The Aleph and Other Stories 1933-1969

Customer Reviews:

The master of making great literature of great literature .......2005-01-11

There is no Borges like Borges and Borges is his only Borges. In these tales one becomes acquainted with a mysterious mixture of concepts and conjectures, of footnotes and findings which combine to move the mind and soul to pure love of reading.The title story alone ' The Aleph' contains in it a hint of containing everything, and yet the finding of it leads us not only to the Kabbalah but to a certain very specific cellar in the imagination of Borges. All the games and tricks of mind cannot conceal from us how wisely and wonderingly this great man has read and written.
Who reads this book touches the work of one of the great literary geniuses of mankind. The pleasure is all the reader's.

Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults, Book 1

Average customer rating:

Fair introductory Hebrew book
Pleased
Excellent Book for Adults Learning Hebrew
An excellent introduction to the Hebrew alphabet
Hebrew Alphabet Made Easy

Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults, Book 1
Linda Motzkin
Manufacturer: Urj Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807407267

Book Description

This new Hebrew book for adult learners is ground breaking in its structure and as an effective educational tool. This superb new text was created by Rabbi Linda Motzkin in consultation with key figures in the field of Hebrew education. Piloted in a sample of Reform congregations throughout the country, the book is the first step in a program of Hebrew learning for adults. Drawing upon the particular knowledge that the individual reader brings to the material, one is carefully introduced to the letters and vowels of the Hebrew alphabet. The goal is to develop the reader's ability to decode written Hebrew words as well as to ground the learning of Hebrew in the broader sense of its use in Jewish life, ritual, study, and tradition.

Customer Reviews:

Fair introductory Hebrew book.......2007-08-11

This is a pretty good book for an introductory Hebrew class. It provides a mixture of basic Hebrew and siddur Hebrew, introducing many word roots used in the prayer book. This satisfies the requirements of the average Hebraically functionally illiterate American Jew who has only a marginal interest in actually mastering Hebrew, but would like to be able to pronounce and "follow along" during Sabbath prayer services. Definitely not the only book one would need to know Hebrew. No grammar or linguistic niceties, simply a book to help you have some ability to know where you are in the prayer book. I am not sure I would recommend this as a beginning book for someone who is serious about learning Hebrew. It is more of a thing unto itself, not necessarily providing a grounding for further study.

Pleased.......2007-07-12

I purchased this book because it was the required text for my class. We use it as an adjunct to other materials. As a stand alone text, I might not be as happy with it. But along with class discussions and other materials it's been a great tool for learning. If you know NOTHING about Hebrew, this is perhaps not the best book to pick for your first primer. However, for our purposes, it's been great.

Excellent Book for Adults Learning Hebrew.......2002-03-24

I found this book to be very clear, with useful exercises in reading and writing Hebrew. The letters are not taught in alphabetic order, but rather in logical groupings that are often used together in words. The vowels are added one or two at a time, and though I felt challenged, I was not overwhelmed. I found it fun, and even reading right to left seemed natural as I became familiar with how the consonants and vowels related to each other.

Besides teaching the sounds of the letters, there are sections on Hebrew word roots, which I found immensely helpful in understanding some of the thinking and spirit in the language. I felt as if I'd been given a key into a whole new way of thinking. For example, there are names of G-d that relate to certain root words in ways that are surprising and wonderful, and there are foods we eat on High Holidays because they are a "pun" on another word that is a spiritual quality we ask for in the new year. The extra dimension this book adds beyond mere pronunciation is its real gift.

I recommend this book to adults with an interest in exploring Hebrew. After just a month, I was able to read (slowly) from the prayer book, and find myself asking questions that I would not have thought of had I only known the English translation.

An excellent introduction to the Hebrew alphabet.......2001-10-21

I liked this primer much better than 'Learn Hebrew Tody, Alef-Bet for Adults'. It offered better exercises, clearer pronunciation guides and more in-depth grammatical explanations. An excellent first choice for the adult beginner.

Hebrew Alphabet Made Easy.......2000-07-16

Most grammars give the alphabet a chapter or two and expect the student to swallow it whole - Rabbi Motzkin takes the Hebrew alphabet and teaches it in digestible bites. The alphabet is taught in its natural context - Jewish worship and beliefs, a few letters at a time and with plenty of background material to cement the letters and sounds into the student's mind. Writing is taught along with the letters.

