A History of the Jews

By: Paul Johnson

Narrated by: Nadia May

Length: 28 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

This historical magnum opus covers 4,000 years of the extraordinary history of the Jews as a people, a culture, and a nation. It shows the impact of Jewish character on the world - their genius, imagination, and, most of all, their ability to persevere despite severe persecutions. Compelling insights into events and individuals are chronologically detailed, from Moses and Jesus to Spinoza, Marx, Freud, the Rothschilds, and Golda Meir.

©1987 Paul Johnson (P)1989 Blackstone Audio, inc.

Critic reviews

"It's no mean feat to successfully compress 4,000 years of history into 645 pages, but Johnson has more than met the challenge....an excellent, nonscholarly history for general readers." ( Library Journal)
"A tour de force....A remarkable achievement." ( The New York Times Book Review)
"A marvelous book....This is history: richly textured, provocative and wise." ( The Plain Dealer)

in-deapth, scholarly omnibus of history

This book surveys the Israelites and then the Jews as they progressed through time. The author strives to fairly access positive and negative factors and trends. This book calls anti-Semitism wrong at every turn. It doesn't ingore the gory details of history. The book doesnt assume that all Jews are observant, rather is contrasts the full spectrum of beliefs held by those of the Jewish race and the views held by others towards the Jews. The book highlights those Jews who have contributed significanttly to humanity. Overall, there is nothing simplistic about this book. After reading it, I feel I understand more about Jewish history, yet at the same time I am in awe of how very complex a topic this is.

Look at the review

What did you love best about A History of the Jews?

I loved the same part that I disliked. Paul Johnson has so much info about so many different societies from different centuries.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

If you are going to read this book you had better have quite a bit of knowledge already about these civilizations and times. Paul Johnson moves quickly through 4000 years and I reallized that this book was too much for me soon after I started it. Reading this book without a substantial knowledge base on the subjects is like trying to play the guitar just having listened to a lot of music and thinking you're just going to breeze through it. It isnt going to happen. I would recommend reading some other books that focus on specific great civilizations throughout history. This book isnt for newbie historians, this thing moves fast and the author seems to believe that you already know a lot. I'm sure it is a great read for people who do know a lot on the subject

Excellent history of Jews + good reader

Thorough history told by a humanist Tory catholic.

Prose and storytelling style reminded me of Barbara Tuchman. Learned a lot.

History of The Jews

Best listened to on 1st go without attempting to chronicle the story. Wow, so dense in reference. Rather "hear" the story. I'm thinking after a respite, I'll re-listen. And/or get a hard copy. 👍

Excellent book, some odd pronunciation

An excellent book on Jewish history, well researched and explained many things I didn't know as well as I would have liked. The reader is very good, with one exception - there are some strange pronunciations, for example Sinai is pronounced "sign-A-I", which detract from an otherwise well done reading.

A great book that exposes the history few know

This is a great book about the history of a phenomenal people, the culture and especially the countless ways history has ignored them. A real story detailing the countless contributions of a people who go back father than almost any other group in history despite the repeated attempts at their destruction. I'm not Jewish but read it to get informed about the group and was astonished at how all people have been blessed by the contributions of many of the most influential people in history.
The number of Nobel Prize winners, percentage of their representation in medicine and the law, as well as the impact in politics by several that made and changed history.
I recommend it,. At the least to contrast against, what is often taken as historical facts, that are in fact distortions that were written into "history" when propaganda to promote the view by different faiths over the last few thousand years.

Beautifully written, well presented

Where does A History of the Jews rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the few I find myself returning to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maimonides' description was poignant. Additionally, Abraham discussing his land purchase -- beautifully quoting, "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you" is memorable.

What does Nadia May bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The performance is well-paced, drawing the ear to parts that may have otherwise been skipped over.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The discussion of the Albigensian and Hussite movements, and the medieval Jewish experience, was a rare delight.

Any additional comments?

While not without fault, and clearly written from a Christian scholar's perspective, it remains a work I reference and I return to.

Excellent

One caveat - keep Johnson's right-wing ideology in mind. Otherwise beautifully done and thoroughly researched.

Great for those who love history.

A great book. Tells the story of the Jews from the beginning to 1980's.
The audio isn't perfect, but the book is still worth a credit.

I will listen to this again.

Tainted with mispronunciationS

My review of this text is tainted by the reader's constant mispronunciation of names. How someone can read a text of such historical levity, without first researching how to properly pronounce the names is beyond me.

In addition, the book is definitely written from an outsider's perspective, and with a Christian misunderstanding of certain aspects of Jewish life and history.

I am still searching for the perfect text, but this one is only adequate in terms of historical perspective.