Book summary

This brief (for its subject) biography of the esteemed medieval philosopher/physician/rabbi Moses Maimonides recounts his life and times, and explains why he is a major figure both in Judaism and in philosophy. Sherwin B. Nuland, himself a surgeon and author of the bestseller HOW WE DIE, explores Maimonides's fascinating beginnings as the son of a rabbi raised in Spain under Muslim rule, who spoke Arabic and was familiar with ancient Greek and Arab philosophy. He tells of Maimonides's travels, and charts his major accomplishments, which include Jewish scholarship, medical writing, and his very difficult work, THE GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED. What comes across is a man who loved learning and loved Jewish life, and this engaging biography makes him accessible to us all.

Media reviews

"A little gem of intellectual biography."