Need good book on Jewish history!!!

[martinw718]

I'm looking for the right book on Jewish history.

As with any and all subjects there is likely to be some junk out there. Knowing my luck I'll grab the one with the nice cover and it will be the doctoral dissertation of some academic buffoon.

Does anybody have any suggestions.

PLEASE!!!!

[elke]

Originally posted by martinw718
I'm looking for the right book on Jewish history.

As with any and all subjects there is likely to be some junk out there. Knowing my luck I'll grab the one with the nice cover and it will be the doctoral dissertation of some academic buffoon.

Does anybody have any suggestions.

PLEASE!!!!

Have you read "My People" by Abba Eban? I thought it was great! It's well-written and well-researched. However, it is not designed for historians IMO, so it's relatively basic. I'd venture to say that you would know most of the information contained therein.

[martinw718]

Originally posted by elke
I'd venture to say that you would know most of the information contained therein.

Hee. Hee. Tell that to my high school history teacher. :D

Thanks. I'll check that out on Amazon and then go to Barnes and Noble to guy it.

[Teacake]

Another good book is Jews, God and History by Max Dimont. Find the paperback if you can.

[I am David]

Does anyone know a detailed and not boring book (simple language, not college level words etc.) about the ancient Hebrews and the Israelite empire as well as the devided kingdom?

[Mediocrates]

The first question: "The History of the Jews", Paul Johnson. "The Chosen"; Chaim Potok.

The 2nd question: "The Story of the Jews"; Stan Mack (the cartoonist, no joke)

But I will wag my finger at you and tell you you should go to shul more and check out their library....tsk tsk. ;)

[elke]

Originally posted by martinw718


Hee. Hee. Tell that to my high school history teacher. :D

Thanks. I'll check that out on Amazon and then go to Barnes and Noble to guy it.

You mean, you studied Jewish history in High School? Wow! You know, in Russia the history classes completely and totally ignored the Jews! We had a year of Russian History, a year of Ancient History, a year of Medieval and Renaissance History, and those who were unfortunate enough to remain there past 6th grade, had an extra year of Russian, a year of the Age of Reason through the modern times, a full year on the "Great Patriotic War", - a/k/a WWII... and something else, I don't remember.

Gotta hand it to them: figure, doing a whole year of Ancient History without mentioning the Jews once: it must have been awfully difficult!

[martinw718]

Originally posted by Mediocrates
The first question: "The History of the Jews", Paul Johnson. "The Chosen"; Chaim Potok.

The 2nd question: "The Story of the Jews"; Stan Mack (the cartoonist, no joke)

But I will wag my finger at you and tell you you should go to shul more and check out their library....tsk tsk. ;)

Okay! Great. I'll look those up. I'm into a book buying thing right now.

I've been reading Kafka lately. Either I'm already nuts or I plan to be.

[ibrodsky]

Originally posted by I am David
Does anyone know a detailed and not boring book (simple language, not college level words etc.) about the ancient Hebrews and the Israelite empire as well as the devided kingdom?

I've been reading the Cambridge Ancient History which is very scholarly and most would probably find it boring. The important point, though, is that reading this scholarly work really drives home the point that most of what we know about ancient Israel comes from the Holy Scriptures. There were no contemporary accounts, and the early Greek and Roman historians made little or no effort to dig into Israel's past.