Yeah! Uhh these are all things I read early on and liked. Caveat that I’m coming from a vaguely reform/reconstructionist/renewal kinda mindset, although not all of these books are necessarily that:
Milton Steinberg, Basic Judaism
–Steinberg is a lil old-fashioned and you have to roll your eyes at him once in a while, but this is a short book that gets across some very important concepts and also the rabbi Eliezer story is in here
Art Green, Judaism’s Ten Best Ideas
– This is an equally short and tiny book of important concepts which I have put on the list because concept number one is Simcha. That’s me, Judaism’s Best Idea
George Robinson, Essential Judaism
– This is, like, REALLY LONG, but I found it helpful for starting to get my head around the calendar and rituals and stuff?
Joseph Telushkin, Jewish Literacy
– This one is easier to consume in small chunks and does similar things to Essential Judaism but also gets some specific Torah stories, and jokes, and history in there
Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath
– Another short one, very beautifully written and like everyone when they’re talking about Shabbat is really talking about Heschel’s shabbat, these days??? Rabbis get really excited when you mention that you have read this. Rabbis love Heschel. This is how you know I am an Egg Rabbi
Soncino and Syme, Finding God: Selected Responses
– Do you believe in God? Well, what the heck IS God, anyway? Twelve rabbis, twenty-seven opinions
Jonathan Kirsch, The Woman Who Laughed At God
– This is just about like, counter-traditions in Judaism and Jewish history. It’s good to know about counter-traditions, we love counter-traditions
ALSO SUGGESTED: READ SOME JEWISH HISTORY