Directed specifically those who want to learn Hebrew in worship, this work is invaluable to anyone - Christian or Jewish - who wants to study the Bible in its original text.

Book Description

Full of philosophical puzzles and supernatural surprises, these stories contain some of Borges's most fully realized human characters. With uncanny insight he takes us inside the minds of an unrepentant Nazi, an imprisoned Mayan priest, fanatical Christian theologians, a woman plotting vengeance on her father's “killer,” and a man awaiting his assassin in a Buenos Aires guest house. This volume also contains the hauntingly brief vignettes about literary imagination and personal identity collected in The Maker, which Borges wrote as failing eyesight and public fame began to undermine his sense of self.

Customer Reviews:

english?.......2007-06-10

I was trying to get this book in Spanish,the language it was written .I didn't .

The path you are to take is endless.......2007-03-17

Trying to full describe the writings of Jorge Luis Borges is like trying to explain exactly why Leonardo da Vinci's art still captivates. The man wrote works of art.

"The Aleph and Other Stories" includes two different books of Borges', very different in their styles -- one is rich and epic, while the other is sort of short and quirky. But this collection is a shining example of why people enjoy Borges -- magical, rich in language, and lets us glimpse the minds of anything and anyone he can conjure up.

The title story involves a sort of fictional version of Borges, who makes regular pilgrimages to the house of a woman he loved, and encounters her slightly nuts first cousin Daneri, who is composing a horrible epic poem describing the whole world. When Daneri's house is threatened, he reveals how he's composed the poem -- the Aleph, which he discovered as a child, and he allows Borges to catch a glimpse of... everything.

The other stories have tales of heretics and holy men, of a man's last days awaiting an assassin's bullet, of a girl who coldly seeks revenge for her father, and the Zahir (the opposite of the Aleph), which can cause an all-encompassing obsession in the one who sees it, until they shut out reality.

And in the second book, he spins up a long string of very, VERY short stories (some only a paragraph). Some are musings on his toes, and nothing much more. But there are also brief stories of startling depth, such as God speaking to Dante and the "Divine Comedy's" leopard, and assuring them of their literary immortality.

The main flaw with this collection is that it's basically split into two very dissimilar styles -- some of them are short and relatively plain, while the others are dense pockets of philosophy. In fact, all the stories in the first portion of the book are based on the idea of shared experiences and infinite time, where there are no "new" experiences but only repetition.

And Borges wraps these stories in lush, digified prose that takes a little while to wade through, but the richness of the words he uses is worth it ("every generation of mankind includes four honest men who secretly hold up the universe and justify it"). And his writing takes on many different people's selves -- he even makes readers squirm by taking us into the mind of a loyal Nazi.

It's almost like another world, Borgeworld, which is almost like ours, but where magical items are hidden in the cellars, soldiers are forgotten, the Minotaur plays in his maze, and God dreams of mortal lives. The most entrancing foray into Borgeworld is "The Immortal," about a Roman soldier who goes searching for a city of immortals, and finds an ancient poet who seems very familiar.

"The Aleph and Other Stories" is a brilliant collection of Borges' exquisite stories. Magical and gritty, beautiful and haunting -- this collection should be cherished.

Interesting collection of ideas.......2007-01-03

This collection of short stories covers a huge array of concepts and ideas, ranging from history and religion, through philosophy to science. One recurring theme involves taking a well known story or idea and looking at it from a different angle or viewpoint.

The translation is well handled and the translator's notes are designed to give a background to place names or people that a non Argentinean would not necessarily know without getting in the way of the text.

This is the first of JLB's books that I have read; I will certainly look out more.

Maker of Stories.......2006-06-29

I was surprised to find when I picked up this book that it is not the same selection of stories as the earlier published THE ALEPH AND OTHER STORIES 1933-1969, translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni in collaboration with Borges himself. Instead, it is a translation of two volumes published by Borges in Argentina, THE ALEPH and THE MAKER (EL HACEDOR), translated by Andrew Hurley.

As for the stories themselves, I can say only that they are some of the most magical tales written in the last hundred years, perhaps even ever. Stories like "The Immortal," "Story of the Warrior and the Captive Maiden," "The Zahir," and "The Aleph" are worthy of being read over and over again.

