cover image Who Needs God

Who Needs God

Harold S. Kushner, Harold Kusher. Summit Books, $18.45 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-671-68026-8

When Bad Things Happen to Good People and When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough have attracted scores of people to Kushner as a spiritual counsellor and his new book promises to be another bestseller. The lack of a question mark after the title signals the rabbi's conviction: he doesn't ask, he states that we all need God. Kushner's approach is pragmatic and ecumenical rather than didactic; he believes that God hears people even when they protest divine ``mishandling'' of their affairs, complain or argue as clearly as they pray. Readers will be intrigued by the author's refutation of the big bangper web. theory on the world's origin, among the elemental subjects he covers. This is an inspirational book for all, no matter whether religious or skeptic. Jewish Book Club selection; BOMC alternate. (Oct.)