The Guide to the Perplexed

"""At long last: an edition of the Guide with a full scholarly apparatus and a sensitivity to the beauty and nuances of the Arabic language. Goodman and Lieberman have gifted us, seasoned scholars and beginner readers alike, with a much-needed rendition of this culturally central text.""—Aaron W. Hughes, University of Rochester ""A magnificent scholarly achievement. Synthesizing the vast research about the production, reception, and interpretation of the Guide and displaying profound knowledge of the history of Western philosophy, this highly readable translation enables contemporary readers to wrestle anew with the perplexity at the heart of Jewish philosophy: how to reconcile human reason and divine revelation.""—Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, Arizona State University ""Maimonides' Guide has been a Jewish classic for over 800 years. This new translation by two leading Arabists is not only highly accurate, but also clear, lively and instructive. Its rich notes, with their discussions of the philosophical issues involved, make Maimonides' philosophy, with its many secrets, accessible to a new generation of readers.""—Daniel J. Lasker, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev ""Goodman and Lieberman's translation and commentary sets a new standard for the study of Maimonides. No book presents his masterpiece in a clearer or more thorough manner. Scholarly discussions of Maimonides will be referring to Goodman and Lieberman's contribution for years to come.""—Kenneth Seeskin, Northwestern University ""Goodman and Lieberman's work is a lifetime accomplishment. Had Maimonides himself composed his essay in modern English, he would probably have chosen the style of this version.""—Aharon Maman, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ""Combining mastery of Arabic and Hebrew with their intimate knowledge of Medieval Jewish and Islamic philosophy, Goodman and Lieberman have produced a fresh, accurate, and readable translation of the original Arabic of Maimonides' masterpiece. This will be a major contribution to Maimonidean scholarship and an indispensable tool for students of the field.""—Paul B. Fenton, Université Paris-Sorbonne ""Goodman and Lieberman see the conversational style as essential to Rambam's pedagogical project. Therefore, they made preserving the fluidity and emotional register of the book a priority in their translation. The result is a text that is a pleasure to read while containing ample citations and commentary to ensure that the careful student does not venture far from the author's original intent.""—Josh Frankel, Lehrhaus"