Odd Man Out (Black and White, Second edition): Through the Eyes of a Child

By Brian Sacks

This memoir recounts the young life of Brian Sacks, a Jewish boy growing up in 1950s and 1960s Finchley, north-west London. It chronicles his school days at a Church of England primary school and a local grammar school, alongside his Hebrew education at Finchley Synagogue and experiences praying at local synagogues, including one founded by his father. It paints word portraits of his family life and of the grown-ups who shaped it: parents Louis and Libby, grandparents and home help Ada. It continues with snapshots of his undergraduate life in Cambridge in the early 1970s, and an account of the joys of running in his later life. Brian reflects on the shared upbringing of his siblings: four brothers, each following an identical academic path through Cambridge's Gonville and Caius College. He credits a part of their academic success to their memorable annual holidays in Cliftonville, Kent. The narrative also explores his deep bond with his older brother Jonathan, who inspired him academically, prepared him for his barmitzvah, shared a bedroom and school life, and nurtured a mutual love for pop music. Interwoven with personal anecdotes, Brian reveals his youthful passions for music, mathematics, athletics and cross-country running - all of which continued to play a significant role in his later life. Richly illustrated throughout with family photos, the book is augmented with illustrated reports of: Libby's work as a Fire Warden during World War II The history of Frumkin's Wines Rabbi Sacks' sporting interests. All photos throughout in black and white. This very personal account offers a snapshot of a bygone time, painting a vivid portrait of a family, a culture, a community and one particular Odd Man Out. All royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to hatzola.org.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F66Y8HVC
• ISBN13: 9798281170604
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 288 Pages
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.7" x 6.0"