As other reviewers have noted, this is an anthology of materials, not a history. As such, it's a mixed bag: some of it is great, some is so-so, some of it is more directly connected to Yiddish than other pieces. It's a bit of an odd selection. I did enjoy a lot of it, though, even if it's uneven. ( )

Such an anthology! The preface is standalone enlightenment. The stories, poems, play excerpts, recipes, cartoons, critiques, and commentary provide hours of engaging content focusing on the "low German" language of Jewish refugees, so pungent and wise. Yiddish is the bedrock of our grandparents and the diary of their struggles for survival and success in the goldene medina. This guide, covering 150 years, also includes a valuable chapter on Yiddish culture outside Europe and the US.

Quotes: I.B. Singer "What astounds me more than anything else is seeing a Jew who is not baffled by his own existence." ( )

Is it possible to conceive of the American diet without bagels? Or Star Trek without Mr. Spock? Are the creatures in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are based on Holocaust survivors? And how has Yiddish, a language without a country, influenced Hollywood? These and other questions are explored in this stunning and rich anthology of the interplay of Yiddish and American culture, edited by award-winning authors and scholars Ilan Stavans and Josh Lambert.