From ancient Palestine through Europe and Asia, to America and modern Israel, Max I. Dimont shows how the saga of the Jews is interwoven with the s...
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Oct 17, 2009
Dave
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Very readable book. I just read the 1st edition, so there might be some good updates in the 2nd. There were some things I saw early on that I felt were historical inaccuracies. These unfortunately made me wonder at some other things I read, but overall it was great and moved along pretty well. It bogged down a bit when it got to the modern era but then picked up again in WWI. I learned a lot and it covered such a vast amount of time that you notice lots of other things you'd like to learn about.
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Aug 05, 2010
Joseph
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[This review also appears on FingerFlow.com, a site for review and discussion of creative works.]
Jews, God and History is a phenomenal work which undertakes the difficult and tedious task of presenting the 4,000 year history of the Jewish people. Instead of presenting this history from an insulated point of view, author Max I. Dimont shows the history of the Jews in the context of the entire world; in the vast tapestry of human history on this planet, the Jewish people are shown to b More...
Jews, God and History is a phenomenal work which undertakes the difficult and tedious task of presenting the 4,000 year history of the Jewish people. Instead of presenting this history from an insulated point of view, author Max I. Dimont shows the history of the Jews in the context of the entire world; in the vast tapestry of human history on this planet, the Jewish people are shown to b More...
Oct 18, 2008
Jsb
rated it: 
I strongly preferred Paul Johnson's History of the Jews to Max Dimont's The Jews, G'd, and History.
Dimont is well-informed, but he has some totally bizarre opinions. Edmund Burke is an intellectual father of the American Revolution? The Renaissance wasn't real in Poland? Jews and Greeks shared the same 'caberets' in 2nd cent BCE Israel? Ancient Israel was the world's first democracy?
The bizarre claims came so rapidly that it was impossible to keep up with them.
Dimont is well-informed, but he has some totally bizarre opinions. Edmund Burke is an intellectual father of the American Revolution? The Renaissance wasn't real in Poland? Jews and Greeks shared the same 'caberets' in 2nd cent BCE Israel? Ancient Israel was the world's first democracy?
The bizarre claims came so rapidly that it was impossible to keep up with them.
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Nov 25, 2010
Becky
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Well written book. Originally published in 1962, it was updated in 2004. Book is a great background to understand the Bible, other religions and history as Dimont examines how Jews have survived and thrived through the time of Abraham until today. What I liked was it looks at what is happening in world history, or Christianity, or islamic history, Arabic history and then compares what happened in Jewish history. Introduction of many people and Jewish religious terminology that was new to me.
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Oct 12, 2010
Marshall
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This book was one of the very best books I have ever read. The 4000 year history of the Jews (and along the way the Christian and Moslem offshoots) educating me on both the history of civilization in general and the only specific civilization (the Jews and their Diaspora) that has survived for four millinea. I especially appreciated Dimont's presentation of both the secular and religious views of Jewish history along with the many branchpoints (e.g., Kabala) along the way. My personal view of
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May 23, 2010
Heather
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This book is what I would call a "popularized" history. It's a fairly light and quick read and a good introduction to Jewish history. I take issue with the fact that Mr. Dimont treats certain characters in Jewish literature as historical (e.g. Abraham, Isaac, etc). Also I'm sure he's wrong about certain things. He states that the Zealots gained members from both the Pharisees and Sadducees. By what I know of those two groups, that would have been impossible as the Sadducees were n
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Jan 29, 2009
Nancy
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Not a new book, but related to a PBS special about the history of the Jews. It relates well to another book I am reading, as part of a Bible Study/book club. I've learned, among other things, that the people of Galilee were converted to Judaism only about a century or so BEFORE Jesus. Galilee was once part of the kingdom of Israel, but all the people (the ten tribes!) were scattered and the land left to what the Jews of the time would have called pagans or idolators, and the kingdom of Judea
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Jan 01, 2009
Michael
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I read this book in the late '60's while in high school. It was after the '67 war and when i wanted a more stable background on the Jewish people. This text answered many questions about the Jewish people. Later when I read Michener's The source, I had a greater understanding and appreciation of his story.
