip through. If you're looking for something more insightful and heavyweight then this everyday and somewhat homely perspective may not hit the spot.

[Kevin Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith without works is Dead! This book proves the power of individual responisiblity and collectivie accountability for assuring how a group can become a major player in the world despite their history of persecution, slavery, discrimination and hatred. When many say they know God, this books proves that Jews undertand the theology of ecoonomic development as heirs to the promises of God/Yahweh! As a man/woman/group thinketh so is he/she/they!

[Ladell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read with good perspective on why individualistic society fails us as Americans in so many ways.

[Tomi Ola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical life principles...a great read

[Just · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with clear steps, strategies and proof of those ways to achieve success. It went beyond the bragging line a few times, but the objective parts are really helpful!!

[Damilola · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jewish Phenomenon: is a book about the "secrets" or traits present in Jewish people that make them successful and able to amass so much wealth (broadly understood but including financial wealth) as a people.

The chapters are broken down into the following:
1. Understand that real wealth is portable, its knowledge
2. Take are of your Own and They Will Take Care of You
3. Successful people are Professionals and Entrepreneurs
4. Develop your Verbal Confidence
5. Be Selectively Extravagant abut Prudently frugal
6. Celebrate individuality: encourage creativity
7. Have Something to prove: A Drive to Succeed

The Chapters were organized well and had sections at the end of each that broke down how a person might practically use a piece of advice. For example, the first chapter namely describes that Jewish people value education and that they have a high culture of education and quality education in their homes. The section at the end is titled: "So the Jews Value Education. What Can I do?" and describes practical ways a person who is not jewish might create a culture of quality education like as a parent keeping your skills up to date for your children to see or building the ability to defer gratification. I found this helpful.

In general, it is powerful to think about all that Jewish people have created/made and is a reminder to me of the importance to strive to be the best at my craft and to have a wealth mindset. It is a privilege to I believe to be a parent to a child who does good for the world and many of these Jewish children did. I pray the Lord grant me and my family the same favor and even more and also the grace to sustain.

This book reminds me a lot (for whatever reason) another book I read this time last year "First, They Were Children: Origin Stories of 7 People Who Changed the World" as it talks a lot about raising children/generation with this mindset and to be sensitive to a child's development. (All things I am about)

[Ridzwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consider this amazing fact: Jews make up only 2% of the American population. But yet they control a large part of the American economy. Steven Spielberg, Ralph Lauren. Michael Eisner, Michael Dell -just to name a few influential Jewish names.

They're all fabulously wealthy and they are just the tip of the iceberg of the Jewish success story who have not only conquered America, but also very much of the world. Their global economic might is the main reason why the Israelis have been able to throw their weight around at countries hostile towards its land and its people.

But how did the Jews become this way? They were a much hated group for thousands of years from the tike of Moses to the time of Hitler; Jews have been prosecuted in all ways imaginable. How did they dismiss widespread hatred and discrimination and rise to become the most powerful people today?

The Jewish Phenomenon is a book by Steven Silbiger that I first read in 2000. Recently I’ve decided to give it another reading.

It’s a message that I have been preaching to my peers. Instead of bemoaning the fact that Jews are “oppressors of Palestine” and killing innocent babies, we should instead study the people. What is in the Jewish way of life that propels the community forward? Particularly interesting is the study of how the Jewish culture have elevated them to where they are today through commerce, industry and clever manipulation of circumstances.

The Jewish Phenomenon is a 256-page hardcover that will keep you riveted throughout the read. An essential material for leaders, policymakers and just about anyone who would like to improve the well being of their community.

[Ngoc Vu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuốn sách viết về những bí quyết đằng sau sự thành công của người Do Thái trên khắp thế giới, tuy chỉ chiếm một lượng dân số rất nhỏ ( khoảng 2% dân số Mỹ và ít hơn nhiều ở các quốc gia khác ) nhưng lại chiếm đến 45% số lượng top 400 người giàu nhất thế giới, ko chỉ vậy dân Do Thái còn có đóng góp lớn vào các lĩnh vực khoa học, kỹ thuật, nghệ thuật, văn học, ... và trái với những gì mọi người nghĩ về dân Do Thái bủn xỉn, họ đóng góp một phần tiền rất lớn cho các quỹ từ thiện cả trong và ngoài cộng đồng của mình. Cuốn sách cung cấp rất nhiều số liệu dẫn chứng và ví dụ về những cá nhân kiệt xuất người Do Thái ở rất nhiều lĩnh vực khác nhau từ giới tri thức đến giới nghệ sỹ. Thành công của người Do Thái được tác giả giải thích bởi 7 yếu tố mà nhìn chung lại có thể nói là nền văn hoá chú trọng vào tri thức, cá nhân và nhìn nhận sự giàu có như một điều tích cực. Điều này ko có nghĩa người Do Thái làm tất cả vì tiền mà là nhận thức tiền bạc sẽ giúp t có sự tự do và an toàn , điều này có thể là vì dân Do Thái đã luôn bị bắt nạt và bị đối xử bất công trong suốt lịch sử nên họ luôn phải đề phòng cảnh giác và tích luỹ tài sản.
Nói chung cuốn sách đọc cũng được dù rằng hơi quá nhiều số liệu và đi quá sâu vào mô tả các các nhân vật thay vì phân tích chi tiết các lý do mà tác giả đưa ra, các đặc điểm trên thì cũng tương đối giống một quyển sách khác về Do Thái mình từng đọc. Cá nhân mình thì rất thích người Do Thái, chắc tại họ có văn hoá rất gần với sở thích của mình: coi trọng tri thức, đọc rất nhiều, thích tranh luận, có chính kiến và đề cao sự sáng tạo cũng như coi việc làm giàu là đúng đắn và cả đứng đắn nữa.

