Everything But Money

by Sam Levenson

Book Overview

Levenson's in-depth exploration of the ancient Jewish tradition of leaving "ethical wills". Sam remembers his parents with overwhelming love and cherishes the ethical values they bequeathed him. This... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B000REIFQ0
• Release Date: January 1966
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster
• Length: 285 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book

I came across this book when I was in high school amongst a pile of old books. I ended up rereading it several times. It is an excellent book, extremely funny, and wise. It gives a very good picture of what life was like in the past, when people were much poorer than they are today but before they absorbed what I call the culture of resentment. Levenson's parents were jewish immigrants from the old country. His father worked hard but never made much money. But they were proud and self reliant and the children all grew up to partake of the opportunities in America.

A warm funny loveable human being

Sam Levenson in person was a small round bespectacled forever- smiling warm human being. He was a great television- star in the early days of the medium and made numerous guest appearances on Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson shows. This book tells the story of his growing up as one child in a family of eight in a very very materially poor family. Levenson very early makes it clear that in the really important things, the love of parents, the caring relations between siblings, the warmth and humor and love which pervaded the family, the respect for hard work, the respect for other human beings and real appreciation of them the family was anything but poor. Levenson writes especially warmly about his mother who kept the whole show running at home, and his father, a hard- working tailor. For Levenson's family education, was the way up and out of poverty. He tells us the story of each of his siblings. He also gives a wonderful picture of another time in America, poorer in some ways but so much richer in others. Levenson is funny even when he is not trying to be. And this book is just a great great pleasure to read especially in the first narrative part before he provides solutions for 'world- problems' in the second section. Here are some of the funny things Levenson said through the years. The List is taken from the entry on him in 'Wikipedia'. "It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." "Any beast can cry over the misfortunes of its own child. It takes a mensch to weep for others' children." "It's not the sugar that makes the tea sweet, but the stirring." "Any kid who has two parents who are interested in him and has a houseful of books isn't poor." "Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children." "I'm going to stop putting things off, starting tomorrow! "The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy." "You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself." "It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm!!' "I admit that: my wife is outspoken, but by whom?" "Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." "Happiness is a by-product. You cannot pursue it by itself." "If you want to know how your girl will treat you after marriage, just listen to her talking to her little brother." "We should not permit prayer to be taken out of the schools; that's the only way most of us got through." One of the most heimishe mensch that ever doubled as a stand- up- comedian.

Everything But Money.

The first half of this book is a humorous retelling of Levenson's childhood as the youngest of a large immigrant family in New York in the first quarter of the 20th century. I found this part very entertaining. I laughed and smiled throughout and considered it a very "light" read. The second half talks about issues of race, children, and education today. It's a little outdated, but I found that most of the things he mentions are true today. He has ideas about child-rearing and education that are not practiced, and should be. This nonfiction book is very humorous, smart, well-written, and has the potential to be influential if enough people are willing to read it.

You don't get them like that anymore

Ever felt like not having enough money. Read this once and you will realise that money and happiness are two separate things.The book makes you laugh while it teaches you lessons in true human psycholgy - specially applied to children.

What makes an "American Family"

This book will be old dog eared and cherrished. Your hardest problem will be keeping it for yourself as you will most likely lend it out and lose it along the way. Better to have two of these books. One personal and another for everyone else.