What does the DNA show about Jews, Arabs and Israel??

Hello. I'm the author of a new book on genetic anthropology/genetic
genealogy: "Abraham's Children: Race, Identity and the DNA of the
Chosen People". Those interested in using DNA to trace your own
identity or exploring the history of the Israelites in Jews, Arabs and
Christians-- genetically and culturally--and their impact on modern
society might find this book of interest (or not!).

As one of many commentaries, Kirkus Reviews called it: "An epic tale
of 'The Chosen People'....Engaging and informative reading for Jews
and non-Jews alike." Another reviewer compared it (very favorably) to
Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel," which won a Pulitzer Prize.
I've posted reviews and commentaries (from Washington Post, Slate,
National Review, Ha'aretz, etc.), as well as background on me and my
speaking schedule, at the website for the book: http://www.abrahamschildren.net.

For details on me--after working as a network news TV producer for 20
years, this is my fourth book, which includes a popular bestseller on
genetics and sports--Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why
We're Afraid to Talk About It--my website is: http://www.jonentine.com.

When the book first came out a couple of months ago, many of the
articles (such as in Slate and the Washington Post) focused on one
chapter in the book, about the debate over the links between "Jewish
diseases" (particularly brain/nervous system related and DNA repair
diseases) and IQ--a theory floated a few years ago by three
(Christian) scientists. I believe in the book I dealt with the issue
in an objective, scientifically dispassionate way...treating the
theory with respect but pointing out in what ways it was speculative
and lacked empirical support.

That's not the focus of the book, however. AC explores the arc of
Israelite history, from pre-biblical times until today through the
prism of DNA. It's an epic story of western identity. It is NOT a
polemic in support of the "right of return"; nor does it endorse the
concept of "chosenness." The phrase "chosen people" was used in the
title because it's used in the Bible. The publisher could just as well
have put a question mark after it, as the book examines the genetic
inter-relatedness of populations.

I hope that title is intriguing and doesn't make people nervous
because it uses the term "race." One can't discuss Jewish history
without the subject lurking in the background--or foreground. Jews
always considered themselves a race and they were always considered a
race until World War II and the Holocaust. But what does "race" mean?
I explore that in the book--a critical question, as the Human Genome
Project, as it finds haplotypes indicating group differences in
everything from body type to behavior to disease proclivities, forces
us to reconsider what "race" and population genetics means.

I hope that those interested, will check out the abrahamschildren.net
website. It also includes biographical information on me, details of
where I'm speaking, etc. If you have any questions, would like to
start a private dialogue, or even if you find mistakes in the book
that you'd be willing to share with me, please do so.

For those of you who believe this post is inappropriately
"commercial," I apologize. Yes, I would love for sales to be good, but
the realistic fact is that I won't make a penny of any sales, as I
don't earn anything on the book until my advance is met, and I can
safely say that's not likely to happen. But I do believe establishing
a dialogue on the critical issues of human bio-diversity are critical,
and that's what the book is devoted to bringing about. I believe I
succeeded in doing just that in Taboo. Whether I have succeeded in
this book in that quest, you will have to be the judge.

Regards,

Jon Entine
Cincinnati, Ohio
jon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


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