Since I already have these stories in other form by other translators, I wanted to determine how good Hurley's translation is. To that end, I'll compare some of my favorite passages. Let's start with the title story in the Hurley translation:

"Under the step, toward the right, I saw a small iridescent sphere of almost unbelievable brightness. At first I thought it was spinning; then I realized that the movement was an illusion produced by the dizzying spectacles inside it. The Aleph was probably two or three centimeters in diameter, but universal space was contained inside it, with no diminution in size. Each thing (the glass surface of a mirror, let us say) was inifinite things, because I could clearly see it from every point in the cosmos."

Here di Giovanni with the same paragraph:

"On the back part of the step, toward the right, I saw a small iridescent sphere of almost unbelievable brilliance. At first I thought it was revolving; then I realized that this movement was an illusion created by the dizzying world it bounded. The Aleph's diameter was probably little more than an inch, but all space was there, actual and undiminished. Each thing (a mirror's face, let us say) was infinite things, since I saw it distinctly from every angle of the universe."

I'd say that Hurley did a workmanlike job, but I like di Giovanni, especially with "the dizzying world it bounded," much more idiomatic than "the dizzying spectacles inside it." Now here's Hurley with "A Biography of Tadeo Isidoro Cruz":

"As Cruz was fighting in the darkness (as his body was fighting in the darkness), he began to understand. He realized that one destiny is no better than the next and that every man must accept the destiny he bears inside himself."

From di Giovanni's "The Life of Tadeo Isidoro Cruz":

"Cruz, while he fought in the dark (while his body fought in the dark), began to understand. He understood that one destiny is no better than another, but that every man must obey what is within him."

Again, I accept the Hurley, but prefer di Giovanni."Every man must obey" is simpler, more idiomatic than "every man must accept the destiny."

One complaint I have against both translations is that neither bothers to provide translations of quotations from the Latin. This is particularly disturbing in the case of "Story of the Warrior and the Captive Maiden," in which two four-line excerpts are taken from a Latin tomb of a Lombard warrior that turn out to be quite interesting. I finally had to turn to Thomas Hodgkin's THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE to find the whole epitaph Englished.

In summary, it is better to read Hurley than not to read Borges at all; but, given the chance, I would prefer di Giovanni by a slight margin.

Borges and the 'Aleph".......2005-10-28

It was as if in the writing of many stories he was seeking to conceal the fact that he had only one story to write. And in that one story was contained the essence of all stories, so that to read it and understand it was to become the story itself.
So too with the Aleph the single letter in which the whole of the Universe is contained. Once one finds it and reads it and loses oneself in it one has read all stories and need not read any other again.
Yet when the other stories come, and they do come, and they have letters and shapes 'The Aleph' itself does not know,they remind us that basically the 'Aleph ' is at best a metaphor, and in its heart of hearts ,unreal.
All of us today are readers of Borges. And as such we are contained in the Aleph of his work.
But he is far away and above us all.
For he is the great literary genius whose works will be read and reread.
And it is fair to say that the letter 'Aleph' alone is not enough to contain him.

Average customer rating:

To see the entire world
Fantastico!
First time with Borges
Interesante compendio Borgiano
Cuentos Maestros

El Aleph
Jorge Luis Borges
Manufacturer: Alianza Editorial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 8420633119

Customer Reviews:

To see the entire world.......2007-05-02

Trying to full describe the writings of Jorge Luis Borges is like trying to explain exactly why Leonardo da Vinci's art still captivates. The man wrote works of art.

"The Aleph and Other Stories" includes several of Borges' stories, with all sorts of surreal twists in a seemingly ordinary world. But this collection is a shining example of why people enjoy Borges -- magical, rich in language, and lets us glimpse the minds of anything and anyone he can conjure up.

The title story involves a sort of fictional version of Borges, who makes regular pilgrimages to the house of a woman he loved, and encounters her slightly nuts first cousin Daneri, who is composing a horrible epic poem describing the whole world. When Daneri's house is threatened, he reveals how he's composed the poem -- the Aleph, which he discovered as a child, and he allows Borges to catch a glimpse of... everything.

The other stories have tales of heretics and holy men, of a man's last days awaiting an assassin's bullet, of a girl who coldly seeks revenge for her father, and the Zahir (the opposite of the Aleph), which can cause an all-encompassing obsession in the one who sees it, until they shut out reality.

