A History of the Jews: A Study of Jewish History and Influence Across Millennia

National Bestseller

"A tour de force. . . . A remarkable achievement." —New York Times Book Review

"A marvelous book. . . . This is history: richly textured, provocative and wise." —Plain Dealer

From acclaimed historian Paul Johnson, author of Modern Times and A History of American People, this brilliant work of world history offers a 4000 year survey that covers not only Jewish history—from ancient Israel to the modern day—but the impact of Jewish genius and imagination on the world.

Why have the Jews endured for 4,000 years, and what has been their profound role in the story of humanity?

• The Birth of Monotheism: Trace the story from Abraham’s covenant and the origins of a single, ethical God to the laws of Moses and the writing of the Bible.
• A History of Survival: Follow the long, often tragic, history of a tenacious people through exile, persecution, the ghetto, and the Holocaust.
• Impact on Civilization: Examine the magnitude of the debt Christianity owes to Judaism and the immense impact of Jewish genius on global culture and thought.
• The Age of Zion: Understand the modern era, from the rise of Emancipation to the creation of a controversial and beleaguered state of its own in Zion.

Paul Johnson is a historian whose work ranges over the millennia and the whole gamut of human activities. He regularly writes book reviews for several UK magazines and newspapers, such as the Literary Review and The Spectator, and he lectures around the world. He lives in London, England.