Inside, Outside

by Herman Wouk
Inside, Outside cover
Good Books rating 3.17
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £10.99
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Technical
  • ID: 7975
  • Added: 2025-12-19
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9781504096577
  • Publisher: Open Road Media
  • Published: 2024-06-11
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Inside, Outside follows Israel David Goodkind, a minor bureaucrat in the Nixon White House, as he writes the story of his large, Russian Jewish immigrant family. Through his narrative, he recounts his brief stint in show business, a torrid affair with a showgirl, and his encounters with President Nixon. Goodkind's journey is set against the backdrop of historical events like the Watergate scandal and the Yom Kippur War, ultimately leading him back to his Jewish faith. Combining humor and deep respect for religious tradition, Herman Wouk's novel is both a personal story and a social comedy of Jewish-American life. It spans from New York to Jerusalem and covers much of the 20th century, offering a unique blend of comedy and historical context.

Reviews
Goodreads · Various · 2025-12-20
mixed 3.00

Readers on Goodreads have mixed opinions about the book, with some praising its depth and others criticizing its length and pacing. Overall, it is seen as a significant work that offers a unique perspective on Jewish-American life.

The Goodreads community has provided a range of reviews for 'Inside, Outside' by Herman Wouk, reflecting the diverse opinions of its readers. Some readers have praised the book for its depth and its exploration of Jewish-American life, highlighting the author's ability to capture the essence of faith, family, and community. Others have criticized the novel for its length and pacing, finding it slow and tedious at times. Despite these criticisms, many readers acknowledge the book's significance as a cultural and historical document, offering a unique perspective on the Jewish-American experience. The overall sentiment among Goodreads reviewers is mixed, with some giving the book high marks for its ambitious scope and others finding it flawed in its execution.

Quick quotes

    The story is beautiful in that it takes faith, the family and the neighborhood seriously.

    I hated reading this book, and I hated that it was as long as it was when I was so uninterested.

    A truly enjoyable journey through one man's Jewish American experience.

Kirkus Reviews · 2025-12-20
mixed 2.50

The novel is criticized for its heavy-handed delivery of the author's viewpoints, which can come across as platitudinous and sermonizing. Despite this, it offers a unique perspective on Jewish-American life.

Kirkus Reviews takes a critical stance on Herman Wouk's 'Inside, Outside', highlighting the author's traditional, Orthodox, and Zionist viewpoints that permeate the narrative. They argue that these perspectives are often presented in a manner that feels more like preaching than storytelling, which can detract from the reading experience. However, they acknowledge that the book provides a valuable insight into the Jewish-American experience, particularly in its exploration of faith, family, and community. The review suggests that while the novel may not be a literary masterpiece, it offers a significant cultural and historical context that readers might find enlightening.

Quick quotes

    Wouk's viewpoints (traditional, Orthodox, Zionist) sometimes emerge in unappetizing flavors—platitudinous, sermonizing, complacently.

    Here, and throughout, Wouk's viewpoints can feel heavy-handed and didactic.

    The novel offers a unique perspective on Jewish-American life, but it is often overshadowed by the author's preaching.

The New York Times · 1985-03-07
positive 4.00

The book is a sprawling saga that captures the essence of Jewish-American life, spanning from New York to Jerusalem. It is praised for its ambitious scope and engaging narrative.

The New York Times review of 'Inside, Outside' by Herman Wouk paints a picture of a novel that is both ambitious and engaging. Set against the backdrop of much of the 20th century, the book takes readers on a journey through Jewish-American life, from the streets of New York to the holy sites of Jerusalem. The review highlights Wouk's ability to weave together a complex narrative that is both personal and historical, offering a rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with readers. While the novel's length and scope might be daunting to some, the review suggests that the payoff is a deeply rewarding reading experience that sheds light on the cultural and historical context of Jewish-American life.

Quick quotes

    Wouk's 1985 saga is a social comedy of Jewish-American life reaching from New York to Jerusalem and spanning much of the 20th century.

    The novel offers a rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with readers.

    The book is both personal and historical, providing a deeply rewarding reading experience.

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