How to Fight Anti-Semitism

How to Fight Anti-Semitism, written by journalist Bari Weiss, explores the history and current manifestations of antisemitism and attempts to provide strategies to oppose it. Weiss identifies the main strains of antisemitism as left-wing antisemitism, right-wing antisemitism, and Islamic antisemitism, and tries to provide a history of each variety.

How to Fight Anti-Semitism
First edition cover
AuthorBari Weiss
Audio read byBari Weiss
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectAntisemitism
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherCrown
Publication date
September 10, 2019
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages224
ISBN978-0-593-13605-8
305.892/4
LC ClassDS145 .W46 2019

Weiss said that the book will discuss the "alarming rise of antisemitism in (the United States) and in Europe," and will propose ways to address the problem.[1][2][3]

Reception

Talia Lavin of The Nation notes that Weiss presents a rather anti-intellectual argument in her exploration of antisemitism. Lavin argues that Weiss presents simplistic caricatures of both the left and the right, and that the presentation of Muslim antisemitism uses a veil of plausible deniability to suggest exclusion of Muslim groups from Europe. Lavin concludes her review by stating that the "profound lack of intellectual curiosity, proportionality, and material analysis in the book renders it worse than simply useless."[4]

In Jordan Weissmann's review for Slate, he presents a sharp critique of Weiss's book. Weissmann highlights as his central critique a false equivalency between antisemitism on the right and on the left. He argues that by reaching towards genocide as the endpoint of left-wing antisemitism, Weiss far overstates her case. In addition, Weissman argues that Weiss often fails to present a complete picture of events and people, that Weiss never explores evangelical antisemitism, and that Weiss presents an oversimplified view of how antisemitic radicalization occurs.[5]

Melissa Braustein of The Federalist describes the book as broadly compelling. She lauds the book's critiques of the left, though she argues that Weiss fails to provide examples to support the claim that Donald Trump is antisemitic.[6]

References
  1. Dolstein, Josefin (27 February 2019). "New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss writing book on anti-Semitism". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  2. Spiro, Amy (28 February 2019). "Jewish 'New York Times' writer to pen book on antisemitism Bari Weiss signed a two-book deal with Crown Publishing". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  3. Peretz, Evgenia (24 April 2019). "Mad About Bari Weiss: The New York Times Provocateur the Left Loves to Hate". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  4. Lavin, Talia (1 October 2019). "Bari Weiss's 'How to Fight Anti-Semitism' Is Just a Frustrating, Book-Length Op-Ed". The Nation. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. Weissmann, Jordan (6 September 2019). "Bari Weiss' New Book on Anti-Semitism Talks About the Left the Way Anti-Semites Talk About Jews". Slate. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. Braunstein, Melissa (14 September 2019). "Bari Weiss Explains How To Fight The Rise Of Anti-Semitism". The Federalist. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
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