Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: I had not much luck with finding a really good history of Judaism until I stumbled across this book and bought it on a whim. What I got was what I really wanted: a well-written history of the Jews from ancient times to today.Two things make this book great. First, Dimont is a good writer, both insightful and entertaining, with occasional flashes of ironic humor. Second, Dimont puts the history of the Jews in the larger context of World History and keeps from a narrower Jewish perspective. On the one hand, Dimont does not hide his general admiration for the Jews, both for their endurance and their contributions to society that are far out of proportion to their percentage of the populace. On the other hand, for those who believe that Jews have suffered nothing but persecution for thousands of years, Dimont presents a different viewpoint which shows Jews often prospering. No one will find Dimont fully objective in his history, but they should find that he presents an overall balanced work. Written with both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences in mind, Dimont has put together a wonderful book that is good for both those interested in Jewish history or those interested in Western history in general.
Rating: 
Summary: A very bad history book
Review: I usually don't do this, but here I am writing about a book after reading only its first chapter. I have found it so shallow, oversimplified and misleading, I feel there is no need to read the book any further. The author is engaged too deeply with the grand historico-racial theories of Spengler, Toynbee, etc., and too little with historical accuracy. For example, he claims that Persians are a dead nation. I am sure millions of Persians (aka Iranians) would be very surprised to hear this. This is just one mistake among very many. Besides, all thing Jewish are described as oh-so-positive, while all things non-Jewish, even the very best ones, somehow acquire a negative tint. Jewish identity is put "uber alles" (above all). Consider this quote: "... intermarriage was diluting the Jewish strain -- again a ... threat to Jewish identity, a threat to ... racial purity". This from a pen of a Jewish writer, writing after the Holocaust! Is there any need to read this further? If anyone knows a more factual, more detailed and less biased book on Jewish history, please tell me.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was really excited about this book, but I was very disappointed. Writing about a religious community in a secular way is very awkward. The writer has to fall back on specious claims to justify what happened(he will later say"Oh yeah, the relgious people believe this...) but the focus seems to be on secular atheism. He also throws in something out of nowhere about Darwinism for what reason I don't know. I am not a Christian, and I am not very familiar with the Christian church and history, and I found his repeated references to Paul and the church(pretty much at every significant point) confusing. This book was a real let down for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Starting Point in the History of the Jews
Review: If you are wanting to expand your knowledge of the history of the Jews, this is a good book to begin with. It will give you a detailed overview (without getting bogged down in minutiae). The only drawback is that it was written in the 1960s, and while it says that it was updated in 1994, the updates did not (and could not due to space constraints) do justice to the upheaval and turmoil that has occurred in the decades since it was origninally written. A slightly newer history that might serve as well is Paul Johnson's A History of the Jews (1998). For an overview of Islamic history, you might check out Karen Armstrong's Islam.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Starting Point in the History of the Jews
Review: If you are wanting to expand your knowledge of the history of the Jews, this is a good book to begin with. It will give you a detailed overview (without getting bogged down in minutiae). The only drawback is that it was written in the 1960s, and while it says that it was updated in 1994, the updates did not (and could not due to space constraints) do justice to the upheaval and turmoil that has occurred in the decades since it was origninally written. A slightly newer history that might serve as well is Paul Johnson's A History of the Jews (1998). For an overview of Islamic history, you might check out Karen Armstrong's Islam.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a mystery
Review: In The Jews G-d and History, Max Dimont has managed to combine the secular with the sacred in a clear consise manner. I especially enjoyed the interweaving of "Jewish" history with a time line of what was happening throughout the world. This book, somewhat colored by the time period in which it was written, the 1960s, does make one think about what really happened (was Abraham "smoking" when he saw the angels or spoke to G-d?)and is it important, or is it the message that counts? The same for Paul. My only complaint is I cannot find a large print edition of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a mystery
Review: In The Jews G-d and History, Max Dimont has managed to combine the secular with the sacred in a clear consise manner. I especially enjoyed the interweaving of "Jewish" history with a time line of what was happening throughout the world. This book, somewhat colored by the time period in which it was written, the 1960s, does make one think about what really happened (was Abraham "smoking" when he saw the angels or spoke to G-d?)and is it important, or is it the message that counts? The same for Paul. My only complaint is I cannot find a large print edition of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: It matters not your faith or lack of it, this books explination of history alone is worth the proverbial price of admission. The lineage of the Jews and the influence it has had on civilization is simply incredible. This book is brimming with information. If you are interested in world history, culture, religion, or just want examples of why and how the world has changed (and why it really never will) then invest the time to read this book, you won't be disapppointed.
Rating:
Summary: This is an outstanding introduction to Jewish history!
Review: Max Dimont's talent is comparable to that of the late Will Durant. He manages to give an accurate sketch of Judaic history with enough flavour to make it "come alive" for the non-historian. As a Jew, I found that Dimont the scholar is factual and respectful of the subject matter while adding much-needed levity in key moments. Highly recommended, especially for the bibliography.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Popular History
Review: Most history textbooks hardly mention Jew except as isolated individuals. I remember my old World History text called Judaism the oldest ethical religion, but hardly had a word about Jews until World War Two. This book fills in the gap well. It is very readable. It does not pretend to be impartial. (For an impartial, rather dry history, an interested person should read Jones' History, no doubt out of print for many years, but a good university library should have a copy.) There is a good treatment of the schools of Hillel and Shammi.
On the other hand the origins of Jews in Russia are hardly mentioned. The reason why Jewish contributions to science or math do not begin until the 19th century is not addressed, which is to me a very large question, Judaism being in the thought process it induces so closely related to the processes of natural law. There are small bits which seem more like gossip than documented history. He mentions, for example, that during the Renaisance period half the brides were married pregnant. Now, how can he know that? Still, I highly recommend this book.
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