Customer Reviews:
 Review for World Civilizations 1 June 4, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Gifts of the Jews, by Thomas Cahill is a very intriguing, yet complex and opinionated book. Thomas Cahill is am American scholar and writer, and is most well known for his series of books called the Hinges of History, which tell the story of Western Civilizations roots. The Gifts of the Jews is the second book in The Hinges of History collection. The Gifts of the Jews is about what the Jewish people did in the earliest of civilizations to begin to shape the civilization that we now have. The book begins by talking about the beginning of civilization, and Cahill uses it to break in his view about how the Jews changed ancient civilization by thinking outside of the world that everyone was stuck in. Chapter one goes on to talk about and tell stories of Sumer, the first civilization. It talks about Gilgamesh, who was supposedly half human half God, and King of Uruk (A city in Sumer). Cahill talks about ancient symbols, and what they mean, and then goes on to talk about how civilization in the time of Sumer was going in a never-ending circle, round and round. From there, he begins to talk about the bible's Abram (who became Abraham). His family was one of Semites, who had settled in the city of Ur. Cahill goes into stories about the Bible and of ancient Sumer, including stories about Isaac and Sarah. The next chapter goes into how Abraham had a different kind of thinking about God then everyone else at that time, and preached to his family and beyond. Then goes into how Joseph was brought to Egypt because he could allegedly read dreams, and brings the rest of his family to Egypt in his new power position. He then tells stories of Egypt that are from the Bible, and talks about Jewish people in Egypt sending their babies down the Nile River to save them, and one happens to be Moses, who is picked up by an Egyptian. Moses goes on to become an Egyptian prince, but kills an Egyptian guard who is striking one of his slave brothers, and has to leave Egypt. When he is traveling, he sees out of the corner of his eyes, a burning bush, and this is where he first talks to God. God leads him on a mission to free the Jewish people from being slaves in Egypt. When the Pharaoh does not listen to Moses, God gives Egypt the Ten Plagues. Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, only to travel the desert for forty years before he allows them to settle in Canaan. Moses is dead by this time, and they need a new person to lead them into Canaan, so Joshua, Moses' young general, leads the Israelites across Jordan to the "promised land." The Israelites reach a conclusion that they need a king, so they ask God, and God elects a man named Saul. Saul becomes a great leader, winning wars on neighboring enemies, but is not anymore liked by God. Cahill then goes on to talk about the story of David and Goliath, Goliath, the supposedly nine foot tall soldier who challenged Israel in one on one combat for the enslavement of the loser's people. David, learning that he can become rich if he challenges and wins, decides to accept the challenge, but at first, Saul will not allow him because it is an unequal challenge, but David convinces him by telling him that God wants him to fight. David wins the battle, and after a long sequence of events, becomes the new King of the Israelites. The chapter concludes with Cahill saying how his interpretation of David is of being Gods "little finger." Just doing whatever God wants him to, and showing only a little amount of courage, which is when he stands up to and fights Goliath. David's throne goes to his son Solomon, who Cahill says runs things very poorly, so that when Solomon dies to pass on his throne, it is to late to save and the United Kingdom of Israel dies. In the last chapter, Cahill talks about his view of everything, how he interprets certain events, that I feel are through a very opinionated view and that he does not give sufficient evidence for. The Gifts of the Jews is a very complex book, and I do not feel that it is an easy book to read. It goes very in-depth to events that were written in the Bible or Torah and Cahill tends to say how he feels about each story. I recommend reading this book if you are interested in reading about ancient civilizations and the path that the Jews went on throughout it, but I recommend reading lighter books about the subject before, because there is not very much explanation about people or places.
The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels (Hinges of History, Vol. 2) January 25, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Boring book but it did arrive in good condition as described. But a very boring read. Thanks
 A great piece of historical analysis January 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Cahill's Gift of the Jews is a terrific and fairly unique exposition of the scholarship about the ancient Jews and what they did and how it has influenced civilization. He is one of the best historical writers out there and this book is fabulous in being accessible to the non-scholar and especially engaging to those interested in religion and how it has influenced society, directly and indirectly.
Good service September 10, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Book arrived in great condition. I gave it to my son as a gift. Cahill is great too.
 Ugh August 28, 2007
6 out of 11 found this review helpful
I found this book to be so biased as to be virtually a tract of propoganda. As someone who is not Jewish or Christian, although familiar with both faith traditions, I found the boundless admiration expressed by Cahill to be shallow, uncritical and unexpected. I have read three of his other books, and enjoyed their mulit-faceted summaries of the cultures involved; in this one, I think Cahill's theological background took precendence over his academic analysis, resulting in a much weaker book.
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