Jew

by Cynthia Baker
Jew cover
Good Books rating 4.25
History, Identity, Culture, Sociology
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  • ID: 7606
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • ISBN: 9780813573861
  • Publisher: Rutgers University Press
  • Published: 2017-01-13
  • Reviews: 3

The word 'Jew' has long been a source of contention and intrigue, representing the ultimate Other in Western civilization's grand narratives. This book delves into the multifaceted history and modern reclamation of the term, examining its contradictions and the challenges of using it as a marker of identity. Cynthia M. Baker traces the term's evolution, revealing how it has been associated with various contradictory attributes, from materialism to intellectualism, and from cosmopolitanism to parochialism. The book also explores the modern appropriation of 'Jew' as a term of self-identification, with insights into Yiddish culture, contemporary public intellectuals, and the phrase 'new Jews' in various contexts. Baker's exploration provides a glimpse into what the word 'Jew' means in today's era of Internet cultures, genetic sequencing, and proliferating identities. The book offers a wide-ranging examination of the term's origins, its role in scholarly debates, and its significance in understanding Jewish experience and Western civilization.

Reviews
Michael L. Satlow · Michael L. Satlow · 2018-09-04
insightful 4.00

The book delves into the historical and cultural resonances of the term 'Jew', exploring its negative connotations and the complexities of Jewish identity. It highlights the ongoing debates and the need for a more nuanced understanding of the term.

In this review, Michael L. Satlow discusses how Cynthia Baker's book 'Jew' tackles the multifaceted nature of the term 'Jew'. The book is praised for its detailed examination of the historical and cultural context, particularly the negative resonances associated with the term. Satlow notes that the book effectively challenges simplistic understandings of Jewish identity and encourages a more nuanced approach. The reviewer appreciates the depth of Baker's analysis, which sheds light on the complexities and controversies surrounding the term.

Quick quotes

    There are negative historical resonances to being called a Jew.

    Baker sets out to answer the question of what it means to be a Jew.

    The term 'Jew' is contested and carries significant historical weight.

Being Both · 2017-07-24
thoughtful 4.25

The book deconstructs the binary of Jewish-by-religion versus Jewish-by-ethnicity, embedded in colonial and patriarchal Christian theologies. It offers a critical examination of the term 'Jew' and its implications.

This review from 'Being Both' focuses on Cynthia Baker's exploration of the term 'Jew' and its historical context. The book is commended for its deconstruction of the false binary between Jewish-by-religion and Jewish-by-ethnicity, which is deeply rooted in colonial and patriarchal Christian theologies. The reviewer highlights Baker's critical examination of the term and its implications, providing a thoughtful analysis that challenges conventional understandings. The book is seen as a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse on Jewish identity.

Quick quotes

    She deconstructs the false binary of Jewish-by-religion versus Jewish-by-ethnicity.

    The term 'Jew' is embedded in colonial and patriarchal Christian theologies.

    Baker offers a critical examination of the term and its implications.

The Marginalia Review of Books · 2017-07-05
insightful 4.50

The book focuses on the representation of Jews and how the term 'Jew' has been used historically. It is compared to James Baldwin's examination of white America's construction of itself through racism.

In this review, the focus is on Cynthia Baker's exploration of how Jews are represented and the historical usage of the term 'Jew'. The reviewer draws parallels between Baker's work and James Baldwin's examination of how white America constructs itself through racism. The book is praised for its insightful analysis of the term 'Jew' and its historical context. The reviewer appreciates the depth of Baker's examination, which provides a nuanced understanding of the term and its implications. The comparison to Baldwin's work adds an additional layer of analysis, highlighting the broader social and cultural contexts.

Quick quotes

    Baker focuses on the ways Jews are represented.

    The term 'Jew' has been used historically in complex ways.

    The book provides a nuanced understanding of the term and its implications.

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