Is this why Jews are so successful?

The phenomenon of Jewish success is real and hard to explain. This theory deserves attention and is one academics can appreciate.

In Jews, Judaism, and Success: How Religion Paved the Way to Modern Jewish Achievement, leading Jewish studies and religious studies scholar Prof. Robert Eisen of George Washington University has taken on the challenge of explaining the astounding accomplishments of Jews in our modern world, in fields that have nothing to do with Judaism. 

It is estimated that men and women of Jewish descent have won 22% of the Nobel Prizes ever awarded, even though Jews constitute a mere 0.2% of the population of the world. 

Since the establishment of the Pulitzer Prize in 1918, Jews have won 53% of the awards in the non-fiction category, and 14% of the awards for fiction. 

The theory: Jews are so successful because of the values of Rabbinic Judaism

They hesitate to offer explanations about why this happens. Eisen considers and dismisses academic explanations based on economic or sociological theory, as well as non-academic explanations, such as that Jews are “smarter” than others or that Jews are “conniving” or “more devious” than others.

His central argument is that classical Rabbinic Judaism promoted four values more than other Western religions did: respect for human autonomy; belief in freedom of thought and expression; the conviction that life in this world is inherently good; and respect for education.