Stanford historian Steven J. Zipperstein's new biography, 'Philip Roth: Stung by Life,' seeks to reintroduce Roth to Jewish readers, focusing on his lasting relevance and complex relationship with Jewish identity. The book explores Roth's ambivalence toward his heritage, his provocative fiction, and the controversies that surrounded both his work and personal life. Zipperstein, who received Roth's blessing for the project, delves into how Roth's memory often diverged from reality and how his writing captured the paradoxes of Jewish experience in America. The biography argues that Roth's fearless engagement with uncomfortable truths and his vibrant language make him essential reading for contemporary Jewish discourse, beyond the scandals and debates that have marked his legacy.