‘Book About You’ aids search for ‘soul awareness’

Excerpts from an interview with Rabbi David Green, author of “A Book About You — Individuality and Soul Awareness,” published recently by Mosaica Press.

How do you hope this book will help with building self-esteem and strong Jewish identity?

If people know more about who they are and what contribution they have to make in the world, they will no longer need to be anyone else but themselves. I don’t take the approach like a sports coach, pumping up an athlete to believe that they can achieve greatness. This book is about showing people the reality of the greatness of what is already inside them and helping them bring it out into their lives. It’s about digging, not pretending.

What is different about your book than other books on self-esteem and identity?

This book is based on principles in the Torah that are discussed in so many sources in tremendous depth. My book is not a book on self-esteem, but it serves as a powerful foundation of the principles that allow people to build true self-esteem. You can dig for a goldmine anywhere in the world but if you don’t expect to find it nearby, it will be a very discouraging dig. On the other hand if you become aware of the gold mine within yourself, then digging for it becomes an exciting growing experience because you know that every step is really getting closer.

What kind of reader were you as a child?

As a child I loved books like “the way things work,” an encyclopedia on how the technology of the times worked. I remember as a little kid reading about how a toaster knew when it was time to pop up the bread when it was ready. I have always been fascinated by what makes things work, especially people.

What is your goal for readers of this book?