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Every book Sharon Brous recommended on podcasts
Sharon Brous appeared on The Ezra Klein Show in the episode titled The Sermons I Needed to Hear Right Now, where she responded to a closing request for book recommendations by offering three profoundly meaningful titles. Her first recommendation was Abraham Joshua Heschel's seminal work, The Prophets, which she described as an absolutely transformative book that shaped her rabbinical journey and helped her understand both the prophetic tradition and the moral demands of times in crisis. For her second choice, Rabbi Brous recommended To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue, praising the book as sublime, beautiful, and enchanting, and noting that it serves as a reminder of human humanity and the power of bestowing love and blessings upon one another. Finally, she recommended Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, hailing it as one of the best novels she has ever read. She praised its epic generational story following the descendants of two sisters from Ghana, illustrating the profound impacts of violence, enslavement, and multigenerational trauma. Together, these selections reflect her deep engagement with spirituality, human empathy, and historical storytelling.
Books recommended by Sharon Brous
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Homegoing
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is an acclaimed contemporary novel that traces the divergent paths of two half-sisters and their descendants over eight generations, moving from eighteenth-century Ghana to twentieth-century America.
Recommended“and the third I would say is a novel written by yaji Assi homegoing which I really think is one of the best novels I've ever read it is this epic story of generations of the descendants of Two Sisters from Ghana the impact of violence and enslavement and multigenerational Trauma”
Where to get it
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The prophets
The Prophets by Abraham Joshua Heschel is a seminal theological and historical work exploring the moral urgency and social critique voiced by the ancient Hebrew prophets.
Recommended“the first is Abraham Joshua hessel's seminal work the prophets which for me in the course of my Rabin it was an absolutely transformative book to help me understand not only our prophetic tradition but really what's demanded of us in a time of moral crisis”
Where to get it
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To Bless the Space Between Us
To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue is a collection of poetic blessings and reflections that offer spiritual guidance for navigating life's transitions, grief, and daily existence.
Recommended“the second is John Odon Hugh's book to bless the space between us it is just Sublime and beautiful and enchanting and reminds me of my own humanity and of other people's of our ability to bless each other with love”
Where to get it
Books Sharon Brous wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sermons I Needed to Hear Right Now | The Ezra Klein Show | 2023-11-17 | 3 |