The Jews: A History

by John Efron, Steven Weitzman, Matthias Lehmann

New research has conspired to unsettle many established ideas about the Jewish past, challenging how historians have thought about and described it, and sometimes making it appear less accessible than it was thought to be in earlier generations. While these recent developments would appear to make a history of the Jewish people more difficult, the authors of The A History believe it has deepened and broadened our understanding. Though the reader will find in The Jews many familiar names, in its pages will also be found a broader spectrum of mothers, children, workers, students, artists, and radicals whose perspectives greatly expands the story of Jewish life from ancient times to the present.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, World History, Textbooks, Judaism

528 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2008

Reviews

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

The the authors do an excellent job of packing such a massive amount of information into one place, starting in the ancient world and bringing the narrative up to the twenty-first century. Various interpretations and historical understandings are explored without snobbery. There were a number of places were repetition crept in, but that is somewhat to be expected with such a broad field of study. Great for students or for anyone wanting a general survey of Jewish history.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely grueling read but I got through it

[Mark Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are textbooks, and there are textbooks. This one had the imposing task of compressing several thousand years of Jewish history into one book, and in my opinion, did so very well. This was required reading for a course on the Jewish Diaspora at Temple University in the Fall of 2011 and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very densely written. It's a bit frustrating for students in class, as they often lack the skills to find trends, instead getting bogged down in the details. It's got very good information, though, so it's hard to beat as a textbook.