[Collins Hinga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jews the world over do for the most part prosper in life and so when I saw the title of this book in a bookstore, I knew right there and then I had to buy it and know why. Steve does a good job in explaining his 7 reasons or rather beliefs of why Jews seem to have the midas touch. What always puzzles me is whether being Jewish is a religion or ethnicity or tribe. From the poll that was conducted and that has been pointed out in this book it seems that even Jews themselves have differing opinions on what exactly it means being Jewish. Anyways, there are some practical wealth-building snippets in this book; it was worth every penny as well as the time spent reading it.

[Kay-em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I was curious as to why and how a relatively small group of people - the Jews - can be consistently influential throughout history even when they are often marginalized and excluded from mainstream society. On the plus side - the book is well written and easy to read. It also gives practical wisdom on how anyone can use the same principles found in Jewish culture to be successful. I did however feel the author over glamorized the success of the Jews (weren't there any spectacular failures - and if yes/no - why?). Also, it would have been good to include a portion on Jews in Israel as the book focuses predominantly on American Jews.

[Kerby THERMIDOR · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book emphasizes key aspects of the Jewish community’s success, and I believe the insider perspective from the author makes it highly relevant.

The lively banter in which stories and anecdotes are shared makes the book enjoyable. One of the best anecdotes for me is the one about the herring and the principle of not throwing away a dollar for cents.

One could qualify the secrets shared in this book as universal principles, as they can be applied to anyone’s life. The key is to find the appropriate application of those secrets, and the interspersed stories provide an excellent context for understanding them.

[Mwanaidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was rather eye opening. I have always asked myself why the Jewish community has so many novel peace prize owners. Why it has such successful entrepreneurs. And why after the Holocaust, they are still so successful and why Africans should pick lessons from them because we have gone through colonialism and slavery as a people. I recommend this read fully. I really learned a lot. This one is a priceless read. Success comes out of habits, mindset and mentality. That's my conclusion. One can learn a lot from this book

[Sanusi Isreal Isreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Jewish Phenomenon: Seven Keys to the Enduring Wealth of a People" is a thought-provoking exploration by Steven Silbiger that delves into the historical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors contributing to the success and prosperity of Jewish communities. Silbiger identifies key principles, including a strong emphasis on education, family, and community, providing readers with insights into the enduring achievements of the Jewish people. This book is a compelling examination of the multifaceted elements that have shaped the wealth and success of Jewish communities throughout history.

[Olubunmi Adewumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven Silbiger is an excellent author. I found out about this book on Instagram when someone was talking about it and getting a copy was a no brainer.

If you've been written off or belittled, this book is for you. If you're in a very challenging situation, this book is for you. The stories on the pages of this book will make you think deeply and critically to unearth your hidden potential.

It is worth reading.

[Emeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really pinpoints various areas that have been influenced by the Jewish heritage and culture which is magnificent in the sense that such practices can be adapted by other ethnic groups or individuals. Furthermore, it indicates a minor decline in such culture practices which may cause consequences for the ethnic minority.

[Hamda Yousef · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read anything related to Jews in particular before. And this book gave lots of insites About the Jews community and their struggles. I liked their strong well to succeed and how they don't leave anyone from their people behind.

[Amaury Pena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Informative

A great book for individuals looking to improve themselves and an excellent guide to improve your parenting skills to ensure success.

[Timeyin Mammah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with an interesting case study and thrilling stories about Jewish success phenomenon. A must read for every wannabe success aspirant

[Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thought

[Masosote Masosote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great principles to building critical, questioning, focused and successful communities. An entertaining read.

[Israel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful book into the lives of the Jewish-American community.

Steven reveals 7 integral secrets that have kept the Jews ahead of the pack.

Top notch 👌🏽

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read with a lot of good life lessons.

[Kadziche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening

[whynnot · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the principles are insightful, the anecdotes are in excess

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fist formal employment was with a Jewish-owned business (in Nigeria) where I had a front-seat experience with the dextrousness of a people. While at the job (and of course having worked very closely with many Jews), I only saw them through the prism of the Bible - God's chosen people - and so never took interest in what other factors contributed to their unparalleled success.
Not so any longer. Silbiger just reified all my previously loose belief-set, revealing what makes the Jew Jew and ties it up all for me in one word. Chutzpah. Couldn't agree more with the author. Jacob, Yaniv, Avi, Eretz, Barack... they all have it.
Great book.