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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Alternately fascinating and frustrating, ultimately deeply depressing. I would love to be part of a book group to discuss it. In reading it, I thought of Stephen Mitchell's discussion of the book of Job. Mitchell says that Job's friends follow a syllogism of God is just, Job is suffering, therefore Job must have sinned. Job follows a syllogism of I am innocent, I am suffering, therefore God is not just. But the Voice from the Whirlwind says God is just, Job is innocent, Job is suffering. No therefore. Shavit suggests that it is simultaneously true that Israel and Zionism are legitimate and that they are founded on the basis of the suffering of innocent Palestinians.
Shavit writes elegantly and passionately, with compassion and affection for his subjects, both those he agrees with and those he opposes. But at times I wish he'd just shut up with his interpretation and just let people speak for themselves. I found the first half of the book -- from the early Zionist days through the Six Day War -- more compelling, perhaps because more of it was written for this book, rather than being adaptations of magazine articles.
Shavit writes elegantly and passionately, with compassion and affection for his subjects, both those he agrees with and those he opposes. But at times I wish he'd just shut up with his interpretation and just let people speak for themselves. I found the first half of the book -- from the early Zionist days through the Six Day War -- more compelling, perhaps because more of it was written for this book, rather than being adaptations of magazine articles.
Undoubtedly a challenging read and I definitely took my time getting through it. Nonetheless My Promised Land is a thoroughly researched and wholehearted account of the most pivotal moments in the founding of the modern state of Israel. Ari Shavit doesn’t shy away from the topics of occupation or settlement, and captures lengthy interviews with both Israelis and Palestinians.
Worth reading this perspective to better understand the region and the conflict.
Worth reading this perspective to better understand the region and the conflict.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I was not originally going to review this book or post it to my account, because I did not want to promote the purchase of a book by an author with a history of sexual assault. I ended up deciding that since I don't think anybody reads my reviews anyway it's probably a low risk that he is profiting from my decision to post. Lol. Rip.
This book for me was a fascinating perspective on the history of Israel. It's strongest in its beginnings, in the way it uncovers the motives, the drive, and the willful ignorance of the early settlers. I was gripped by the author's own family history, and by the histories of the Arab villages that prospered and sometimes even coexisted with Jews pre-statehood. Then as the book approaches modern day I found the arguments weaker. More claims, less evidence. The author also had an off-putting tendency to objectify women, frequently introducing female characters by way of their physical features. Knowing the author's own history with women, well, I can't say I'm surprised.
I appreciated the political analysis of Israeli society from its founding to the present day (present being 2014). I feel like I have much better context for understanding what this society is and how and why the government went from socialist to hypercapitalist.
This book is not a book for a two-sided perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It's a book for a multi-sided Israeli-centered perspective on the history of Israel with an underlying assumption that the Jewish state was a necessary and worthwhile development in the odyssey of the Jewish people even if meant catastrophe for the Palestinians who were living on the land. The author interviews Israelis of all political orientations and a couple of Palestinian Israelis. He also dives deep into the terror that Jewish soldiers wrought in 1948, the folly of the settlers in the West Bank, and the cruel circumstances of life in Gaza under occupation. Neither Israelis nor Palestinians are blameless in this story. It is a liberal Zionist narrative.
This book for me was a fascinating perspective on the history of Israel. It's strongest in its beginnings, in the way it uncovers the motives, the drive, and the willful ignorance of the early settlers. I was gripped by the author's own family history, and by the histories of the Arab villages that prospered and sometimes even coexisted with Jews pre-statehood. Then as the book approaches modern day I found the arguments weaker. More claims, less evidence. The author also had an off-putting tendency to objectify women, frequently introducing female characters by way of their physical features. Knowing the author's own history with women, well, I can't say I'm surprised.
I appreciated the political analysis of Israeli society from its founding to the present day (present being 2014). I feel like I have much better context for understanding what this society is and how and why the government went from socialist to hypercapitalist.
This book is not a book for a two-sided perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It's a book for a multi-sided Israeli-centered perspective on the history of Israel with an underlying assumption that the Jewish state was a necessary and worthwhile development in the odyssey of the Jewish people even if meant catastrophe for the Palestinians who were living on the land. The author interviews Israelis of all political orientations and a couple of Palestinian Israelis. He also dives deep into the terror that Jewish soldiers wrought in 1948, the folly of the settlers in the West Bank, and the cruel circumstances of life in Gaza under occupation. Neither Israelis nor Palestinians are blameless in this story. It is a liberal Zionist narrative.
It is difficult to imagine feeling any less desire for religion or nationalism, but this really hammers a secure nail in that coffin. It even chipped away at my faint longing for a rich and deep cultural heritage. I chose this book with the hope of better understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which it served me well. I admit I feel even more confused than when I began in understanding the many facets of Judaism. In that respect, I'm left with more questions than I started with.
I gave it four stars for at times bring quite the historical slog of dates and wars with little or no context or history, as well as the strange and annoying constant reminders that all Jewish Isrealis are gorgeous and sexy. I appreciate the love, but, for me, it took away from the greater impact trying to be made and left me wondering how to distinguish the truth from the embellishments.
Shavit's love for Israel is complicated and sad, hopeful, beautiful, and devastating.
I gave it four stars for at times bring quite the historical slog of dates and wars with little or no context or history, as well as the strange and annoying constant reminders that all Jewish Isrealis are gorgeous and sexy. I appreciate the love, but, for me, it took away from the greater impact trying to be made and left me wondering how to distinguish the truth from the embellishments.
Shavit's love for Israel is complicated and sad, hopeful, beautiful, and devastating.
It was quite informative. I somewhat did not like the pacing. It told many different elements of Israeli life
The hundred year history of the land of Israel and Zionism as seen through the eyes of a liberal journalist. It is a sad story. He seems hopeful but I'm not sure why. The book did give me more insights into the crazy demography of Israel and what a strange journey it has experienced.
My Promised Land by Ari Shavit is a complex, emotional narrative of Israel’s history, complemented by the author’s personal experience growing up in the Jewish state.
I found this to be a particularly effective way to tell the tale of Israel’s birth, because of how much Israel is driven by geography, emotion, commerce, religion, and war. Shavit jumps from past to present, chronicling the individuals and themes that drive Israel’s growth and challenge his future. The author took a risk telling the country’s story in this way, because it could easily have become a convoluted and difficult to follow narrative. But it didn’t, and it makes the book a particularly effective one. Shavit is honest in highlighting Israel’s strengths and challenges.
This book is an important contribution because it doesn’t glorify or vilify Israel, but instead effectively portrays the factors that will hinder Israel’s future and the aspects that will help the young state develop. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in an emotional and personal history of Israel.
I found this to be a particularly effective way to tell the tale of Israel’s birth, because of how much Israel is driven by geography, emotion, commerce, religion, and war. Shavit jumps from past to present, chronicling the individuals and themes that drive Israel’s growth and challenge his future. The author took a risk telling the country’s story in this way, because it could easily have become a convoluted and difficult to follow narrative. But it didn’t, and it makes the book a particularly effective one. Shavit is honest in highlighting Israel’s strengths and challenges.
This book is an important contribution because it doesn’t glorify or vilify Israel, but instead effectively portrays the factors that will hinder Israel’s future and the aspects that will help the young state develop. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in an emotional and personal history of Israel.
An important book. Reading it now (10+ years post publication) much seems prescient. So much still to understand about this country. I have been naive and idealistic.