The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth »

In this charming, inspiring and wise guide to a well-lived life, beloved teacher Ron Wolfson provides an advance copy of the Seven Questions you'll be asked in heaven-whether you're a believer or a non-believer. The answers to these questions will help you shape a life of purpose and meaning on earth today.

Supported by wisdom from the Jewish tradition, life's experiences, and personal anecdotes. Wolfson tells you about these transformative questions and explores the values that are at the heart of a life that matters. He offers funny, insightful and poignant stories of how people-ancient and contemporary-have answered the Seven Questions through their everyday actions. He encourages you to reflect on your own life goals and provides ideas both big and small for achieving them.

Publishers Weekly

Despite the title of this guide, it is essentially a handbook as to how Jews and others ought to act during their lifetimes. Although Judaism has little to say about what happens after we die, educator Wolfson (God's To-Do List) asserts that on arrival in the next world, we are judged by a “Heavenly Court,” which reviews our behavior on Earth by our answers to seven questions. Three rabbis from the fourth, 18th and 19th centuries are the source of these questions: were you honest? did you leave a legacy? did you devote time to study? did you have hope in your heart? did you get your priorities straight? did you enjoy your life on earth? were you the best you could be? Using anecdotes and citing contemporary authorities, the author asserts that positive answers to these questions will prepare us for getting to heaven. This ingenious approach to proper conduct will appeal to those who believe in an afterlife, and possibly even a few who don't. (Sept.)

Prologue: The Ultimate Question 1

1 To Tell the Truth 9

2 The Immortality of Influence 29

3 Turn It ... and Turn It 43

4 The Hope of God 57

5 What Matters Most 77

6 Living to Do 97

7 Perfecting You 111

Epilogue: The Questions Are the Answers 141

Note to Readers 147

Suggestions for Further Reading and Sources Cited 149

Acknowledgments 151