This book is an excellent choice for history buffs or for people trying to learn more about their heritage. This book gives a brief synopsisof jewish history which really helps spark the interest to learn more about ones past. An excellent choice!

In Max Dimont's view of Jewish history, "the saga of the Jewish people is a fantastic adventure story" (xiv) of survival against unbelievable odds. Every period of Jewish history presented a new challenge, whether persecution by a rival nation, assimilation into a foreign culture, or internal religious dissent. In every time-period, Judaism, and the Jewish people, faced the real possibility of ceasing to exist. But through courage, creativity, religious insight, and luck, the "saga" continues to the present day.

Because its scope is so large for such a short book, The Amazing Adventures of the Jewish People only touches upon each period of Jewish history briefly. In four or five pages, Dimont can cover hundreds of years. Nevertheless, by focusing on surprising facts and unusual situations, the book manages to present a very readable account. Because each of the thirty-six chapters is centered on a single issue or crisis in Jewish history, Dimont manages to simultaneously provide both a chronological and topical approach to the subject.

History is presented as the result of the specific decisions of historical figures, presented at their most heroic (and villainous), within the context of the great events of their time-periods. Characterizations are tempered with interesting biographical details that help to personalize the constant stream of names. Religious, political, and intellectual figures share the spotlight, leading to a clear sense that Judaism is more than a religion or nationality.

Written with so much clear enthusiasm, it is hard not to get caught up and to share Dimont's excitement. Dimont has a good sense of narrative and of detail, and knows how to balance between the two to tell an engaging story. Each chapter concludes by introducing the challenge that will be faced in the next, in the "tune-in-next-time" style of the old silent serials. Although the "gee-whiz" tone may be off-putting to some readers, most will find the book lives up to the title and is an exhilarating read.

This book truly reviews the glorious history of the Jews. I couldn't put it down. The facts and the fiction that have been discussed and written about over the centuries were touched on with great passion and research. This book makes me proud to be a part of the Jewish people.

This book was recommended to my by an internet friend. It is far outside of my usual area of reading. I did not think that I would understand the book, much less enjoy the read. Just how interesting would Jewish history be to a Christian? I was very wrong in my assumptions. This book turned out to be a real page- turner. I couldn't put it down. When I was in high school, many years ago, I could never figure out what made the Jewish kids so smart. They seemed to be the grade leaders in every school in the city. This great book answered that question and many others that I have always had about the Jewish people and religion. In my opinion, every adult, Muslim, Christian, Jew, or whatever religion, should read this book. The way you look at the world will be forever changed!

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.

Max Dimont shows how the Jews have been preserved through their tumultuous history by the Bible scriptures. The 10 commandments given by Moses, and the moral remonstrances of lessor prophets became the resource which preserved the Jews as a a separate, and very influential people for thousands of years. He shows how those biblical laws and precepts shaped the legal codes of Western Civilisation as the Jews migrated throughout the world during their Diaspora. Therefore, Western Civilisation owes much to the Bible scriptures through the idestructible Jewsih people. The book is authoritative and interesting throughout. The very readable work of a frequent lecturer on the history of the Jewish nation.