Antisemitism: Here and Now

Antisemitism: Here and Now examines contemporary antisemitism through a series of letters between two composite characters - a college student and a law professor. The correspondence format allows author Deborah Lipstadt to address real questions she has encountered throughout her career as a historian and scholar. The book analyzes antisemitism across the political spectrum, from both the right and left, and explores its manifestations in academic, social, and political spheres. Lipstadt traces the historical roots of antisemitic beliefs while focusing on their modern expressions and impacts. Through clear explanations and specific examples, the book breaks down complex aspects of antisemitism including conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial, anti-Zionism, and coded language. It addresses both overt hatred and more subtle forms of bias. This work serves as both a scholarly examination and an accessible guide to understanding one of history's most persistent forms of prejudice. The letter format creates an engaging framework for exploring difficult questions about the nature and persistence of antisemitism in contemporary society.

Readers describe this as a practical examination of modern antisemitism through a Q&A format. Many cite its clear explanations of how antisemitism manifests across political spectrums. Readers appreciated: - The accessible letter-writing format - Real-world examples and case studies - Balanced criticism of both right and left-wing antisemitism - Focus on contemporary incidents rather than historical analysis Common criticisms: - Some found the Q&A structure repetitive - Limited discussion of solutions or action steps - Wanted more historical context - A few readers felt it focused too heavily on US/European examples Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (850+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "The letter format makes complex topics digestible but occasionally feels like a device that holds back deeper analysis" - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted it serves better as an introduction than a comprehensive study.

Why the Jews?: The Reason for Antisemitism by Joseph Telushkin Presents a historical analysis of antisemitism's root causes through documented examples spanning ancient to modern times.

Jews Don't Count by David Baddiel Examines how antisemitism manifests differently from other forms of racism in progressive spaces and contemporary discourse.

History of Anti-Semitism by Leon Poliakov Traces antisemitic thought and action from ancient times through the modern era with primary source documentation.

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn Explores the disconnect between society's relationship with Jewish history versus contemporary Jewish life and antisemitism.

Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition by David Nirenberg Charts how anti-Jewish ideas shaped intellectual history from ancient Egypt through modern times through historical analysis.

🔹 Author Deborah Lipstadt famously won a landmark legal battle against Holocaust denier David Irving in 2000, when he sued her for libel - a case that was later dramatized in the 2016 film "Denial" starring Rachel Weisz. 🔹 The epistolary format of the book was inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet," adapting this classical literary approach to address contemporary social issues. 🔹 Lipstadt currently serves as the U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism, appointed by President Biden in 2022, making her the first person in this role to hold ambassador rank. 🔹 The book's publication in 2019 coincided with a 57% increase in reported antisemitic incidents in the United States compared to the previous year, according to ADL statistics. 🔹 The composite characters "Abigail" and "Joe" were created from over 30 years of the author's experiences teaching about Holocaust history and antisemitism at Emory University.