Overview

A sweeping history of Judaism over more than three millennia Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and it has preserved its distinctive identity despite the extraordinarily diverse forms and beliefs it has embodied over the course of more than three millennia. A History of Judaism provides the first truly comprehensive look in one volume at how this great religion came to be, how it has evolved from one age to the next, and how its various strains, sects, and traditions have related to each other. In this magisterial and elegantly written book, Martin Goodman takes readers from Judaism's origins in the polytheistic world of the second and first millennia BCE to the temple cult at the time of Jesus. He tells the stories of the rabbis, mystics, and messiahs of the medieval and early modern periods and guides us through the many varieties of Judaism today. Goodman's compelling narrative spans the globe, from the Middle East, Europe, and America to North Africa, China, and India. He explains the institutions and ideas on which all forms of Judaism are based, and masterfully weaves together the different threads of doctrinal and philosophical debate that run throughout its history. A History of Judaism is a spellbinding chronicle of a vibrant and multifaceted religious tradition that has shaped the spiritual heritage of humankind like no other.

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9781982544355

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Reviews

"A hugely welcome addition to the library of Jewish studies for the general reader and an absolute godsend for rabbis always perplexed by what book they should recommend to people about how Jewish beliefs and practices have evolved...Goodman has done both Jews and non-Jews a great service with this book, encapsulating most of Jewish thought over four millennia in one extraordinarily readable volume. -- ""Literary Review"" An accessible narrative look at more than two thousand years of Judaism...Despite the volume's ambitious scope, Goodman leaves no significant topic unaddressed. This is the rare scholarly volume that offers new insights and details for the lay and academic reader alike. -- ""Publishers Weekly (starred review)"" An expansive and fascinating history...Goodman...has crafted a worthy addition to the wide-ranging genre of Jewish studies, offering a hefty yet accessible historical overview of the Jewish religion...Well-written and exhaustively researched, Goodman's work is a masterpiece of pedagogy crafted as a tool for teaching and learning about one of civilization's oldest religions. -- ""Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"" Goodman...sketches every figure, defines every movement and captures the 'kaleidoscopic variety' of Judaism's modulating expressions without losing sight of its living core. He is an invaluable guide to the faith that has led the Jews like the pillar of fire that guided Moses and the Hebrews in the desert. -- ""Wall Street Journal"" Martin Goodman writes with the intimacy of an insider and the breadth of an incisive scholar. At once lucid and authoritative, expansive and nuanced, his book is the finest introduction to Judaism written in recent years. -- ""Steven J. Zipperstein, author of Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History"" Taking in three millennia of religious thought and practice, Goodman's scholarship is formidable. -- ""Guardian (London)"""

Martin Goodman writes with the intimacy of an insider and the breadth of an incisive scholar. At once lucid and authoritative, expansive and nuanced, his book is the finest introduction to Judaism written in recent years. -- Steven J. Zipperstein, author of Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History A hugely welcome addition to the library of Jewish studies for the general reader and an absolute godsend for rabbis always perplexed by what book they should recommend to people about how Jewish beliefs and practices have evolved...Goodman has done both Jews and non-Jews a great service with this book, encapsulating most of Jewish thought over four millennia in one extraordinarily readable volume. -- Literary Review An expansive and fascinating history...Goodman...has crafted a worthy addition to the wide-ranging genre of Jewish studies, offering a hefty yet accessible historical overview of the Jewish religion...Well-written and exhaustively researched, Goodman's work is a masterpiece of pedagogy crafted as a tool for teaching and learning about one of civilization's oldest religions. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) An accessible narrative look at more than two thousand years of Judaism...Despite the volume's ambitious scope, Goodman leaves no significant topic unaddressed. This is the rare scholarly volume that offers new insights and details for the lay and academic reader alike. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Goodman...sketches every figure, defines every movement and captures the 'kaleidoscopic variety' of Judaism's modulating expressions without losing sight of its living core. He is an invaluable guide to the faith that has led the Jews like the pillar of fire that guided Moses and the Hebrews in the desert. -- Wall Street Journal Taking in three millennia of religious thought and practice, Goodman's scholarship is formidable. -- Guardian (London)

Author Information

Martin Goodman is professor of Jewish studies at the University of Oxford, where he is president of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and a fellow of Wolfson College. His books include Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations and The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Studies. Derek Perkins is a professional narrator and voice actor. He has earned numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. Augmented by a knowledge of three foreign languages and a facility with accents, he has narrated numerous titles in a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.

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