It's hard to even find a flaw with "The Aleph" -- Borges' writing is exquisitely detailed and atmospheric, and densely packed with philosophical pockets. The main flaw with this collection is that it's basically split into two very dissimilar styles -- some of them are short and relatively plain, while the others are dense pockets of philosophy. In fact, all the stories are based on the idea of shared experiences and infinite time, where there are no "new" experiences but only repetition.

And Borges wraps these stories in lush, digified prose that takes a little while to wade through, but the richness of the words he uses is worth it ("every generation of mankind includes four honest men who secretly hold up the universe and justify it"). And his writing takes on many different people's selves -- he even makes readers squirm by taking us into the mind of a loyal Nazi.

It's almost like another world, Borgeworld, which is almost like ours, but where magical items are hidden in the cellars, soldiers are forgotten, the Minotaur plays in his maze, and God dreams of mortal lives. The most entrancing foray into Borgeworld is "The Immortal," about a Roman soldier who goes searching for a city of immortals, and finds an ancient poet who seems very familiar.

"The Aleph and Other Stories" is a brilliant collection of Borges' exquisite stories. Magical and gritty, beautiful and haunting -- this collection should be cherished.

Fantastico!.......2006-02-20

Leí este libro hace dos años y me pareció excelente. 'Los Tigres Azules' y 'El Aleph' son cuentos que más me gustaron. Recomiendo a todos.

I read this book 2 years ago and found it excellent. 'Blue Tigers' and 'The Aleph' are the stories that I liked most of all. I recomend the book to everybody.

First time with Borges.......2005-08-23

This is the first time I read J.L. Borges. The stories, somehow disturb me. Some are confusing, but all of them attract the reader because the are so well written and are full of memorable sentences. If you want to have a reference in latinamerican narrative you have to read Borges.

Interesante compendio Borgiano.......2004-10-21

Este es el tercer libro de Borges que leo (tras su 'Historia universal de la infamia' y su 'Manual de zoologia fantastica'), y aunque me parece menos interesante que los otros dos, merece ser leido.

Igual que las otras obras de Borges mencionadas anteriormente, se trata de un compendio de cuentos, escritos en un estilo denominado 'realismo magico'. Los hechos fantasticos se mezclan con hechos potencialmente veraces, y los limites entre lo posible y lo imposible, lo verdadero y lo falso se acaban por difuminar. Asi, en el cuento 'La escritura de Dios', un sacerdote mexica capturado por el conquistador Alvarado (contexto historico potencialmente veraz) es encarcelado con un jaguar (verdad? simbologia?) en cuyas manchas cree ver un mensaje de dios (locura? es verdad el mensaje?).

Ejemplos parecidos a este se repiten en todos los cuentos del libro e invitan al lector a dudar de lo que es verdadero o falso, y de su propia capacidad de comprension de lo que le rodea.

Cuentos Maestros.......2002-04-26

Cuando uno descubre a un escritor como Borges se arrepiente del tiempo perdido divagando en la literatura, intentando encontrar un libro que te haga retener el aire en cada párrafo leído para finalizarlo con una exhalación de complacencia. Borges es de los personajes al que muchos de nosotros debemos agradecerles esa bendita adicción a la lectura.

Jorge Luis Borges juega con sus lectores, especialmente con aquellos -y me considero uno de ellos- que olvidan que están leyendo cuentos fantásticos y tratamos de encontrar alguna relación con nuestro mundo real o buscamos simbolismos que no existen. Esto se debe a que este escritor tiene la facilidad de sumergirnos en cada una de sus historias haciéndonos partícipes de sus invenciones y logrando abstraernos de nuestra realidad.

El Aleph reúne una serie de cuentos cuyos episodios se desarrollan en "dimensiones paralelas" a la nuestra -por decirlo de algún modo -. Dimensiones habitadas por seres inmortales que mueren dos veces y pueden recorrer el mundo a través de un punto ubicado en un lugar secreto de una vivienda en vísperas de ser derruida. No hay un cuento que podamos considerarlo como el mejor; cada uno de ellos tiene un encanto especial desarrollado en un tiempo desconocido y en un mundo irreal.

Average customer rating:

Good learning tool, for Hebrew.

Remedial Hebrew for the language impaired

Great program

The ONLY way to learn Hebrew...!!!

