Classic Mussar Works

The golden era of Mussar literature lasted for almost a thousand years, beginning with the 900s and stretching on to the start of the historical Mussar movement in the 1800s. These are some of the classic works (מוסר קלאסי) from that time. Be sure to also see the Top Ten list for the best books from this era. (We've also made this whole collection of 100+ Mussar books available as a PDF to our members.)

Beliefs & Opinions (האמונות והדעות)

Book of Beliefs and Opinions or Sefer Emunot v'Deot (ספר האמונות והדעות) was written by the great Saadia Gaon (סעדיה גאון) in the early 900s as a philosophical defense of the core beliefs of Judaism. Its tenth and final chapter on Moral Conduct in particular was the first glimmering of the classical Mussar era. Originally written in Judeo-Arabic, it wasn't until a couple centuries later that it was translated into Hebrew and a thousand years later that it was translated into English. 

Get the Samuel Rosenblatt translation, published by Yale, which by 1989 was already in its fifth printing. 498 pages.

There's also this reprint of the original Alexander Altmann translation. 200 pages.

Fixing Soul Traits (תיקון מידות הנפש)

'Fixing Soul Traits' or more commonly 'The Improvement of the Moral Qualities' is a translation of Tikkun Middot Hanefesh (תיקון מידות הנפש). This little book was written by Solomon ibn Gabirol (שלמה אבן גבירול) in Arabic in the early 1000s and was translated into Hebrew over a century later. It was one of the three books that Rabbi Israel Salanter had reprinted for the Mussar movement. Get this reprint of the original 1902 translation by Stephen Wise. 191 pages.

Choice Pearls (מבחר הפנינים)

Choice Pearls or Mivchar Peninim (מבחר הפנינים) is a collection of Mussar Proverbs written by the poet Solomon ibn Gabirol (שלמה אבן גבירול) in the early 1000s. Get this reprint of the original 1859 translation by B. H. Ascher. 216 pages.

Book of the Righteous

Book of the Righteous or Sefer HaYashar (ספר הישר) was written in the mid-1100s by an anonymous author, possibly Rabbeinu Tam (רבנו תם). Not to be confused with the quasi-biblical book of Jasher which has the same Hebrew name. Get the 1973 English translation by Seymour Cohen. 298 pages.

Book of the Pious (ספר חסידים)

The Book of the Pious or Sefer Chasidim (ספר חסידים) was written in the late 1100s by Yehudah HeChasid, Judah the Pious (יהודה החסיד). This rare book is expensive on Amazon but you may be able to use WorldCat to find a library copy. 448 pages.

Guide to Serving God (המספיק לעובדי השם)

Guide to Serving God or HaMaspik l'Ovdei Hashem (המספיק לעובדי השם) was written by Rabbeinu Avraham (אברהם בן הרמב"ם) the son of the Rambam himself around 1230. Get Feldheim's Hebrew/English 2007 fullsize edition or the 2013 compact edition. 614 pages.

Ramban's Ethical Will (אגרת הרמב״ן)

The Iggeret HaRamban (אגרת הרמב״ן) was a Mussar letter written by Moses Ben Nachman (רבי משה בן נחמן) commonly known as the Ramban/Nachmanides (רמב״ן) to his son shortly before his death in 1270. 

Get Artscroll's 1989 publication of the Iggeres HaRamban in Hebrew/English with commentary.  144 pages.

There are also two 2007 'Bentscher' versions with the Grace After Meals prayers, one with a paperback cover and the other leatherette.

Staircase of Virtues (מעלות המדות)

Maalot HaMiddot (מעלות המדות) literally means Staircase of Virtues. Written by Yechiel Ben Yekutiel (רבי יחיאל בר יקותיאל) in the late 1200s, it lists 24 qualities/middot and their opposites. Get Moznaim's 1994 translation by Shraga Silverstein, The Book of Middoth. 355 pages.

Paths of Life (ארחות חיים)

Paths of Life or Orchot Chaim (ארחות חיים) was written in the early 1300s by Rabbeinu Asher Ben Yechiel (רבי אשר בן יחיאל), better known as The Rosh (רא״ש), to his sons. Get Artscroll's fullsize 1993 publication or the 2016 pocketsize version. 248 pages.

Why Catastrophes Come (אגרת מוסר)

Solomon Alami (שלמה אלעמי) wrote his Epistle of Rebuke or Iggeret Mussar (אגרת מוסר) to one of his disciples in 1415 as anti-Jewish persecution was sweeping Spain, attempting to explain Why Catastrophes Come. Download part of the letter translated into English.