The triumph and tragedy of israel, published by scribe, is available from the guardian bookshop. It describes a complicated history, and shavit tells it with compassion, understanding, and honesty, and without polemics. What would you say were shavits intentions in writing this book. 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. Leading israeli columnist and writer ari shavit takes the reader on a mesmerizing journey that paints a thorough portrait of the contemporary israeli experience. My promised land by ari shavit washington independent. Shavit is immersed in all of the history of his country. Ari shavit s 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. Winner of the natan book award, the national jewish book award, and the.
My promised land by ari shavit shavit begins what he hopes is an international dialogue with this book. Shavit relates the history of israel from early zionist days in the late 19th century to the present through examples of. His arabs are, for the most part, the faceless, nameless others of. He can see that the israeli position in the middle east is dangerous and endangered. The triumph and tragedy of israel by shavit, ari isbn. 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. Ari shavit geboren 1957 in rehovot ist ein israelischer journalist. The triumph and tragedy of israel is a 20 work of historical nonfiction by israeli author and journalist ari shavit. Lemann, correspondent for atlantic monthly, discussed his recent book, the promised land. Born in 1957, the author is the descendant of intellectuals and idealists who brought zionism. Israel has betrayed its best, truest self, argues haaretz journalist and peace activist shavit in this wrenching dissection of the nations past and present. The triumph and the tragedy of israel by the israeli commentator ari shavit is an important, serious and readable book. Shavit, an israeli journalist, columnist for haaretz. He describes the twentieth century history of israel and analyzes the present situation.
Ari shavit confuses selfcriticism with selfdebasement. There are two important stories about my promised land, israeli journalist ari shavits memoir cum interviews cum meditation on israel. 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. 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. 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. 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. The triumph and tragedy of israel, has received plaudits from the cream of the liberal, american. Ari shavit, author of my promised land journalist ari shavit says israel must find a way to reconcile its democratic values with. Ari shavits highly acclaimed book appears on the list of the most important books of 20.
It is an intensely personal impression of a country, for which the writer has intense admiration and affection but also grave misgivings. What this nation has to offer, shavit concludes, is. I read the book last night, and i couldnt put it down. You could identify many reasons for that claim, but two in particular define his. Nevertheless, i will offer a different critical perspective on shavits treatment of three subjects. 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. Fatigue wore us down, we began to deny the tragedy. The triumph and tragedy of israel by ari shavit my promised land is a fascinating, candid and heartfelt historical account of israel. 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.
The author of my promised land is a dreamer with an addiction to reality. 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. His arabs are, for the most part, the faceless, nameless others of orientalist discourse. 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. Shavit captures the sense of desperation behind many of these efforts. 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. My promised land is a sad book, one of successes and survival. This book is not and doesnt claim to be an accurate history. 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. 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. 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. Talking about my promised land bettering or battering.
A recurring theme in shavits narrative is the difference, sometimes chasm, between intentions, actions, and results. That is why my promised land angered me far more than the numerous hatefilled antiisraeli books being pumped out. Ari shavit is a well known, leftleaning israeli journalist and a columnist for haaretz israels oldest daily newspaper. Shavit s book is an extended test of his own capacity to maintain his. Shavits book is an extended test of his own capacity to maintain his principles in full view of the brutality that surrounds them. We chose to create a simplistic narrative of right against left. Shavit employs two methods that present important issues.
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. My promised land, by ari shavit the new york times. Shavit, haaretz columnist and one of israels leading television. The turbulent and crackling place described in my promised land will not be healed by a rappel a lordre.
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