Jacob Neusner's ambitious forty-three volume analysis of the Mishnah and Tosefta culminates in a provocative yet ultimately flawed reimagining of how scholars should approach rabbinic texts. Breaking sharply with George Foot Moore and Saul Lieberman's traditional methodologies, Neusner advocates treating the Mishnah as an independent literary work interpreted purely on its own terms. Through detailed textual analysis focused on normative Judaism, legal development, the Mishnah's wholeness, and its autonomous interpretation, this review reveals both the brilliance and limitations of Neusner's "counter-rabbinics" approach. While Neusner poses vital new questions and offers fresh perspectives, his wholesale rejection of traditional rabbinics unwisely dismisses Moore's and Lieberman's valuable insights into theological and historical contexts. Moreover, Neusner's inattention to textual details and tendency to interpret through preconceived humanistic and existential lenses undermines his scientific credibility as much as the traditional approaches he criticizes. Despite these significant weaknesses, Neusner's work represents an immensely valuable contribution to modern rabbinic studies, offering important insights into ancient Jewish thought while demonstrating both the potential and limitations of purely literary approaches to rabbinic texts.