Rating: 
Summary: A modern orthodox review
Review: As a modern orthodox person I read this book in a different light than most people. First to some factual mistakes:- page vii: one does not provide sharp blows to the right side of chest - but rather to the left - where the heart is located - page 24: the Friday night meal is never served before Maariv - page 38: men don't light Shabbat candles and say the bracha - the women do - page 41: typo - it is not chocher - it is chochem - page 43: at Maariv one does not wear a prayer shawl - page 104: typo - it is not koher - it is kohen The most interesting aspect I found was how Joshua was able show how much of a self centered individual he is/was - one case in point was his going on a ski vacation while his sister was dying - and Tony stayed by her side. Joshua found his way to cope - by running around the world and making headlines. Tony found his way by building a family. As others have noted, this is more a book about family relations (and very intimate ones at that) than about knocking ultra-Orthodox people.
Rating: 
Summary: For Those of Us with Ultra-Orthodox Relatives & Friends
Review: First read about this book in Newsweek and it really piqued my curiousity to read it. I did and really enjoyed the depth and honesty in it. As a Christian, Orthodox Judaism was new and strange (in a good way) to me. My sensitivity tand respect for people of this faith was heightened as a result of reading this book. I empathized with the author trying to understand and come to grips with his brother's decision. Powerful- I highly recommend the book.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and sometimes moving story of two brothers
Review: Hammer's book felt like a letter to a friend, describing in detail his cross section of feelings toward his brother's dramatic changes into the extreme world of Hasidic Judaism. Hammer's emotions change throughout the book - confusion, anger, amazement, and to a lesser degree, understanding. The distance between the brothers also seemed due to the religious brother's poor social skills and identity that had nothing to do with religious observant. Although this wasn't a "wow" book, it was a very touching story.
Rating:
Summary: No condemnation -- just honesty
Review: Having walked at least part of Hammer's brother's journey into Orthodox Judaism, I wasn't sure what to expect from "Chosen by God," but was braced for scathing "objective" journalistic condemnation of the religious and particularly Chassidic lifestyle. Surprisingly, though, there was none of that here. Instead, this book tells the heartfelt story of Hammer's quest to understand not only his brother but his own Jewish spiritual leanings. There are no cheap epiphanies in this book: Hammer doesn't come away a "convert", and neither can he bring his brother Tuvia back from the edge of extremism where even his wife Ahuvah feels he may get hurt. Rather, they find common ground: with hard work and compromise on both sides, they manage to cultivate a vocabulary that bridges their two very different worlds. Neither brother, it becomes clear through Hammer's sensitive narrative, is "right" -- but they manage to speak to each other with love and come to respect each other's journeys. A book like this will certainly have many fans among those who seek to denigrate "ultra-Orthodox" Judaism -- it is scathingly honest about the poverty and even criminal activity of a few of its adherents. But if that's all you're looking for, you will hate this book for its honest, truthful portrayal of the beauty and excitement of traditional Jewish spirituality. Though Hammer initially suspected he'd lost his brother to a cult, he comes away from his journey accepting that this IS who his brother was all along: an extremist, perhaps, but one for whom Judaism is a good fit after all. The conclusions of this book aren't the usual trite condemnations of one lifestyle or another, but they are satisfying and real, which makes this book's contribution truly meaningful, rather than merely sensationalistic.
Rating:
Summary: No condemnation -- just honesty
Review: Having walked at least part of Hammer's brother's journey into Orthodox Judaism, I wasn't sure what to expect from "Chosen by God," but was braced for scathing "objective" journalistic condemnation of the religious and particularly Chassidic lifestyle. Surprisingly, though, there was none of that here. Instead, this book tells the heartfelt story of Hammer's quest to understand not only his brother but his own Jewish spiritual leanings. There are no cheap epiphanies in this book: Hammer doesn't come away a "convert", and neither can he bring his brother Tuvia back from the edge of extremism where even his wife Ahuvah feels he may get hurt. Rather, they find common ground: with hard work and compromise on both sides, they manage to cultivate a vocabulary that bridges their two very different worlds. Neither brother, it becomes clear through Hammer's sensitive narrative, is "right" -- but they manage to speak to each other with love and come to respect each other's journeys. A book like this will certainly have many fans among those who seek to denigrate "ultra-Orthodox" Judaism -- it is scathingly honest about the poverty and even criminal activity of a few of its adherents. But if that's all you're looking for, you will hate this book for its honest, truthful portrayal of the beauty and excitement of traditional Jewish spirituality. Though Hammer initially suspected he'd lost his brother to a cult, he comes away from his journey accepting that this IS who his brother was all along: an extremist, perhaps, but one for whom Judaism is a good fit after all. The conclusions of this book aren't the usual trite condemnations of one lifestyle or another, but they are satisfying and real, which makes this book's contribution truly meaningful, rather than merely sensationalistic.
