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Rating: 
Summary: Thorough and thoroughly interesting.
Review: George Robinson returned to Judaism as an adult looking for spiritual centeredness, a deeper understanding of himself and his place in the world. He's a journalist, not a rabbi. His writing prowess is immediately evident, as is the fact that he has educated himself extensively in the material he treats. His book is primarily conceived as a broad-ranging educational text and guide for those who departed from the Judaism of their youth but are seeking 'something' or feeling drawn back. The book is actually a unique resource for anyone interested in Judaism. Being just such an 'anyone', Robinson's book is for me too, even though I'm not Jewish.
Beginning with a chapter on prayer and ritual, it becomes apparent that the reader will need to familiarize himself with many Hebrew words to appreciate Robinson's discourse. There's no way around it, but it's well worth the effort. The book is so thoroughly interesting that, regardless of the language and length (500 pages plus appendices), it may not seem like an effort at all. Robinson's scholarship is generally exceptional.
This reader was quickly struck with how fluid Judaism has proven to be. As the author states, "A people's ideas are informed by their history, and vice versa. . . and a lot of this book is about that relationship. . . There are some who would have you believe that Judaism is a transhistorical, immutable system of belief, but that just isn't true."
A look at the topics treated might whet your curiosity:
1- Service of the Heart: Prayer and Ritual
2- Rejoice in your Festivals: The Jewish Year
3- Birth to Death: A Jewish Life Cycle
4- 613 Ways: Living a Jewish Life
5- In the Beginning: The Hebrew Bible
6- The Rabbis Said: The Talmud and other Rabbinical Writings
7- Jewish Mysticism: Emanations of the Eternal
8- The Philosophers: The Continuing Evolution of Jewish Thought
9- Beyond the Rabbis: How Judaism Got Where it is Today
Appendices (5) and Glossary
I expected that I would use the book only topically, that is, to educate myself on Kabbalist mysticism, the Zohar, rabbinical writings, Jewish philosophers (Buber, for example), the difference between Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, and so forth, in a piece-meal manner. In other words, use it as one uses a glossary or encyclopedia, which in a sense, this book is. But upon reading the Introduction I found myself venturing into the book the old fashioned way, from the first chapter (okay, so I jumped around a little too). Either way, it ends up being a reference resource simply because there is such a wealth of religious, philosophical and historical information.
Thorough, thoroughly interesting, a book that may have no peers among books similarly conceived. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Survey of Beliefs, Ritual & Custom
Review: If you are not a Jew, I highly recommend this book as a primer which will describe many of the customs, thought, and ritual of the Jewish faith.As a Christian, this book has given me some great insight. The chapters on the ritual calendar and life cycle were particularly helpful. Moreover, the discussion on the oral tradition given to Moses and both Babylonian and Palestinian Talmud was excellent. This book is a starting point. It probably will not answer in any great depth pointed or particular fine points regarding the Jewish faith. It is definitely a survey. However, the bibliography is excellent, and Robinson does an excellent job of naming his sources. In short, I recommend this book as the place to start. It is well written, enlightening and, from my perspective as a Christian, does a great job in orienting the non-Jewish reader to what is a vast and complex covenantal relationship with God. I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: A lot more than essential!
Review: Over the last few years I've read my way through many of the popular "how-to"s and primers of Jewish literacy, books by Telushkin, Donin and Dosick, for example. George Robinson's Essential Judaism is by far the best of the lot. Subtitled "A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs, and Rituals," the book is indeed that and a lot more. In the course of its 650 pages, the book lucidly explores Jewish worship and practice, sacred literature (Torah, Talmud, other rabbinical works), Kabbalah and mysticism, holidays, life cycle events, dietary laws, and Jewish history and denominationalism. The treatment Robinson gives such topics as the prayer service, the blessings of daily life, and the evolution of contemporary Judaism is surprisingly deep for a work of this kind. In particular, his chapters on the mitzvot ("Living a Jewish Life") and non-Rabbinic Jewish thought ("The Philosophers: The Continuing Evolution of Jewish Thought"), stand out not only for their all-around comprehensiveness, but also for their originality of ideas and presentation. Essential Judaism is a well-organized and well-indexed book that can be enjoyed read from beginning to end, dipped into arbitrarily, and kept nearby as a handy reference. In just the month or so I've had it, I've already had several occasions to use it in this last manner, to answer questions or explain references I've stumbled over in other books, and it hasn't failed me yet. Most books like this are written by rabbis, and some have particular agendas, ideological or religious. I think the very fact that Robinson is not a rabbi but a journalist who immersed himself over several years in the literature and lore of Judaism, processed all this information from all points of view, consulted various authorities and experts, and then found a way to explain it that was both accessible to the general reader yet utterly worthy of the importance and depth of the subject matter, goes far toward explaining why this book instantly arrives as the best one-volume reference to Judaism. Essential Judaism is a lot more than "Essential." It's great. It'll make gift-giving time - whether birthdays or Bar-Mitzvahs, Chanukah or conversions - a lot easier. And when friends ask for a recommendation for that one book -- the one that is, besides THE book -- George Robinson's Essential Judaism will make that a lot easier, too.
Rating:
Summary: Provides the Details!
Review: This book is extremely well-written and useful to the modern Jew. It takes into consideration the different branches in Judaism when it talks about certain subjects. It gives a comprehensive guide to how all of the holidays are celebrated, and it goes over the entire Jewish life cycle to name a few of the facsinating things that you'll find in this book. Every Jewish library should contain this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Average
Review: This book's title purports the book to be "complete" guide. This is an impossibility but this is a good "summary" guide to Judaism. Good but average.
Rating:
Summary: A Great guide to Judaism
Review: This is by far the best book about Judaism that I have ever read. It carefully gives details on all aspects of Jewish life in a simple, page-turning way. If you are spiritually searching I highly recommend this book. I also recommend this book to any person who has just converted to Judaism and is having a hard time remembering the many prayers and blessings. If you have any questions about Judaism turn to this book, you will find the answers. G-d bless you.
Rating:
Summary: A CLASSICAL ANALYSIS OF BOTH JEWS AND JUDAISM
Review: Yes, George Robinson was sensational in his "Essential Judaism". I felt that air of classical elevation as I read through the pages.
From beliefs to customs; rituals to tradition, no book has handled it so well in a single compendium. Indeed, very few books possess the arresting aura that made this one so complete. All aspects, as well as all the factors affecting the religion were treated in details. The explanatory methodology employed throughout the chapters testified that both Jews and non-Jews were thought of, during the compilation of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Yes, George Robinson was sensational in his "Essential Judaism". I felt that air of classical elevation as I read through the pages.
From beliefs to customs; rituals to tradition, no book has handled it so well in a single compendium. Indeed, very few books possess the arresting aura that made this one so complete. All aspects, as well as all the factors affecting the religion were treated in details. The explanatory methodology employed throughout the chapters testified that both Jews and non-Jews were thought of, during the compilation of the book.
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