Jews Don’t Count

By David Baddiel

How identity politics failed one particular identity.

‘a must read and if you think YOU don’t need to read it, that’s just the clue to know you do.’ SARAH SILVERMAN

‘a masterpiece.’
STEPHEN FRY

Jews Don’t Count is a book for people who consider themselves on the right side of history. People fighting the good fight against homophobia, disablism, transphobia and, particularly, racism. People, possibly, like you.
It is the comedian and writer David Baddiel’s contention that one type of racism has been left out of this fight. In his unique combination of close reasoning, polemic, personal experience and jokes, Baddiel argues that those who think of themselves as on the right side of history have often ignored the history of anti-Semitism. He outlines why and how, in a time of intensely heightened awareness of minorities, Jews don’t count as a real minority: and why they should.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Feb 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9780008399498

David Baddiel

David Baddiel was born in 1964 in Troy, New York, but grew up and lives in London. He is a comedian, television writer, columnist and author of four novels, of which the most recent is The Death of Eli Gold.

Reviews for Jews Don’t Count

[thewestwing-864351 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very interesting read that will certainly make you reevaluate what you see and read in the media. I thought some parts of the book were weak but I think that’s due to it being a short read and some points not being expanded on. Definitely worth reading overall.

[mumoftheanimals · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found it useful and it kinda articulated my own emotions about the Left and their approach to Jews, so it was a useful aide memoire. What I felt it sidestepped was Zionism because he personally claims not to care about Israel’s existence. He even said he barely considers Israelis as Jewish because they are so confident. A Jewish friend of mine who is anti-Zion but believes a lot of protests about Israel are anti-Semitic explained it to me really well so I felt I understood. Unfortunately I forgot what he said (we had a lot of wine that night) and I hoped the book would help me with that so that was disappointing.I thought the feeling ‘safe’ as a white person was especially well done and I could finally see how it does feel to be white and how it is different. And the hierarchy of minorities was particularly insightful.

[ericlee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a brilliant book and I encourage all my non-Jewish friends to read it. My Jewish friends will not need to read it because what Baddiel writes — and he writes really well — is something they already understand.The publishers summarised it this way: this “is a book for people who consider themselves on the right side of history. People fighting the good fight against homophobia, disablism, transphobia and, particularly racism … one type of racism has been left out of this fight … [Baddiel] outlines why and how, in a time of intensely heightened awareness of minorities, Jews don’t count as a real minority; and why they should.”This is a complex argument and rather than attempt to summarise it, and get some of it wrong, I suggest that people read it. It’s a very short book, just 123 pages. It may change the way you think about Jews, anti-semitism and racism. Or not.

[manipledmutineer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent, intensely engaged and thought-provoking.