There are people out there, millions of them, who act as if they still believe everything their mothers told them in the first six months of their life—that they’re the nicest, most beautiful, and most promising and intelligent bags of flesh ever to walk the earth. We call these people shmucks.

In How to Be a Mentsh (and Not a Shmuck), bestselling author Michael Wex offers a wise and witty guide to being a good human being, regardless of your religion or beliefs. Referencing pop culture, current events, and Jewish tradition with equal ease, Wex explores the strategies developed by an oppressed people to pursue happiness with their dignity—and sense of humor—intact.