"Weitzman's Disasters of Biblical Proportions offers a brilliant exploration of the twists and turns in the exegetical history of the Ten Plagues story, following the paths it has taken in different contexts from late antiquity to the present. In Weitzman's hands, the plagues become an incredibly rich turf for the exploration of responses to disaster that are only too relevant today."-- Ilana Pardes, author of The Song of Songs: A Biography "A book of remarkable range and insight--everything from the secrets of stage magic to classical religious interpretations to Frankenstein. Weitzman elegantly explains how the plagues have been understood and still help us understand a scarred and often scary world."-- Rabbi David Wolpe, Maimonides Fund, and author of David: The Divided Heart "A bracing read whose pages encompass themes as varied as animal rights and meteorology, science fiction and the art of storytelling, this imaginatively argued and generously illustrated account showcases the ways in which the ten plagues figure as critical flashpoints in understanding human nature. Thanks to its novel and abundant insights, you won't think of the biblical narrative in quite the same way ever again." --Jenna Weissman Joselit, author of Set in Stone: America's Fascination with the Ten Commandments "From the histories of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic interpretation to medieval and modern philosophical debates about free will and determinism to modern film, opera, and art, Steven Weitzman offers a compelling portrait of how the biblical story of the ten plagues has been used to form and transform cultures and respond to historical injustices. Deeply learned yet beautifully written and accessible, Disasters of Biblical Proportions will be of interest to anyone perplexed by the ways in which natural disasters can suddenly disrupt and change our lives.

" --Leora Batnitzky, author of How Judaism Became a Religion: An Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought.