A well-reasoned, coolheaded argument that could be used fruitfully in current roiling debates.
An evenhanded examination of how the “massive instability unleashed by decades of intensifying economic inequality” has exacerbated forces of age-old antisemitism.
In his careful delineation of the causes of the most recent flare-up of antisemitism, Lappin, a professor of natural language processing, first looks at the big-picture forces that are feeding much of global society’s grievances, including widespread anti-immigration sentiment and ethno-nationalism. As the author demonstrates, extremist movements—such as those whose members chant, “Jews will not replace us”—seem to share four elements: loss of control over their lives and social context; diminished faith in existing institutions; the embrace of anti-elitism, or “populism”; and a sense of oppression caused by another ethnic identity. Lappin walks readers through these events since World War II, and he uses charts to show the increased prosperity of the top percentile and the impoverishment of the lower—and how social media feeds “dislocation” and “dispossession.” In addition to an examination of the roots of ancient and modern antisemitism, the author addresses the extremes on both right and left, as well as perspectives both Islamic and Jewish. All groups have exhibited deeply problematic periods of harassment and violence so that diaspora Jews have been forced “to choose between coping with a barrage of public abuse and personal insecurity or the concealment of their Jewish identity (passing quietly under the radar).” In the closing chapter, “Notes for a New Progressive Politics,” Lappin posits that since the state of affairs has broken down, a new approach is necessary, the elements of which should include a relearning of the history of antisemitism, steadfast support for both labor movements and immigration, and strict monitoring of the continued explosion of AI and the disinformation campaigns the technology makes possible.
A well-reasoned, coolheaded argument that could be used fruitfully in current roiling debates.Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2024
ISBN: 9781509558568
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Polity
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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