Anti-Judaism 

The Western Tradition

By: David Nirenberg

Narrated by: Robert Blumenfeld

Length: 17 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

A powerful history that shows anti-Judaism to be a central way of thinking in the Western tradition.

This incisive history upends the complacency that confines anti-Judaism to the ideological extremes in the Western tradition. With deep learning and elegance, David Nirenberg shows how foundational anti-Judaism is to the history of the West. Questions of how we are Jewish and, more critically, how and why we are not have been churning within the Western imagination throughout its history. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans; Christians and Muslims of every period; even the secularists of modernity have used Judaism in constructing their visions of the world. The thrust of this tradition construes Judaism as an opposition, a danger often from within, to be criticized, attacked, and eliminated. The intersections of these ideas with the world of power - the Roman destruction of the Second Temple, the Spanish Inquisition, the German Holocaust - are well known. The ways of thought underlying these tragedies can be found at the very foundation of Western history.

©2013 David Nirenberg (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Great Book: Terrible Narrator

The book is an outstanding and in depth examination of the way Jews are constructed in Western culture. I highly recommend buying the printed book. The audible narration of this book, however, is simply atrocious. The narrator doesn't sound like he understands what he is reading. The intonation is completely wrong, and his tone of voice is extremely irritating and mechanical. This is a complex book with rich examples and requires more sophisticated tone modulation. This narrator sounds computer generated. Don't buy the audible version of this book.

An Education

A sweeping history of Western thought that points to the Jews as being "the others." The author cites example after example of how leading intellectuals and theologians blamed "Jewish influence" for corrupt behavior or ideals. I learned some fascinating things - but I don't believe I heard the whole story here. I'm a Jew who is struggling to understand more about anti-semitism. This book was a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the narrator speaks too quickly for my taste. He also brings a slight tone of condescension - although the author also contributes to this tone. To be fair, the author also displays a sardonic sense of humor on occasion - which helps the listener navigate through this challenging subject.