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Outwitting History

The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books

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Outwitting History

By: Aaron Lansky
Narrated by: George Guidall
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Recipient of the MacArthur “genius” fellowship and founder of the National Yiddish Book Center, Lansky recounts his efforts to rescue the world’s abandoned Yiddish-language books before they pass out of existence. Outwitting History follows Lansky’s far-flung travels and features the engaging men and women he meets along the way.

©2004 Aaron Lansky (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC
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Critic Reviews

“Lansky’s account of salvaging books is both hilarious and moving, filled with Jewish humor... and touching accounts of what were once thriving Jewish communities in Europe.” ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)
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Lansky is a great raconteur, and the book is full of amusing and moving anecdotes about Yiddish books and their readers in New York and beyond. Guidall’s lively narration, and his natural command of the Yiddish passages, brings the personalities of both vividly to life. The book mixes personal reminiscence and literary history in a way that brings both the history and the vitality of Yiddish literature to life. Two thumbs up.

Fascinating

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Well spoken, very unexpected information and well established, both in time and explanation. Translation assisting. Unexpected notification of past times.

Informative

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