Aleph Isn't Enough: Hebrew for Adults (Book 2)
Linda Motzkin
Manufacturer: Urj Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sacred Writings | Judaism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults, Book 1

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Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults: Book 1, Teacher's Edition

A Taste of Hebrew

ASIN: 0807407488

Book Description

Following the success of Aleph Isn't Tough, this book empowers adults to learn Hebrew, focusing on the Hebrew that they use most frequently: that of the siddur, the Haggadah, and the Bible. While continuing with reading practice and writing exercises that were established in Book 1, Aleph Isn't Enough provides additional instructions on which to build solid translation skills. As students solidify their reading ability, they will also enhance their vocabulary, increase their familiarity with roots, and develop their translation skills.

Customer Reviews:

Good learning tool, for Hebrew........2007-08-29

This book is an excellent follow up to book 1, Aleph Isn't Tough, it offers many practice exercises, is presented in an easy to understand format. It explains concepts in a way that makes it easy to learn & remember. I highly recommend it!

Remedial Hebrew for the language impaired.......2006-11-05

I am rubbish with learning new languages, but this series of books has been very helpful. My current goal is simply to be able to read Hebrew, and these books help me to do that on my own. I suppose if you want to learn to speak it properly as well, you might want to look for another book as this one does not come with any kind of recording.

Great program.......2006-08-13

This is an interactive, self-guided program that enables the user to apply skills learned in Aleph Isn't Tough and advance to a new level. Familiar prayers are used to teach grammar and vocabulary. The roots for key words are provided, facilitating understanding and vocabulary growth. Sidebars that provide historical information and explanations about key words, the development of the language, and prayer practices are interesting and enlightening. Although the lessons are easy to follow and understand, the approach is geared to adults. Questions and activities that are interspersed throughout the lessons allow the user to practice new skills learned. I would recommend this book for use individually or in a classroom setting.

The ONLY way to learn Hebrew...!!!.......2002-06-26

I cannot tell you how impressed I am with this book's holistic approach to Hebrew learning. It teaches the language in exactly the right spiritual context and with immense respect for the versatility and beauty of the language.

This is the book I have been looking for for years -- the perfect guide for adults who are looking to continue their study, adding both understanding and practical reading skills. It starts simple, covering concepts like root words, prefixes and suffixes. Each chapter is an easy-to-swallow bite of the whole; by the end of the book, students will be able to understand and follow HUGE chunks of services in almost any synagogue.

Though this book is put out by the Reform movement, and is intended, most likely, for converts and others within that movement, the selections are almost entirely universal -- what this book has to offer can benefit adult beginners of any denomination.

One of this book's biggest strengths is that it offers a sampling of how the same Hebrew passages are translated in different siddurim and texts; what a fantastic way to introduce students to the breadth of the Jewish experience! It also lightens up the educational experience by adding tidbits of Jewish knowledge and philosophy along the way.

There's also a set of flashcards available to go with this book. If you can't buy that at Amazon, though, go ahead and make your own. With those plus this book, you'll be well equipped to navigate your way through any siddur you come across!

Average customer rating:

Well-written and interesting, but somewhat superficial

Interesting Book on Mathematics and a Mathematician

An interesting and informative book.

engaging story of Cantor and his problems

Mathemagic

The Mystery of the Aleph: Mathematics, the Kabbalah, and the Search for Infinity
Amir D. Aczel
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Amazon.com

The search for infinity, that sublime and barely comprehensible mystery, has exercised both mathematicians and theologians over many generations. Jewish mystics, in particular, labored with elaborate numerological schema to imagine the pure nothingness of infinity, while scientists such as Galileo, the great astronomer, and Georg Cantor, the inventor of modern set theory (as well as a gifted Shakespearean scholar), brought their training to bear on the unimaginable infinitude of numbers and of space, seeking the key to the universe.

In this sometimes technical but always accessible narrative, Amir Aczel, author of the spirited study Fermat's Last Theorem, contemplates such matters as the Greek philosopher Zeno's several paradoxes; the curious careers of defrocked priests, (literal) mad scientists, and sober scholars whose work helped untangle some of those paradoxes; and the conundrums that modern mathematics has substituted for the puzzles of yore. To negotiate some of those enigmas requires a belief not unlike faith, Aczel hints, noting, "We may find it hard to believe that an elegant and seemingly very simple system of numbers and operations such as addition and multiplication--elements so intuitive that children learn them in school--should be fraught with holes and logical hurdles." Hard to believe, indeed. Aczel's book makes for a fine and fun exercise in brain-stretching, while providing a learned survey of the regions where science and religion meet. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

From the end of the 19th century until his death, one of history's most brilliant mathematicians languished in an asylum. The Mystery of the Aleph tells the story of Georg Cantor (1845-1918), a Russian-born German who created set theory, the concept of infinite numbers, and the "continuum hypothesis," which challenged the very foundations of mathematics. His ideas brought expected denunciation from established corners - he was called a "corruptor of youth" not only for his work in mathematics, but for his larger attempts to meld spirituality and science.

