First published 1998
Thomas Cahill reveals how the ancient Jews' radical new conception of time as a narrative with a beginning and end—rather than a cyclical wheel—birthed the modern individual and the belief in progress. Weaving together the stories of figures like Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah, Cahill shows how this transformative shift fueled the rise of Western civilization and continues to shape our worldview today.
Genres: biography, history, judaism, ancient-history
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-transformation, narrative-history
Setting: Western Civilization
Period: To 70 A.D.
328 pages · Hardcover · G.K. Hall & Co