Rachel Gordan's book 'Postwar Stories: How Books Made Judaism American' examines the reading habits of American Jews after World War II, emphasizing middlebrow literature over more renowned authors like Saul Bellow and Philip Roth.

The influence of significant historical events, such as the Holocaust and the establishment of Israel, has profoundly shaped Jewish literature and identity in the postwar era, adding layers of complexity to Jewish American experiences.

Gordan identifies two pivotal genres of literature from this era: 'Introduction to Judaism literature,' which aimed to educate both Jews and non-Jews about Judaism, and 'anti-antisemitism literature,' which sought to integrate Jews into the American cultural fabric.

Notable works in the 'Introduction to Judaism' genre include 'This Is My God' by Herman Wouk and 'Basic Judaism' by Milton Steinberg, which address Jewish identity amid rising assimilation.

An example of 'anti-antisemitism literature' is Laura Z. Hobson's 'Gentleman’s Agreement,' which critiques antisemitism through the perspective of a journalist's undercover experience as a Jew.

Ronnie Grinberg's 'Write Like a Man' critiques the hyper-masculine culture of New York's literary scene and its impact on Jewish intellectual discourse.

Over the decades, the literary monoculture within Jewish literature has fragmented significantly, complicating the identification of contemporary works that resonate with middle-aged Jews today.

In 2020, the anthology 'The New Jewish Canon' aimed to capture contemporary Jewish thought but revealed a scarcity of bestsellers, reflecting the fragmented state of Jewish literature.

Recent scholarship highlights a gender disparity in Jewish literary history, noting that while male authors dominated, women writers like Mary McCarthy and Elizabeth Hardwick also made significant contributions, albeit often without equal recognition.

Despite the male-dominated landscape, the contributions of women writers during this period have been crucial, although they frequently remain sidelined in discussions of Jewish literature.

The article raises questions about the current state of Jewish identity and shared experiences, suggesting that the lack of a common literary canon may indicate a diverse yet disconnected community.

In the 1970s, a common collection of Jewish literature among American Jews featured notable works like 'The Source' by James Michener and 'Exodus' by Leon Uris, reflecting a shared cultural experience.