A Short History of the Jews

Reviews / Votes

As the title indicates, this is a compact survey of Jewish history, an introduction for general readers. Still, Professor Brenner manages to cover a great deal of ground while effectively explaining many of the key elements of the Jewish experience. From biblical times to the present, Brenner asserts, a recurring theme of Jewish history is migration, yet it is migration that constantly kept the land of Israel as the focus of Jewish emotions and aspirations... On the whole, this work serves as an excellent introduction. -- Jay Freeman Booklist In this concise but all-encompassing account of the Jews, Brenner (After the Holocaust) does a remarkable job of escorting readers from the biblical narrative of Abraham's journey from Ur and idolatry through the treacherous, monotheistic course of Jewish history, concluding with modern-day Israeli society. Publishers Weekly Religion Book Line This is an excellent overview of Jewish history--a well-written, up-to-date survey for college students and the general reader. Considering the scope of the coverage, the book is remarkably concise. The explanations under the attractive illustrations aptly point to their relevance in the period being discussed. -- Robert Seltzer H-Net Reviews Brenner offers a digestible, interesting, complex history, in an accessible format. Jewish Book World Recommended. -- Sandra Collins Library Journal A Short History of the Jews is well-written and Jeremiah Riemer's translation from the German is quite readable. All in all, an excellent source for the reader, Jewish or otherwise. -- Ed Sizemore Denton Record-Chronicle This elegantly produced, generously illustrated text attempts the impossible--the telling of 3,000 years of Jewish history in less than 400 pages. Choice Michael Brenner's lavishly illustrated and authoritative A Short History of the Jews is not exactly short, given its 421 pages with the index. But since he is dealing with about 3,000 years, Brenner's feat of condensation is commendable. -- Sheldon Kirshner Canadian Jewish News [A]n interesting survey and good place to start for any reader curious about the history of the Jewish people in their societies. -- Jay Howard Geller Canadian Journal of History