The Gifts of the Jews...

In "The Gifts of the Jews", Thomas Cahill, author of the bestselling "How the Irish Saved Civilization", 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 irrevocably until ancient Jews began to see time differently, as 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, and our hopeful belief in progress and the sense that tomorrow can be better than today. Full of compelling stories, insights and humor, "The Gifts of the Jews" is an irresistible exploration of the origins of some of our oldest and most closely held beliefs. About the Author____________________ Thomas Cahill (born 1940 in New York City) is an American scholar and writer. He is best known for ''The Hinges of History'' series, a prospective seven-volume series in which the author recounts formative moments in Western civilization.