My Promised Land

By Ari Shavit

My Promised Land - Ari Shavit
  • Release Date: 2013-11-19
  • Genre: Middle Eastern History
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 452 Ratings

Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

A deeply reported, deeply personal history of Zionism and Israel that does something few books even attempt: It balances the strength and weakness, the idealism and the brutality, the hope and the horror, that has always been at Zionism’s heart.”—Ezra Klein, The New York Times

Winner of the Natan Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award

Ari Shavit’s riveting work, now updated with new material, draws on historical documents, interviews, and private diaries and letters, as well as his own family’s story, to create a narrative larger than the sum of its parts: both personal and of profound historical dimension. As he examines the complexities and contradictions of the Israeli condition, Shavit asks difficult but important questions: Why did Israel come to be? How did it come to be? Can it survive? 
 
Culminating with an analysis of the issues and threats that Israel is facing, My Promised Land uses the defining events of the past to shed new light on the present. Shavit’s analysis of Israeli history provides a landmark portrait of a small, vibrant country living on the edge, whose identity and presence play a crucial role in today’s global political landscape.

Reviews

  • One of the best in it's genre.

    5
    By ZygoteMan
    Candid, insightful, daring, opinionated. Traits many would ascribe to the stereotypic Israeli Sabra. So is Shavit's account in "The Promised Land". In spite of being a personal perspective on a complex subject, the book relies on data that many holding opposing views could agree with it's message. A must-read for all those interested in events evolving between Israelis and Palestinians. The book reads easily and the content illuminates many of the dark corners in the conflict.
  • My Promised Land by Ary Shavit

    5
    By Boubah
    A remarkable open and informative piece of work. Shavit held my interest and opened my eyes to alternative perspectives often slanted either as pro or con Israel. I admire his grasp of his own views balanced with those who oppose today’s quagmire of politics and special interest groups. He has achieved a well written story that should be read by every vested interest in the Middle East.
  • Great reporting authentic,honest analysis poetic,visionary finale!,

    5
    By Andy 5 stars
    Must read
  • My Promised Land

    5
    By PDeacon
    A well written/researched book on the complex political history of the State of Israel. A must read for anyone with an interest in middle east politics and history.
  • My Promised Land

    5
    By Guycbda
    An outstanding journey into the life of a new nation from its very beginning through the eyes of a brilliant and sensitive writer...a great read for anyone wanting to understand some of the complex events taking place in the Middle East.
  • Wonderful

    5
    By pnoble
    A must read for anyone interested in the rich and complex tapestry that is Israel and its history.
  • My promised land

    5
    By dudaleh
    An incredibly well researched narrative spanning Israel's formative years through the very recent days. Though some left leaning spinning is evidently woven in, the reader travels through the personal stories of interviewees of Israel's extremely unique experience. A fascinating story extremely well told. A fast read and a real page turner. A must read!
  • Mixed emotions

    5
    By jerzet
    I loved this book! I hated this book! This book made me extremely proud of my Jewish heritage! This book made me morally ashamed! This book filled me with joy and hope! This book made me extremely sad and quite despondent! This book made me love Israel more than ever! This book made me detest much of what Israel stands for! This book made me hopeful for Israel's future! This book made me fearful of its demise! This book instilled in me a new respect for Arabs and Palestinians! This book made me fear them more! This book made me more proud of my country the USA. This book increased my concern and detest of many of its policies and directions! Everyone should read this book! I loved this book! Jerry Chervitz St. Louis, Missouri USA
  • A must read

    5
    By Photoplumber
    A well thought out, eyes-open, emotionally honest, deeply insightful and ultimately very moving portrayal of Israel. An excellent antidote to ignorance and cliché. One of the best, most powerful books on Israel I have ever read.
  • A Book That Needs To Be Read

    5
    By Richard Lapine
    This book is a connect the dots of a life filled with love, passion, frustration and resignation in my relationship with the dream and reality of Israel as a diaspora North American Jewish boy turned to grown man. Shavit brilliantly weaves every feeling I have into a journey that has reconnected me with a place so important central and critical to my life as a Jew, a former but forever Zionist, and most of all a believer in the dream that was, and is, the State of Israel. I could not put it down, and now that I have finished it will pass along to anyone willing to listen that the dream may still be real.