Author Ilana Kurshan studied the entire Talmud in seven and a half years through the worldwide daily page study cycle known as Daf Yomi, not typically undertaken by women. When she began, she was a 27-year-old, newly divorced American, living alone in Jerusalem. By the time she completed the Talmud, she was remarried and mother of four. The book describes the impact her study had on her personal, professional and spiritual life. Kurshan earned a BA from Harvard University and master's in English literature from Cambridge University.