Rating:
Summary: Tale of Two Brothers
Review: I found this book fascinating and unputdownable. Hammer has accurately captured the ambience and atmosphere of the ultra-Orthodox world. Unfortunately, his memory fails him on a lot of the details of halachic observance. An expert should have carefully reviewed the manuscript before publication. But these flaws do not detract from the compelling story. The psychological implications are telling: the more sensitive brother, Tuvia, is drawn to religious life, seeking the warmth of family and the acceptance he may have lacked growing up in the shadow of a talented older brother. He finds close community in the ultra-Orthodox world and a father substitute in a charismatic Hasidic rabbi. The book also reveals the economic underpinnings of a society where men are not expected to earn a living, yet father large families. The families live in poverty, supported by the pittance wives can earn in home businesses and by minimal stipends from the yeshiva. Friends do favors, even the impoverished give to those less well off than themselves. But the major economic support is provided by well-to-do secular parents, who pay for housing, tuition, and everything else their children and grandchildren need. It is a system in which the compassion - and guilt feelings - of parents are fully exploited. The wives shoulder a greatly disproportionate burden, and they, too, are fully exploited. Hammer does not go much beyond reportage, and one would have liked deeper analysis and thoughtfulness. But the facts speak for themselves. This is a window on a subculture most readers would not otherwise have the access to penetrate.
Rating: 
Summary: Sloppiness prevails
Review: In my opinion, Hammer clearly resents authentic Judaism for providing a home for his brother. Orthodox Jews will find the number of mistakes in this "book" laughable: A Torah scholar is a talmid chocher(pg. 41); a descendent of Aharon is called a koher (pg. 104). Tuvia spends an entire hour on Shemonah Esreh (pg. 44) and washes before kiddush (pg. 45. No, he isn't a yekke). Davening is defined (pg. 124)as "the fervent bowing at the waist that signals devotion." The author introduces us to another form of davening, called "stalin karlin - raising the voice as high as possible, screaming one's love of Hashem (pg. 125) Stalin Karlin? Is that a communist chassid?
Rating:
Summary: Sloppiness prevails
Review: In my opinion, Hammer clearly resents authentic Judaism for providing a home for his brother. Orthodox Jews will find the number of mistakes in this "book" laughable: A Torah scholar is a talmid chocher(pg. 41); a descendent of Aharon is called a koher (pg. 104). Tuvia spends an entire hour on Shemonah Esreh (pg. 44) and washes before kiddush (pg. 45. No, he isn't a yekke). Davening is defined (pg. 124)as "the fervent bowing at the waist that signals devotion." The author introduces us to another form of davening, called "stalin karlin - raising the voice as high as possible, screaming one's love of Hashem (pg. 125) Stalin Karlin? Is that a communist chassid?
Rating:
Summary: chosen by god
Review: Joshua Hammer's book is revelatory - both of himself and his brother Tuvia. I got a real sense that Hammer's trips to Monsey were as much to define himself as it was to describe his brother Tony's move into ultra-orthodox Judaism. Tony's move from Marxism to Chasidism was a change from one authoritarian system to another. He could just as easily become a Moonie, Catholic monk, Bahia depending on who found him first at that turmoiled time of his life. The author's own journey was from complete scepticism and hostility to an examination of a life, at first totally ailen, and them understanding, and finally acceptance. He still, however, could not accept the complete rigidity of his brother's life. Had it not been for his sister-in-law's Jewishness by choice and her, finally succesful attempt to bring Tuvia to an understanding of his role as a father and husband, the entire structure could have come crashing down. She also helped Hammer find some rationale for Tuvia. In the end, however, the author realized that in finding his brother,he found more of himself and a deeper understanding of the dysfuntion in part of his family. Joshua Hammer's journey is not yet complete. I'm looking forward to his next book
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Summary: Brotherly love is more powerful than religion
Review: This book is a testiment to the power of brotherly love and acceptance. Josh Hammer has opened his eyes and heart to the transformation of his younger brother, Tony, from a directionless, lost soul to a devoted Hasidic Jew. Josh's apparent objectivity is never far removed from his personal feelings. He struggles with learning much about himself as he struggles to understand his brother and the life Tony has chosen sequestered in a world of faith and devotion to G-d. While not universal to all Baalei T'shuva (Returners to the faith), the book does give a realistic portrayal of the difficulties of the family in dealing Tony's transformation.
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