"In this remarkable book, Martin Goodman compresses the entire history of Judaism--from Josephus to Jewish Renewal--into a thoroughly readable synthesis, paying special attention to Jewish diversity and drawing on up-to-date scholarship. Henceforward, all students of Judaism should begin here." --Jonathan D. Sarna, author of When General Grant Expelled the Jews "Martin Goodman's A History of Judaism is a boundlessly edifying work, combining a glittering career's worth of erudition with the drive for clarity and the expressive gesture of a master educator. Everyone will find a great deal to learn from--and think about--here." --Jeremy Dauber, author of Jewish Comedy: A Serious History "Covering an astonishingly wide geographic spread, Martin Goodman's authoritative and nuanced history places Jewish communities in their many contexts and analyzes their religious and intellectual developments from antiquity to modern times. This thoughtful book allows the reader to follow the thread of Judaism in its multiple manifestations through the ages." --Sarah Stroumsa, professor of Jewish thought and Arabic studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem "Martin Goodman writes with the intimacy of an insider and the breadth of an incisive scholar.

At once lucid and authoritative, expansive and nuanced, his book is the finest introduction to Judaism written in recent years." --Steven J. Zipperstein, author of Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History "With admirable erudition, Martin Goodman offers an entirely fresh perspective on how Judaism combines both past and present. This book will surely become the standard work on this vast subject." --David Biale, University of California, Davis "A magisterial journey along the highways and many of the byways of Jewish thought. Firmly anchored in his area of expertise, the renowned historian of late antiquity Martin Goodman ventures beyond, from ancient times to modern, in a compelling display of scholarly virtuosity. A History of Judaism is a major achievement." --David Myers, professor of Jewish history, UCLA, and president of the Center for Jewish History "Multiple millennia.

Numberless generations of seers, scribes, and scholars. Martin Goodman's lambent prose captures it all, the whole glorious, noisy, improbable history of so many different Jews and so many different inflections of Jewishness. Savor the journey." --Paula Fredriksen, author of Augustine and the Jews "This insightful book is the work of a major historian of Judaism. Goodman's bold and original thinking, excellent historical judgment, and elegant style are all on display here. A History of Judaism is an introduction for the twenty-first century, incorporating new knowledge for our own times." --Philip Alexander, author of The Mystical Texts.