Antisemitisms: A History of Jew Hating

by Sander L. Gilman

Why do Jews continue to serve as targets of hatred – and how coherent is the idea of antisemitism itself? In Antisemitisms, Sander L. Gilman draws on decades of scholarship to argue that such hatreds are less stable and more opportunistic than often assumed. Tracing fantasies of Jewish difference – from appearance and biology to citizenship, nationhood and 'self-hatred' – he reveals how contradictory ideas have been used to justify exclusion and violence. This book moves beyond the familiar frameworks of 'eternal hatred' or 'thinking with Jews' to show how antisemitic and even philosemitic attitudes shift to suit changing political needs. As violence against Jews is on the rise once more, Gilman offers a clear, sobering account of what’s at stake.

288 pages, Hardcover

Published July 14, 2026

About the author

Sander L. Gilman is an American cultural and literary historian. He is known for his contributions to Jewish studies and the history of medicine. He is the author or editor of over ninety books. Gilman's focus is on medicine and the echoes of its rhetoric in social and political discourse.

Reviews

[Karen]

This book was very inaccessible for the average reader. There’s too many quotes on one page whilst often not actually reaching a conclusion or giving an explanation. There wasn’t even a conclusion at the end of the book. There were interesting perspectives and historical information but these were never developed enough in an accessible way for them to really make an impact on my understanding. I slogged through until the end but was left disappointed, especially as this was picked up in the local library, I suspect with the hope of educating people but unless you’re an academic I don’t see this happening.