Non-Jewish books

There are Baruch Hashem today soooo many Jewish books on all topics etc. why turn to not Jewish ones?
plus, there must appear here and there some things which do not suite for us.
plus, if you like one not Jewish book you will wanto go to the library or store to get another not Jewish book, and you might end up getting one day some book that is really not appropriate at all

You get influenced by what you read.

@knaidlach. I have yet to find a good Jewish book about the pros and cons of AI in today’s world. Or one explaining Eulers Identity for a non-math person. Or even a decent book about the Theories of Relativity and quantum physics.

Edited. I don’t find it appropriate to normalize the rationalization process used to justify exposing yourself to stuff that’s not acceptable.

There is a vast range of opinions here in the CR on what is “appropriate” based on one’s haskhafah. Likewise, there are really no normative “criteria” as to what constitutes a “Jewish” versus “Non-Jewish” book. Its clearly not based on the author (some of the major works of pritzus have been by Jewish writers). Its also not based on subject matter since most works on the “old testament” or “traditional values” are not written from a yiddeshe perspective. Its really something that each individual will have to decide (with input from his/her LRP as necessary) on a case-by-case basis.

They seep into your neshama, whether you realize it or not.
There is no reason to expose yourself to kefira like the theory of relativity. Much better to stick to Torah literature.

The worst thing about reading them is that their values seep in without you realising because it’s just part of the story. Then your senses get dulled. Then something which may have seemed highly inappropriate when you first read it, coming from the world of Jewish literature, becomes normal and doesn’t strike you as disgusting or inappropriate at all, just not something that Jews do. Eventually you could even desire to do things the way the normal way is, as to you, normal is now the non Jewish way of doing things.

This is what the Torah means when it says not to follow the disgusting ways of the Canaanim. If they are disgusting why would we follow them? Because after seeing their ways day in and day out they stop looking disgusting and may even look desirable.

Knowing certain sciences like chemistry increases emunah.

If individuals fill the chesronos of an other like hydrogen fills the chesronos of oxygen forming water which cannot be nomally separated, so the group formed will not be able to be separated בורא נפשות רבות וחסרונן.

A minature solar system in every atom of an element proves that only Hashem was able to create it. The string of energy theory shows that Hashem imbeded some of His energy into everything.

We find expressions that make our understanding easier as the eyes, mouth of Hashem even though one of thw thirteen belief is that He has no body. We don’t understand how He is everywhere, so, lesaber es haozen, we find a way to make it easier for us to understand. This explains also that He is above the concept of time.

There is an apparent conflict between the Torah and science who determines gender. The Torah says that the woman does, whereas science says that women have 2 x cromosones and man has x and y. So the man who can give an x or y would determine the gender. To reconcile both, we can say that the woman creates an environment that makes the man give the corresponding cromosones.

Sometimes we can learn mussar from a Non-jewish book, The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
(Samuel Clemens) where it demonstrates what is in Pirkei Avos אל תדין את חבירך עד שתגיע למקומו by switching places they learn what the other experiences.

Avi K Torah values are the values of a Torah lifestyle. How the children speak to the parents. Clean language. Belief in Hashem. Appropriate interactions between males and females. Etc etc. Any non Jewish novel or story book I’ve come across (BH I’ve only had to read a few) has had problematic hashkafos.

Science books are a different story with a different problem. But that problem can be resolved. Novels are just tried. For every good thing you can learn from them they desensitise our holy sensitivities in other areas.

This desentisising is also true in rock and roll.

“unfortunately, the lyrics of most rock music are indecipherable anyway so unlikely to cause anyon to go OTD”

You do know that’s rubbish, don’t you? It’s not indecipherable to teenagers who listen to it. That’s either a rationalization or sarcasm.

I beg to differ
Talk about insidious
A book like Sherlock Holmes is almost totally clean has ”chochma” and if something not so great finds its way in, a kid at least knows it’s not Jewish.
Contrast that to Jewish novels of today which as a relative who was off the derech told me ”are a guidebook for going off the derech ” with everything working out in the last three chapters.
Much worse

Contrast that to Jewish novels of today which as a relative who was off the derech told me ”are a guidebook for going off the derech ”

That’s a new one – I’ve heard of OTD people blaming their parents and rebbeim; never Jewish novels.

Frankly, that’s that’s utter nonsense.

Elchonon, I think the Rambam in the Moreh Nevuchim, the Malbim quoted above, the Sefer Habris believe that it is a mitzva to reconcile if we can. The Ramban by orlah says that treifos are not healthy. We have a rule עולם כמנהגו נוהג. The gemora in Shabbos at story of the man nursing, one view is how ugly it is that nature had to change for him because he will lose his zechusim. Something like Darvin’s theory is against modern science as Newton said I am standing on great shoulders indicating that peiple before him were smarter. The Klei Yokor in Parashas Chukas uses the theory of Newton before him, opposites react by explaining the functioning of the parah aduma to a certain extent.

so you dont believe people are influenced by what they read. nice.

Of course I do. I don’t think happy endings are sending people OTD.

I have no idea which book you’re talking about, but you can’t generalize that all Jewish books (I mean the ones published by and for frum people) are bad because you found a small minority which you found problematic.

Same way you can’t generalize that secular books are okay because you found a small minority that are clean.

Jewish novels
Product Description
Gabi Ben-Dor, a seasoned private eye, is in hot pursuit of a rogue doctor whose negligence has cost lives.

Product Description
A diabolical plan for terror, years in the making.
A reluctant attorney in a battle between evil and good.
Shea Berman’s life is about to implode.

It happened so quickly: Shea Berman went from being a respected member of his Lakewood community, an attorney on the fast-track to success, and a loving son, husband, and father, to a pariah fighting to keep his job, his reputation, his family – and his life.

When forced by his ruthless, and hugely successful, law firm to defend the man accused of brutally attacking Shea’s own rebbe, Shea is drawn into a plot that spans years and continents. The stakes are high, as Shea and an unlikely band of allies including an angry district attorney, an elderly Pakistani father, and an incorrigible FBI agent try to uncover the truth, both in the courtroom and on the dangerous streets of Brooklyn and Jenin.

Fatal Judgment is a riveting legal thriller that will keep readers on edge from the first vivid encounter with American justice to the explosive climax.

Yossi is defiant. His father is overbearing. His mother is protective. It’s a volatile mixture that explodes in this can’t-put-down novel.

Need I go on??
This is a random sampling of the current crop of novels being offered by the premier Jewish publishing company.
Murder
Mayhem
Intrigue
Leaving home
Leaving Judaism
Dysfunctional parents
Dysfunctional marriages
Dysfunctional families
Thievery.
Anything goes as long as its not male female related.

True it’s not all but if you don’t want to generalize Jewish novels, don’t generalize non Jewish ones either.

I’m being completely serious