Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks

Author, Philosopher, Professor, Religious Figure, Writer

Jonathan Sacks (1948–2020) was a British Orthodox rabbi and philosopher who served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. His books include The Dignity of Difference (2002) and Morality (2020).

Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks's 14 Book Recommendations

• Political Tribes: “It’s a wonderful book! Thank you for writing it.”
• The Bible: “If someone were to ask me which ten books to read to understand what Jews are and what we believe... (1) The book of Devarim, Deuteronomy... (2) Sefer Tehillim, the book of Psalms... the book of Psalms is supreme. It is the music of the Jewish soul in its conversation with God.”
• A History of the Jews: “It is hard to single one out – there are many, most of them excellent. For me, however, Johnson's is one of the best written and the most insightful.”
• Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters: “There are several collections of stories about these colourful figures, and Wiesel's is probably the most accessible. Touching, humane and profound, they are an essential dimension of a fully rounded Judaism.”
• The Choice: “I found this an astonishingly inspiring book. Just when you thought there was very little new to be learned from the Holocaust, here was the story of this extraordinary woman.”
• The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?: “It's a remarkable achievement. But it has one of the best opening sentences in any book I know, right up there with Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. And this is the opening sentence: "It's not about you."”
• The Infinite Game: “I've based my commentary essay on this week's reading from the Hebrew Bible on your excellent book 'The Infinite Game', from which I've learnt a great deal.”
• Start with Why: “...as I did with your other wonderful book 'Start With Why'. Thank you!”
• How to Fight Anti-Semitism: “And if you haven't read @bariweiss book, I highly recommend it.”
• Why We Sleep: “What were the best books you read in 2017? ... Here are some of my choices; books by Michael Walker, @DouglasKMurray, Dr Jean Twenge and Dr Edith Eger.”
• The Strange Death of Europe: “What were the best books you read in 2017? ... Here are some of my choices; books by Michael Walker, @DouglasKMurray, Dr Jean Twenge and Dr Edith Eger.”
• iGen: “What were the best books you read in 2017? ... Here are some of my choices; books by Michael Walker, @DouglasKMurray, Dr Jean Twenge and Dr Edith Eger.”
• The Lonely Man of Faith: “A complex gem of contemporary Jewish thought at its best.”
• The Kuzari: “it is an engagingly readable statement of Jewish faith and a defence of Jewish particularity.”

Books written by Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks

• Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times
• Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence
• The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning
• The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations
• To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility
• The Home We Build Together: Recreating Society
• Future Tense: A Vision for Jews and Judaism in the Global Culture
• A Letter in the Scroll: Understanding Our Jewish Identity and Exploring the Legacy of the World's Oldest Religion
• Celebrating Life: Finding Happiness in Unexpected Places
• The Persistence of Faith: Religion, Morality and Society in a Secular Age
• The Politics of Hope
• Lessons in Leadership: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible
• Essays on Ethics: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible
• Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible
• Covenant & Conversation: Genesis, the Book of Beginnings
• Studies in Spirituality: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible
• Covenant & Conversation: Exodus, the Book of Redemption
• Covenant & Conversation: Leviticus, the Book of Holiness
• Covenant & Conversation: Numbers, the Wilderness Years
• Covenant & Conversation: Deuteronomy, Renewal of the Sinai Covenant
• I Believe: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible