We chose to create a simplistic narrative of right against left. Both movingly inspiring and at times heartbreakingly painful, my promised land tells the story of the jewish state as it has never been told before, capturing both the triumph and the torment of israels experience and soul. Ari shavit s my promised land is without question one of the most important books about israel and zionism that i have ever read. It is an intensely personal impression of a country, for which the writer has intense admiration and affection but also grave misgivings. My promised land by ari shavit shavit begins what he hopes is an international dialogue with this book. This book is not and doesnt claim to be an accurate history. Written in lyrical prose by a distinguished journalist who listens attentively when he interviews, shavit engages his subjects and also the land of israelmy promised land is a work without peer. Fatigue wore us down, we began to deny the tragedy.
Ari shavit is one of israels leading columnists and writers, and the story he tells describes with great empathy the palestinian tragedy and the centurylong struggle between jews and arabs over. As a work of history, which, of course, it makes no claims to be, but which most readers will think it is it is an alarming book. His arabs are, for the most part, the faceless, nameless others of. The great black migration and how it changed america. Ari shavit confuses selfcriticism with selfdebasement. You could identify many reasons for that claim, but two in particular define his. Born in 1957, the author is the descendant of intellectuals and idealists who brought zionism. Theres no other nation like israel, writes ari shavit. My promised land is a sad book, one of successes and survival. Jeffrey goldberg the atlantic my promised land is a remarkable book, one of the best to come out of israel, up there with tom segevs one palestine, complete, susan nathans the other side of israel, and the trenchant works of jeff halper and ilan pappe. My promised land is a profoundly inspiring and challenging book.
My promised land by ari shavit washington independent. He can see that the israeli position in the middle east is dangerous and endangered. Israel has betrayed its best, truest self, argues haaretz journalist and peace activist shavit in this wrenching dissection of the nations past and present. A recurring theme in shavits narrative is the difference, sometimes chasm, between intentions, actions, and results. The author of my promised land is a dreamer with an addiction to reality. Shavits book is an extended test of his own capacity to maintain his principles in full view of the brutality that surrounds them. Shavit, haaretz columnist and one of israels leading television commentators, combines the stories of a wide range of individualshis grandfather, jaffa or. My promised land is a controversial, thought provoking and important read for those wanting to understand the middle east from an israeli perspective the well known israeli journalist, ari shavit, weaves a delicate story of the ever changing doctrine of zionism from its utopian nonsectarian, communist vision of the early 1900s to its current identity of self. The turbulent and crackling place described in my promised land will not be healed by a rappel a lordre. Not since amos elons the israelis, amos ozs in the land of israel, and thomas friedmans from beirut to jerusalem has there been such a powerful and comprehensive book written about the jewish state and the israelipalestinian conflict. My promised land, by ari shavit the new york times. Shavit, an israeli journalist, columnist for haaretz. Winner of the natan book award, the national jewish book award, and the. Ari shavits my promised land is without question one of the most important books about israel and zionism that i have ever read.
There is love in my promised land, but there is no propaganda. Shavit with the 20 best seller my promised land we have 1 answer for the clue shavit with the 20 best seller my promised land. Sunday territorian ari shavits my promised land is without question one of the most important books about israel and zionism that i have ever read. For instance, an entire chapter is devoted to laborite shmaryahu gutman, whose key achievement, for the author, is erecting in the lead up to the 1948 war of independence ancient masada the mountaintop fortress where jews made their suicidal last stand against herods romans 2,000 years ago. The triumph and tragedy of israel, published by scribe, is available from the guardian bookshop. The triumph and tragedy of israel by ari shavit my promised land is a fascinating, candid and heartfelt historical account of israel.
It describes a complicated history, and shavit tells it with compassion, understanding, and honesty, and without polemics. Ari shavit is a well known, leftleaning israeli journalist and a columnist for haaretz israels oldest daily newspaper. The triumph and tragedy of israel is a 20 work of historical nonfiction by israeli author and journalist ari shavit. While i understand why this book has received abundant honors, if i was composing the list i would not have given my promised land such a prominent place. Praise for my promised land this book will sweep you up in its narrative force and not let go of you until it is done. The triumph and the tragedy of israel by the israeli commentator ari shavit is an important, serious and readable book.
Shavit relates the history of israel from early zionist days in the late 19th century to the present through examples of. He describes the twentieth century history of israel and analyzes the present situation. Nevertheless, i will offer a different critical perspective on shavits treatment of three subjects. Lemann, correspondent for atlantic monthly, discussed his recent book, the promised land. Both movingly inspiring and at times heartbreakingly painful, my promised land tells the story of the jewish state as it has never been told before, capturing both the triumph and the torment of israels. Shavit is immersed in all of the history of his country. Ari shavit geboren 1957 in rehovot ist ein israelischer journalist. Shavit employs two methods that present important issues. It is about the entirety of the israeli experience. That is why my promised land angered me far more than the numerous hatefilled antiisraeli books being pumped out. In this personal, impressionistic history, journalist shavit lays out the variety of zionismssecular and religious, socialist and capitalist, ascetic and hedonistic, utopian and pragmaticthat constructed the modern state of israel.
Ari shavits my promised land was a very interesting read which inspired a lot of background research, and by the time i finished it i knew a lot more about palestine, israel, zionism and the whole middle eastern conflict than i had done when i started. His arabs are, for the most part, the faceless, nameless others of orientalist discourse. Ari shavit, author of my promised land journalist ari shavit says israel must find a way to reconcile its democratic values with. Leading israeli columnist and writer ari shavit takes the reader on a mesmerizing journey that paints a thorough portrait of the contemporary israeli experience. The triumph and tragedy of israel by shavit, ari isbn. Shavit s book is an extended test of his own capacity to maintain his.
There are two important stories about my promised land, israeli journalist ari shavits memoir cum interviews cum meditation on israel. Shavit, haaretz columnist and one of israels leading television. I read the book last night, and i couldnt put it down. Ari shavits highly acclaimed book appears on the list of the most important books of 20. What would you say were shavits intentions in writing this book. Talking about my promised land bettering or battering. The triumph and tragedy of israel, has received plaudits from the cream of the liberal, american. My promised land by ari shavit israels most influential columnist attempts an accounting of the zionist soul. Shavit captures the sense of desperation behind many of these efforts. My promised land is the ultimate personal odyssey of a humanist exploring the startling biography of his tormented homeland, which is at the very centre of global interest. What this nation has to offer, shavit concludes, is.
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