The Dignity of Difference

How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations New Revised Edition

By: Jonathan Sacks

Narrated by: Daniel Epstein

Bloomsbury presents The Dignity of Difference by Jonathan Sacks, read by Daniel Epstein.

‘Aims to define nothing less than a basis for religiously sensitive civilisation.’
Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

‘The Dignity of Difference has a central and compelling vision: the magnificence and inspiring human diversity of our world ... The Chief Rabbi has made a convincing case for respecting people of different faiths and creeds.’ Jewish Chronicle

This redesigned and reissued edition of The Dignity of Difference was Rabbi Jonathan Sacks's radical proposal for reconciling hatreds and includes . Updated for 2025 with a new foreword by Simon Schama.

Almost a quarter of a century ago, the tragedy of September 11 is remembered today as the moment the world woke up to the dangers posed by religious differences and intolerance. In this iconic and critically acclaimed book, reissued with a new foreword, Rabbi Sacks asked, can religion still become a force for peace?

The Dignity of Difference was the first major statement by a Jewish leader on the ethics of globalization. At the time of writing, the politics of identity had began to replace the politics of ideology that dominated the globe in the twentieth-century. Now Rabbi Sack’s heartfelt, clear-sighted and radical proposal for how we might reconcile our differences without violence is as relevant as ever. In it, Sacks argues that we must do more than just search for values common to all faiths. To avoid the clash of civilisations, we must celebrate our differences and respect all the many ways cultures have searched for meaning, so that people of all faiths and none can live together in respectful harmony.

A highly readable and beautifully written book that offers readers the perfect antidote to troubled times.©2023 Tomasz Hoskins (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Critic reviews

These paperback editions of his timeless works celebrate his legacy for today. With stunning new covers and forewords by brilliant writers from around the world, they are perfect for anyone wishing to reacquaint themselves with Rabbi Sacks’ writing, and for introducing a new generation to his evergreen wisdom.

Aims to define nothing less than a basis for religiously sensitive civilisation. (Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury)

Americans will be taken with his incisive and clear writing style...he provides some much-needed spiritual uplift in this post-9/11 world, and his work is accessible to informed lay readers.

This book is far more interesting for its discussion of faith and philosophy than for its determination of concrete politics. Perhaps this is the task of rabbis, to explain and guide rather than to rule and legislate. Jonathan Sacks writes well; every sentence counts, but the space behind the grandiloquence always leaves room for interpretation. It is this ambiguity which wins him as many admirers as detractors.

The Dignity of Difference has a central and compelling vision: the magnificence and inspiring human diversity of our world ... The Chief Rabbi has made a convincing case for respecting people of different faiths and creeds.

The book "has a bold and important thesis" said Lord Habgood, especially in how it addresses relations between different faiths.

Unlike most other religious leaders, Mr Sacks has a wonderfully unbigoted attitude; he thinks and writes with great eloquence supported by an amazingly broad range of sources and reading.

It is odd that a leading orthodox Rabbi should be at the forefront of a campaign to use religious difference as the catalyst for world peace ... in a brave polemic which is bolstered by feverish intelligence.

Once in a rare while a book comes along that is so powerful and so earth-shattering that we want to get atop the highest mountain and shout out its praises...WE MUST ALL READ THIS BOOK....the most profound and deeply moving argument in favor of religious humanism I can think of. (Center for Sephardic Heritage)

Sacks does not offer much help in determining how religious people are to grapple with such theological questions. His brilliant service is in showing us that we must. (Paul F. Knitter)

It is a profound meditation on human diversity and religious differences....It is a timely book for both believers and non-believers alike that has a profound sense of history running through it.

...wonderful book...bold and controversial.

The Dignity of Difference is an important contribution to our understanding of the impact of globalization on the world in the aftermath of September 11...the book should be required reading for those concerned with the present struggle between Islam and the West and the promises, but also the potential threat, that market globalization represent.

Get along or face destruction.

The distress of not attempting what is described here means we are doomed to be part of our own destruction.

This book is very well put together rational expression of an opinion that we must strive too communicate our differences as well as our similarities. Well worth my time. I am going to be sharing my pleasure with the content and conclusions with many friends and hopefully more that perhaps don't view me as a friend.

Shalom ( may Adonai's blessings be visible in new ways ).