Yuri Slezkine’s The Jewish Century offers a bold and sweeping reinterpretation of Jewish history in the 20th century, particularly within the Soviet Union. Blending cultural analysis with personal memoir and political history, Slezkine portrays Jews as archetypal “Mercurians”—urban, literate, and mobile—whose rise to prominence in modern societies reflects broader global transformations. Deeply researched and highly original, the book explores identity, revolution, and assimilation in an age of upheaval, sparking widespread discussion and debate.