Jan 13, 2010
Yonnibardavi
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My purpose in reading Max I. Dimont, was to look beyond what others have written about the "Jews." During WW2, the Jewish population last up to 50% of their family and people. Amazingly, Jews have a long recorded history. The impact of the Jewish people on Western civilization cannot be ignored. Mr. Dimont answers some of my most perplexing questions.
Nov 03, 2011
Michael
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Here's a guy with zero academic credentials who wrote a pretty darn good history of the Jews from ancient times to modern. It has all the "greatest hits," more broad than deep. A good one to bring to shul on a Saturday.
Apr 15, 2011
I think it was amazing! and every part in this this book is important! WOW! From this book, i get lot of information. But, Max I. Dimont write it depends on Bible and Taurat. But, once again, It's cool!
Jan 30, 2011
Sandy
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The history of the Jews from the beginning of time until yesterday. An interesting take on why they're still around and other civilizations aren't.
May 07, 2010
TJ
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Awesome history of the Jewish culture. Learned a lot and have new respect for accomplishments of Jewish culture. Highly recommend to anyone history in religion or history
Jan 17, 2010
Maeda
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buat siapapun yg terlahir dg budaya dan keyanikan kristen... you must read this book.... excellent
May 19, 2008
Lynn
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This book was very readable and really did a good job of capsulizing the history of the Jews. The more contemporary sections were extremely well written and managed to be an excellent and objective view of modern history. At times his broad generalizations bothered me, but for the most part I felt it was really worthwhile particularly when taken in context of the time it was written. Clearly Dimont was very forward thinking for his time and more open than most of his peers.
Jul 29, 2009
Angela
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I learned so much from this book. It is definitely a history book - and while it's emphasis is on the Jewish people throughout the ages, it is always in the context of what is going on in the world at the time. I haven't taken world history since high school - I didn't realize how much I had forgotten or just didn't know. While the author is not a person of faith (and questions things like whether Abraham really heard from God to leave Ur) - he is an objective historian.
Jan 18, 2008
Jeff
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Comprehensive history of the Jewish people. The author chooses a more moderate, balanced view of Jewish history, though he stressed over and over the creativity, intelligence, and achievements of the Jewish people. I read about half of this, and anyone interested in learning about the history of the Jewish people could learn a lot from this book.
Jan 26, 2012
booklady
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An excellent history of the Jewish people told from the Jewish perspective. Have read twice.
First finished 15 March 1997
Started second time: 7 April 2002
I seem to recall having seen a mini-series as well.
First finished 15 March 1997
Started second time: 7 April 2002
I seem to recall having seen a mini-series as well.
Jan 15, 2009
Jean
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I picked this book up while in Hawaii on the recommendation of Zachary. It is approx. 500 pages in very tiny print - a disability as I get older. So far (and you can see I haven't got far,) it is very readable.
Aug 16, 2007
Indah
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A history of jew is basically a history of "God" and civilasation. 'God' in here meaning not as 'a real' but as 'concept'. In the 21th century the 'God' is what the book has told you about.
May 30, 2007
adam
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A little out-of-date (I think the initial pub date was in the 70's...), but completely engaging history of the Jewish tribe from Abraham onwards. 4000 years and counting! Pretty incredible.
Aug 21, 2007
Allison
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It's a little dry but very interesting. Helpful in understanding the history of Palestine, the middle east and the interrelatedness of the 3 major monotheistic religions.
Feb 07, 2012
Somewhat dense, a little boring. Just couldn't get motivated to do more than skim and 1/3 of the way through, gave that up, too.
Mar 08, 2008
Jenn
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The most amazing book of Jewish History-my mind was blown. It is a very dense book.
