Jew and Improved

Jew and Improved: How Choosing To Be Chosen Made Me A Better Man is a 2010 non-fiction book by Canadian writer Benjamin Errett.[2] It was first published in June 2010 by HarperCollins and chronicles Errett's conversion to Judaism after becoming engaged to a Jewish woman.[3]

Jew and Improved:
How Choosing To Be Chosen Made Me A Better Man
First edition cover of Canadian release
Author'Benjamin Errett'
CountryCanada
SubjectReligious sojourn
Genrenon-fiction, memoir[1]
PublisherHarperCollins
Publication date
June 1, 2010
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback)
Pages272 pp.
ISBN9781554684274

Synopsis

The book follows Errett as he decides to convert to Judaism after asking his girlfriend to marry him. During the process Errett deals with the changes to his lifestyle and the surprises that conversion brings.

Reception

The Quill & Quire gave an overall negative review, writing that the book "comes off as merely shmaltzy" and "though tasty, has little sustaining value".[4] In contrast, the Winnipeg Free Press praised the book as "light and likable".[5]

On the CBC Radio show The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers, Toronto writer Catherine Gildiner calls the book the "Story of goy meets girl" and finds it carefree, witty and lighthearted with many funny one-liners, praising Errett's "turn of phrase" and comparing him to Jonathan Goldstein. On the other hand, Gildiner criticises him for downplaying the issues associated with his experiences and for not clarifying for his readers the reasons behind his conversion.[6]

In an interview, his wife stated that his perspective on Judaism has not affected her work overtly, but since they exchange ideas and work together, even when on individual projects, her husband's ideas may have influenced her sensibilities. In the same interview, his wife revealed that she had read his book 35 times, a fact she considers may have further influenced her ideas. In the same interview, she also stated about her husband that "also, for a new Jew he has old soul Borscht Belt wit, which lends itself very well to comics".[7]

Awards and honours

Jew and Improved received shortlist recognition for the 2011 "Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction".[8]

References
  1. Goodreads, Jew and Improved, Book review. Retrieved November 23, 2012
  2. "Benjamin Errett is Jew and Improved". Shalom Life. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. "Converting to a better man". The Star. Toronto. April 5, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  4. "Review: Jew and Improved". Quill & Quire. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  5. "Just become a mensch, my son". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  6. Gildiner, Catherine (May 10, 2010). The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers (Episode: Coffin Culture).
  7. Sarah Lightman (August 8, 2014). Graphic Details: Jewish Women's Confessional Comics in Essays and Interviews. McFarland. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-4766-1590-5.
  8. Faculty of Arts, September 1, 2011, Shortlist announced for the 2011 Edna Staebler Award, Wilfrid Laurier University, Headlines (News Releases). Retrieved November 23, 2012
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