Maimonides

Faith in Reason

De: Alberto Manguel

Narrado por: John Lescault

An exploration of Maimonides, the medieval philosopher, physician, and religious thinker, author of The Guide of the Perplexed, from one of the world’s foremost bibliophiles

Moses ben Maimon, or Maimonides (1138–1204), was born in Córdoba, Spain. The gifted son of a judge and mathematician, Maimonides fled Córdoba with his family when he was thirteen due to Almohad persecution of all non-Islamic faiths. Forced into a long exile, the family spent a decade in Spain before settling in Morocco. From there, Maimonides traveled to Palestine and Egypt, where he died at Saladin’s court.

As a scholar of Jewish law, a physician, and a philosopher, Maimonides was a singular figure. His work in extracting all the commanding precepts of Jewish law from the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud, interpreting and commenting on them, and translating them into terms that would allow students to lead sound Jewish lives became the model for translating God’s word into a language comprehensible by all. His work in medicine—which brought him such fame that he became Saladin’s personal physician—was driven almost entirely by reason and observation.

In this biography, Alberto Manguel examines the question of Maimonides’ universal appeal—he was celebrated by Jews, Arabs, and Christians alike. In our time, when the need for rationality and recognition of the truth is more vital than ever, Maimonides can help us find strategies to survive with dignity in an uncertain world.

©2023 Alberto Manguel (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

A Valuable Overview

Manguel is not an expert on Maimonides — he admits as much at the beginning odds the book — but he is profoundly leaned and curious; that comes through. The performance, though, is often in a monotone and marred by many audible edits.

Worthwhile book beyond narrator’s ability

Manguel’s book is full of Hebrew and Arabic personal names which it was difficult for the narrator to pronounce. Hence there are many distracting edits to the recording. Manguel isn’t the greatest writer (as listening to him being read out loud brought home) but his subject matter in Maimonides is most certainly worthy of the largest audience; I only wish the execution of the book and the reading of it were up to the extraordinary person whose life, ideas, and influence they recount.

John Lescoe did an excellent job of reading this book of the Rambam.

I liked it a lot. I learned a great deal about the Rambam. I hope that Lescoe reads more books.