Abraham's Children: Race, Identity, and the DNA of the Chosen People

Editorial Review:

Could our sense of who we are really turn on a sliver of DNA? In our multiethnic world, questions of individual identity are becoming increasingly unclear. Now in ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN bestselling author Jon Entine vividly brings to life the profound human implications of the Age of Genetics while illuminating one of today's most controversial topics: the connection between genetics and who we are, and specifically the question "Who is a Jew?"
Entine weaves a fascinating narrative, using breakthroughs in genetic genealogy to reconstruct the Jewish biblical tradition of the chosen people and the hereditary Israelite priestly caste of Cohanim. Synagogues in the mountains of India and China and Catholic churches with a Jewish identity in New Mexico and Colorado provide different patterns of connection within the tangled history of the Jewish diaspora. Legendary accounts of the Hebrew lineage of Ethiopian tribesmen, the building of Africa's Great Zimbabwe fortress, and even the so-called Lost Tribes are reexamined in light of advanced DNA technology. Entine also reveals the shared ancestry of Israelites and Christians.
As people from across the world discover their Israelite roots, their riveting stories unveil exciting new approaches to defining one's identity. Not least, Entine addresses possible connections between DNA and Jewish intelligence and the controversial notion that Jews are a "race apart." ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN is a compelling reinterpretation of biblical history and a challenging and exciting illustration of the promise and power of genetic research.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Fascinating Tale!:

Jon Entine, author, lecturer, producer and executive with NBC News and ABC News, international columnist, adjunct fellow of the American Enterprise Institute, consultant on business and media ethics, and author of the controversial Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid to Talk About It has now added another very interesting book to his collected writings, Abraham's Children: Race, Identity, and the DNA of the Chosen People. In this latest tome Entine draws on many historical sources... more info

A Peculiar People, The Sweep Of History, and DNA:

The author brings genetic research to bear on the history and identity of the Jewish people, their epic migrations and struggles, and their relationship to other populations. He has done a prodigious amount of research and has managed to present arcane scientific concepts in a way that is understandable. Among the fascinating ideas I learned from the book: Jews who claim descent from the priestly line (Cohanim), often with variants of the surname Cohen, have a high incidence of a specific genetic marker on... more info

Interesting and thought-provoking book:

Jon Entine deserves congratulations for his well-written and thought-provoking book. As an introduction to the subject of Jewish identity, I would recommend a concise book by Avri Barr entitled "The Jewish Singularity: Genes, Memes, and Mystery" which appeared in 2006 and which covers a wide spectrum of issues, from basic elements of Genetics to Jewish history and traditions The Jewish Singularity: Genes, Memes, and Mystery.

Best DNA book I've ever read!:

Of the several DNA books and articles that I've read, in my opinion, this is truly an interesting book to read. It brings you information without making it boring. Reads like a DNA novel at times. I loved it.

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