Customer Reviews:

Well-written and interesting, but somewhat superficial.......2007-08-02

First, the good news. Aczel's book -- part biography, part history of infinity, part primer of some of the more challenging concepts in mathematics -- is engaging and well written. Much better written, in fact, than many similar books on the history of or on topics in mathematics that I've read. He has a lively style that keeps you turning the pages, and he is generally very good at simplifying complex axioms and proofs for the layperson. The short précis of the concepts of infinity among the ancient Greeks and Jews is pretty captivating subject matter, too. And the short biographies of the key mathematicians chasing the infinite are all sound and worthwhile.

Now, the bad news. Considering that the subtitle of the book invokes the Kabbalah, Aczel gives it rather short shrift. He endeavors to summarize the subject, particularly in relation to things infinite, but does so too carelessly. I wanted more elaboration on that. Then he attempts to bring the Kabbalah back from time to time, as with Cantor's debatably Jewish heritage and with the diaspora of the Jews during World War II, but these connections are only hinted at. They feel superficial and without the persuasive weight to justify their inclusion. Also, I feel Aczel is a bit too baldly assertive in blaming Cantor and Gödel's mental problems on their struggles with the Continuum Hypothesis. Might it not have been the other way around, latent mental instability leading these two men to that particular compulsive struggle? I understand that pointing a finger at Infinity and shouting "j'accuse!" makes for more dramatic nonfiction, but it comes at a cost in accracy, doesn't it?

Still, despite these complaints, I can marginally recommend the book as an interesting read on the history of the notion of infinity. Or at least parts of that history.

Interesting Book on Mathematics and a Mathematician.......2007-07-23

Aczel offers an interesting book on Georg Cantor, the "father" of set theory (a branch of mathematics). The book covers a number of interesting topics, including a unique overview of infinity, a description of the inception of a new branch of mathematics and a mini-biography of Georg Cantor.

I recommend this book to readers interested in mathematics and mathematicians.

An interesting and informative book........2007-01-11

Have already a lot of books on popular mathematics in my book-case. Never bothered too much about infinity. However, when you study topics like series for instance, it is infinity all over the place. I always took it for granted, something ending in nothing and being a long, long distance away.

Till I started to read this book from Amir Aczel. This is mathematics in another way. Not too much equations, formulas, integrals, etc. No, this is mathematics one may do by just sitting in a comfortable chair and playing with the thoughts bubbling up inside the brain.

This is almost about what Georg Cantor did. Besides describing many great scientist of his time, as Weierstrass, Riemann, Dedekind and others, the book describes thoroughly the life and work of Cantor. His successes and the serious problems he encountered. From what I read in the book I started really to admire Cantor. Most people would have given up with the severe opposition he faced during his life. But not Cantor, each time he went down, he stood up to fight for his ideas again.

Besides interesting mathematical topics, going back to the ancient Greeks, the book describes very well the atmosphere of the end of the nineteenth century. It also gives us an idea of life in the town of Halle in the eastern part of Germany, where Cantor lived and worked most of his life. I once had to stay a few days there. Taking the exit Halle I suddenly found myself in the middle of the nineteenth century. Rainy cobble stoned streets, apartment buildings from Cantor's time, it all was still there. That may change, lots of new roads and buildings are under construction.

The book not only describes the work done by Cantor on infinity, but it also continues with the scientists building further on the foundations laid by Cantor, as for instance, Kurt Gödel. So, the book provides the reader with a general and thorough view on all what was found, stated and developed on infinity up to the second half of the twentieth century.

