Publisher's Synopsis
“Dave Rich is the world expert on modern antisemitism. Even better, he knows what to do about it. Everyone should read this book. And if you don’t think you need to, then you need to read it more than anyone.” - Sacha Baron Cohen
Antisemitism is supposed to have disappeared long ago, but despite our abhorrence of racism and oppression in all its forms, this ancient prejudice continues to thrive. Anti-Jewish hate crime is rising, Jewish blood is spilt in Europe once more and arguments over antisemitism, whether in politics or music, theatre or sport, are increasingly hard to avoid. At a time of economic, political and social turmoil, fuelled by conspiracy theories on your smartphone or conflict in the Middle East, antisemitism is back, and we need to know why.
It would be tempting to put this down to a handful of extremists, but antisemitism endures at an everyday level in the stereotypes and assumptions about Jews that are woven into the fabric of our world. It is these almost-unnoticed prejudices that perpetuate violent hatred, and until we all understand where they came from, how they are sustained and how they can be challenged, they will continue to do so.
Blending personal anecdotes, contemporary examples and historical insights, Everyday Hate takes you on a journey through this contentious and often confusing subject. Spanning Shakespeare to South Park, Israel to Covid-19 and ancient stereotypes to internet memes, it reveals surprising truths about how antisemitism continues to thrive in the interactions, assumptions and views of decent people around the world – and how we can change this for the better.
“Dave Rich has written a book that should make all of us feel uncomfortable, Jew and non-Jew alike. In a closely argued and impeccably researched volume, he asks the wider world why people have allowed antisemitism to go unchecked and why they have not felt moved to fight against it. And he challenges Jews, telling us that we too need to try to improve things and to find allies in the wider world. This is an impressive piece of work, which makes depressing reading until you realise it is a call to action.” - Julia Neuberger
