Twenty-Six Questions on the Path to Wisdom
- World Religions
- Publisher: Cascade Books (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
What is the purpose of creation? How do I break free of this solitude? What is there to love? Why should I care? These are a few of the twenty-six questions on the path to wisdom, with twenty-six corresponding to the numerical value of the Holy Name of Four Letters, yud-hey-vav-hey. We live in a time that seems void of meaning, because we live in a time that is empty of wisdom. Undertaking a quest for wisdom, this book turns to the millennial teachings and traditions of Judaism, as well as other traditions. The path to wisdom lies in these teachings—in these questions—that humanity has inherited from its sages. These are the questions that shape a life by enabling us to live a meaningful life. They are not so much the questions that we have but the questions that “have” us, that take hold of us, often in spite of ourselves. For each question, the author offers a response, a reflection, but not a final answer. Indeed, the responses to these twenty-six questions are themselves subject to questioning, as they must be.
Endorsements (4)
“David Patterson has said, ‘the very quest for truth through our thoughts, words, and deeds contains the divine.’ Twenty-Six Questions guides that quest, providing lessons from Torah, Talmud, Midrash, medieval Jewish philosophy, and contemporary theology. It is a masterclass in understanding Judaism, conducted by a modern master, accessible to all who thirst for knowledge.”
“Deeply rooted in Hebrew Scripture, David Patterson’s reading of ancient text is a sensitive and astute guide to enduring questions that guide our lives. Through an interweaving of biblical passages and moments, legend, and literary narratives, Patterson demonstrates that storytelling, also a deeply ingrained tradition of Jewish learning, offers midrashic occasions for self-reflection. Such enduring questions show their continuing relevance to our lives. The central focus of this richly storied work, finally, poses a framework for what it might mean to live ethically in the world among others.”
“Dr. David Patterson is relentless in his quest for meaning, spirituality, and humanism. As always in this treatise he conveys his wisdom with care, profundity, and clarity. This book is a treat both for the mind and the soul. May HaShem bless Dr. Patterson and his efforts to yield the impacts of his work, and may he witness the benefits to mankind he is so devoted to catalyzing.”
“David Patterson’s special book equips us for life, for study, for a daily quest of meaningful conversation and prayer. He instructs us in the art of asking questions and, equally important, points out which questions deserve to be asked—asked not once, but over and over again.”
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