In his concise, readable treatise on the Jews and their enormous impact on history and civilization, Cahill recreates the philosophical and religious matrix of the ancient world and shows how the ancient Jews burst upon the stage with a completely new view. He explains the historical importance of key Biblical figures and he shows how their ideas continue to drive our civilization today.

With the same captivating style that made Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization such an effective introductory text for medieval and ecclesiastical history courses, The Gifts of the Jews is a concise and highly readable treatise on the enormous impact of the Jews on history and civilization. Cahill re-creates the philosophical and religious matrix of the ancient world, and then shows how the Jews challenged that matrix with a completely new view. He explains the historical importance of such biblical figures as Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Pharaoh, and how their ideas continue to drive our civilization at the most fundamental level today.


“Persuasive as well as entertaining...Mr. Cahill's book [is] a gift.” —Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times

“An outstanding and very readable book...highly recommended.” —Library Journal

“A very good read, a dramatically effective, often compelling retelling of the Hebrew Bible.” —Charles Gold, Chicago Sun Times

“This is a valuable book, of interest to everyone, religious or not.”—Washington Times

“A highly readable, entrancing journey.” —San Francisco Chronicle

 
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Thomas Cahill studied at New York's Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, Fordham University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America with some of the nation's most distinguished literary and biblical scholars.