"A Dear Son to Me" is a collection of speeches and articles given by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz around the world over the past four decades, most of them previously unpublished. The author, a well-known philosopher, educator and author, probes the condition of the Jewish people - as individuals, in the State of Israel and around the world.

The main focus of this collection is the Jewish people - Jews in general, in the State of Israel and in the Diaspora, and the individual Jews. Some of the chapters in the book include: "What is a Jew", "Nationalist Fanaticism", "Peace and the Greater Land of Israel", "Prophecy and Government", "Where do Torah and Science Clash", "Heroism", and "On Character Education." Rabbi Steinsaltz's warmth and authenticity to differing audiences and circumstances, is reflected throughout this book.