"Rules to Live By: Maimonides' Guide to a Wonderful Life" by Jeffrey Katz is a remarkable book that blends ancient wisdom with modern-day practicality. Katz takes the profound teachings of Maimonides, a 12th-century philosopher, and presents them in a way that feels both accessible and deeply relevant for today’s readers. If you're struggling to find meaning or direction in your everyday life, this book offers insightful guidance across various areas, including health, relationships, spirituality, and personal growth.

One of the book's greatest strengths is how Katz distills the timeless principles of Maimonides into actionable steps that are easy to understand. Whether you're seeking advice on how to handle life's challenges or striving for personal fulfillment, the wisdom found in this book can serve as a roadmap. Katz's clear and concise commentary helps bridge the gap between ancient philosophy and contemporary life, making it a great resource for anyone looking to enrich their life.

"Rules to Live By" isn’t just a philosophical treatise; it's a practical guide that speaks directly to the modern reader. Katz’s work is filled with compassion and clarity, providing readers with tools to navigate the complexities of life while maintaining balance and inner contentment. It's a book that leaves you feeling inspired and ready to implement meaningful changes in your life​.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It felt more personal than a lot of other self-help titles out there. Recommended.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"RULES TO LIVE BY: Maimonides' Guide to a Wonderful Life" by Jeffrey Katz offers a profound exploration of timeless wisdom from the revered scholar Maimonides. Katz expertly translates Maimonides' teachings into practical principles for navigating the complexities of modern existence, offering invaluable insights for personal and societal flourishing. This illuminating book serves as a beacon, guiding readers towards physical well-being, mental resilience, and moral integrity, echoing the enduring call to holiness from ancient scriptures.

Rules to Live By is a book written by Jeffrey Katz, a recognized interpreter of Maimonides’ teachings. Moses Maimonides was a Rabbi, physician, and philosopher. In this book, almost everything that one needs to know to enrich life is covered, both spiritual and physical, from character development, work, family, spiritual matters, and good health, to mention but a few. Although this book can be classified as a self-help book, it is more than that. It is a book that can be used as a life’s compass or a road map to navigate through life’s journey. It is also a book in which answers to difficult life questions can be sought.

What I like about this book is the simplicity and practicality portrayed in it. Additionally, I like the depth of wisdom in the book—scientific, spiritual, and physical wisdom. The scientific wisdom example is on page 208. "Studies published on sleeping patterns have shown that those who nap one hour or more every day have nearly twice the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as those who don’t. Daily daytime napping has also been linked to higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. Nighttime sleeping is best for you. "Spiritual wisdom example, p. 186: "Wise people forgive because they understand that revenge is never worth it. Nothing is worth the cycle of pain that revenge creates." physical wisdom example, p. 228, "Let nothing that can be treated by diet be treated by other means." Readers will find much more wisdom of this kind in this book.

I rate this book Rules to Live By by Jeffrey Katz, 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to people of all walks of life, both young and old, learned and unlearned. It is a book that acts as an eye-opener, and if the advice given in the book can be followed diligently, the result of such an endeavor will be a successful and thriving life. Likewise, it is a book to give to loved ones as a gift and a book to keep reading in one’s lifetime, lest one forget.

Rules to Live By, written by Jeffrey Katz is an excellent book that shows that what we see as ideal measures of living goes back to deep in the past per Maimonidies, a well-known and respected rabbi and physician who lived in the 12th century. In doing such, it gives both credibility to what is espoused to day in many self-help books as well as from various professionals. It also raises questions as to who practiced these teachings through the centuries and why it took so long to what we could call, rediscovering them.

With that said, this would be a great book full of practical advice for all audiences. However, Jewish people may benefit even more from the teachings explained given the source material.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was very well researched and educational. It was the perfect length and it did not drag on too long.

The author has a clear understanding of Maimonides' phenomenal work and gives it over for modern sensibilities. It's a great guidebook for life, in a concise and easy-to-read format. I would have liked more!