Now I have read Aczel's book, do I know what infinity is? No, not really. But sometimes, when I sit in my comfortable chair, with Aczel's book close by, playing a little with this topic in my mind, I am sure I almost get it ...

engaging story of Cantor and his problems.......2006-07-31

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It blends history, mysticism, mathematics and psychological interest into an engaging story. Though some of the mystical emphasis might be a little hokey, this was an excellent and very readable account of how Cantor came to his 'continuum hypothesis' and his deterioration into madness. Having an MS in abstract mathematics, and being an actuary by profession, I thought the author made the technical issues very conceptual and stimulating, retaining the accuracy they deserve. But, he did not just present technical material - he wove the psychological aspects related to the issue right into the mix. This made it quite fascinating. Not to be left hanging, he brings the story to a conclusion with Gödel's and Cohen's roles in solving the problem that drove Cantor (and presumably Gödel) mad. I highly recommend this title to anyone interested in the history of math, it's foundations, the continuum hypothesis or a story on how an important intellectual problem was brought to light and tackled over a period of centuries.

Mathemagic.......2005-12-29

"The Mystery of the Aleph: Mathematics, the Kabbalah, and the Search for Infinity" assures us that a linkage between the mystical and the purely logical will at least be explored. Thus, Amir D. Aczel's book is aptly titled I think, attempting as it does to encompass the antipodes of the mind grappling with a great unknown. Indeed, the mathematical quest for infinity may lead us to the very limits of human understanding. Science and rationality can aid us in this search, but at some juncture we are speculating upon the purely ineffable. We are beyond empiricism, peering into the magical realm of mathematics with Pythagoras, Plato, and Einstein.

Some of the Amazon.com reviewers convinced me that Dr. Aczel may not have adequately described all that is current with respect to his subject matter. Some blamed the author for his errors and omissions; others blamed his editors. But one must admit that this book has initiated a lively and enlightening "virtual" discussion!

Many of the more mathematically inclined reviewers launched into dazzling discussions of infinity, set theory, transfinite numbers, the continuum hypothesis, and so forth. Indeed, the sum total of their insights and observations managed to yield a superb intellectual synergy. One could not help but feel connected to a wider community of penetrating, inquisitive minds.

Infinity! What is it really? And can we mortals ever grasp its true essence? Or is it perpetually elusive and mysterious because it is, as Georg Cantor seems to have intuited, the ultimate riddle of an inscrutable God that lies beyond our feeble perceptions?

When a great mathematician grapples with infinity it's as if the electromotive force of the entire universe is leaping across the opposing polarities of logical paradox itself! I say this because many mathematicians possess what I would describe as "logical hygiene." That which is irrational, illogical, paradoxical, or inexplicable induces them to seize upon a problem and move heaven and earth trying to solve it. Their neurons may fire at a level of intensity that few of us can imagine. Then, the seeker of the infinite may find themselves standing before the vast grid of eternity and death, only to see it alternating back and forth between the finite/living state we already know!

For those of us who are a bit slow, this is just another inexplicable moment. But for a great mathematician this may be painfully incommensurable because they know what this implies in terms of logic and numbers. Which seems to make all the difference in the world.

Liber Aleph Vel Cxi: The Book of Wisdom or Folly (The Equinox)

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Easy Reading
Liber aleph: the book of wisdom or folly????
Either the new Bible, or hocus-pocus

Liber Aleph Vel Cxi: The Book of Wisdom or Folly (The Equinox)
Aleister Crowley
Manufacturer: Weiser Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0877287295

Customer Reviews:

Easy Reading.......2005-02-18

Though praised as one of Crowley's better works, it is actually his most mundane. I got it because I found it at a really low discount price and I was looking to get the few actual books by Crowley on the market I don't already own. This is because I know almost all there is to know about Crowley and his beliefs and practices so it made for easy reading. Still though a solid and well written book for those seriously interested in the teachings of prophet Crowley. The book is easy reading because the chapters all are only about one half of a page each.

Liber aleph: the book of wisdom or folly????.......2004-10-06

This book has some real character to it. Its topics and generalities are sometimes predictable. although the book was written in an olde english sort of manner, its delivery is stellar. One should expect nothing short of stunning insight, being you provide the patience and correctly aligned will. In the end i found myself uplifted by the random and cohesive nature that crowley presents for the reader. If you have never read any Crowley works this may be a good start. Philosophy and eastern mysticism in 208 chapters of occult wisdom

Either the new Bible, or hocus-pocus.......1999-05-01

Crowley's Book of Wisdom and Folly must certainly be taken with pinches of salt here and there, and the reader must be prepared to skip parts altogether as nonsense. The reader must also be male - women are likely to throw the book away after the first page.

