Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
![Loading indicator](/images/ajax-loader-bar.gif)
Taking us first to Sumer in the third millennium, Cahill explores a civilization in which life is seen - as it was in all ancient societies - as part of an endless cycle of birth and death: time perceived as a wheel, spinning ceaselessly, never altering its course - until the ancient Jews dramatically change that perception.
When Abraham hears the Voice of God speaking the unexpected words "Go forth," the concept of an unknown future takes hold and Western civilization is born. From this insight the Jews evolve a new vision of men and women with unique destinies - a vision that thousands of years later will inspire the Declaration of Independence and our hopeful belief in progress and the sense that tomorrow can be better than today.
Thomas Cahill narrates this momentous shift with compelling stories, insights, and humor, and draws us closer to such powerful biblical personalities as Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Miriam, David, Amos, Isaiah, Naomi, and Ruth.
Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
![Loading indicator](/images/ajax-loader-bar.gif)
Previews available in: English
Subjects
Bible, Civilization, History, History of Biblical events, Jewish influences, Jews, Judaism, Nonfiction, Western Civilization, History to 70 A.D., Bible. O.T., Large type books, New York Times reviewed, Bible, history of biblical events, o. t., Judaism, history, to 70 a.d., Civilization, history, Jews, history, to 70 a.d.Times
To 70 A.D.Showing 7 featured editions. View all 7 editions?
Edition | Availability |
---|---|
1
The Gifts of the Jews
2010, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
E-book
in English
0307755118 9780307755117
|
zzzz
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
2
Youtai ren de li wu: yi ge you mu min zu ru he gai bian li shi
2001, Jiu jing chu ban she gu fen you xian gong si
in Chinese
- Chu ban
9576076595 9789576076596
|
zzzz
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
3
The gifts of the Jews: how a tribe of desert nomads changed the way everyone thinks and feels
1999, Nan A. Talese
in English
- 1st Nan A. Talese/Anchor Books.
0385482493 9780385482493
|
eeee
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
4
The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels (Hinges of History)
August 17, 1999, Anchor
in English
0385482493 9780385482493
|
zzzz
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
5
The gifts of the Jews: how a tribe of desert nomads changed the way everyone thinks and feels
1998, G.K. Hall
in English
0783803397 9780783803395
|
eeee
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
6
The gifts of the Jews: how a tribe of desert nomads changed the way everyone thinks and feels
1998, Nan A. Talese
in English
- 1st ed.
0385482485 9780385482486
|
aaaa
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
7 |
zzzz
|
Book Details
Edition Notes
Includes indexes.
Classifications
External Links
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Source records
Scriblio MARC recordmarc_cca MARC record
Ithaca College Library MARC record
Internet Archive item record
marc_openlibraries_phillipsacademy MARC record
marc_openlibraries_sanfranciscopubliclibrary MARC record
Library of Congress MARC record
Better World Books record
marc_columbia MARC record
marc_nuls MARC record
marc_columbia MARC record
First Sentence
"Somewhat more than five millennia ago, a human hand first carved a written word, and so initiated history, mankind's recorded story."
Work Description
The author of the runaway bestseller How the Irish Saved Civilization has done it again. In The Gifts of the Jews Thomas Cahill takes us on another enchanting journey into history, once again recreating a time when the actions of a small band of people had repercussions that are still felt today.The Gifts of the Jews reveals the critical change that made western civilization possible. Within the matrix of ancient religions and philosophies, life was seen as part of an endless cycle of birth and death; time was like a wheel, spinning ceaselessly. Yet somehow, the ancient Jews began to see time differently. For them, time had a beginning and an end; it was a narrative, whose triumphant conclusion would come in the future. From this insight came a new conception of men and women as individuals with unique destinies--a conception that would inform the Declaration of Independence--and our hopeful belief in progress and the sense that tomorrow can be better than today. As Thomas Cahill narrates this momentous shift, he also explains the real significance of such Biblical figures as Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Pharaoh, Joshua, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.Full of compelling stories, insights and humor, The Gifts of the Jews is an irresistible exploration of history as fascinating and fun as How the Irish Saved Civilization.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Links outside Open Library
Community Reviews (0)
Feedback?History
- Created April 1, 2008
- 20 revisions
Wikipedia citation
×CloseCopy and paste this code into your Wikipedia page. Need help?
July 13, 2024 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
March 7, 2023 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
December 22, 2022 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
November 18, 2022 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
April 1, 2008 | Created by an anonymous user | Imported from Scriblio MARC record |