Customer Reviews

History and Hate: The Dimensions of Anti-Semitism

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At 124 pages consisting of 8 essays be various experts, I found this to be a fascinating, well-written, hugely educational experience. As a general reader, I found it a natural next step to a general book such as "Jews, God, and History" by Max I. Dimont. (Dimont's book had an excellent chapter on the history of anti-semitism but is was somewhat simplistic compared to the more in depth look given in "History and Hate"). "History and Hate" is readable by general readers who have at some time in the past read books such as "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", or perhaps a book of history by Josephus and a book such as "The History of the World" by J. M. Roberts. I.e., it helps to have a general knowledge of world history to make the experience of reading "History of Hate" meaningful. I recommend "History of Hate" as an excellent book for a general reader who wants to see more of the "big picture" of anti-semitism throughout the world. Some of the essay titles are, "Anti-Semitism in the Ancient World", "Medieval Anti-Semitism", "Anti-Semitism and the Muslim World", and "American Anti-Semitism". I did not find a single "dud" and enjoyed all 8 of the essays. By contrast, I am disappointed in the book, "A ScapeGoad in the New Wilderness: The Origins and Rise of Anti-Semitism in American" by Frederic Jaher. This is a dishonest book because an unsuspecting reader ordering it sight-unseen assumes it covers history up to the present. In fact, it stops at around the year 1870. On the other side of the spectrum, I am unhappy with the book "Esau's Tears: Modern Anti-Semitism and the Rise of the Jews" by Lindemann because at 561 dense pages it is simply too long to hold the interest of a general reader. A general reader doesn't have the time for books of such a huge length, especially as to me it seems to be somewhat padded with overly flowery sentences. The bottom line is that I was able to read "History of Hate" in two days, felt I got my money's worth, was much the wiser for reading it, and was well entertained.