That said, The Book must be read for some of the magnificent insights, found elsewhere in Crowley's writings, but not in 'standard' books of 'philosophy'... this is not a philosophical work; neither is it Satanic, or any other label people have given it.

It is impossible to write a brief review of The Book, partly because of its 'heterogeneous' composition, lacking any central theme- seen from the point of view of a non-gnostic. For the general reader interested in finding - there is no other word for it but 'magnificent'- magnificent insights into ... into? This reviewer cannot even say insights into what.

The tone of authority here will be appreciated by some and criticized by others.

This reviewer is being as rambling as Crowley is in The Book- but if one cares to look through the rambling, the insights- indeed, truths- have the power to transform people's attitudes to philosophy, even people's philosophies.

Read The Book if you will to do so. Those readers who are struck by the first declaration of 'The Law' - and possibly only those readers- must read The Book: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

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Hebrew for You

Great workbook for Hebrew class

Adults Can Learn Hebrew

Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults: Book 1, Teacher's Edition
Linda Motzkin
Manufacturer: Urj Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults, Book 1

Aleph Isn't Enough: Hebrew for Adults (Book 2)

Bet Is for B'Reishit: Hebrew for Adults, Book 3 (Introduction to Hebrew for Adults) (Introduction to Hebrew for Adults (Paperback))

Tav Is for Torah (Introduction to Hebrew for Adults (Paperback)) (Introduction to Hebrew for Adults)

Bet is for B'reishit and Tav is for Torah Teacher's Guide

ASIN: 0807407259

Book Description

Piloted by Reform congregations throughout the country, this book is the first step in a program of Hebrew learning for adults. By carefully introducing the letters and vowels of the Hebrew alphabet, the goal is to develop the reader's ability to decode written Hebrew words as well as to ground the learning of Hebrew in the broader sense of its use in Jewish life, ritual, study, and tradition. Each chapter introduces two or three Hebrew letters; through instructional drills and exercises, the reader progressively becomes familiar with key Hebrew vocabulary and its role in Jewish tradition, text, and prayer.

Customer Reviews:

Hebrew for You.......2007-03-08

This is a very good book to learn to speak and read hebrew so you
can follow along in your prayer book. However if you are as old as
I am you really need dedicated study time.

Great workbook for Hebrew class.......2003-01-06

After much research we chose "Aleph Isn't Tough" to teach a Hebrew class to a community group made up of mostly non-jews. The students found this workbook to be very user friendly and a good introduction to judaism. At the end of "Aleph Isn't Tough", most of our students were clamouring to go on to "Aleph Isn't Enough" and we will be starting that class shortly.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone thinking of teaching a Hebrew class or anyone wishing to learn to READ Hebrew on their own. Note: This workbook is not designed to teach people to speak Hebrew, you will need an audio program for that.

Adults Can Learn Hebrew.......2000-05-16

Linda Motzkin's book _Aleph Isn't Tough_ certainly makes it possible for beginning adult students to master the basics of the Hebrew alphabet. I had tried other books before choosing this one, and it rates above them. Each chapter presents information that builds upon previous chapters. Explanations of Hebrew roots, key quotes from the Bible, and excerpts from prayers engage the reader and introduce him/her to elements key to following a service. Motzkin's explanations of the vowels and consonants and various exceptions to rules were clear, and the book is well organized, too. After completing the ten lessons, I can follow along in services. If that is your goal, too, then this is the book for you. I eagerly await the book's sequel, _Aleph Isn't Enough_.

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My Friends, the Aleph Bet
Rabbi Baruch Chait
Manufacturer: Feldheim
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1583308504

Book Description

A child's introduction to Hebrew with astounding full-page color illustrations. Also features the letters depicted in their print, sofer, Rashi scripts, and numerical equivalents. A delight for children young and old as well as anyone wanting to enrich their Hebrew vocabulary.

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Aleph Bet Storybook

Aleph Bet Story
Deborah Pessin
Manufacturer: Jewish Pubn Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Judaism | Religions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0827603045

Customer Reviews:

Aleph Bet Storybook.......2005-07-04

Wonderful chapter book with illustrations about the Hebrew alphabet; a story for each letter full of historical details about the Jewish people. My 5 year old son requested his own copy after his Hebrew teacher read chapters to the class at school.

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