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    Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn
    Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn
    Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn
    Audiobook16 hours

    Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn

    Written by Daniel Gordis

    Narrated by Fred Sanders

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    The first comprehensive yet accessible history of the state of Israel from its inception to present day, from Daniel Gordis, ""one of the most respected Israel analysts"" (The Forward) living and writing in Jerusalem.

    Israel is a tiny state, and yet it has captured the world’s attention, aroused its imagination, and lately, been the object of its opprobrium. Why does such a small country speak to so many global concerns? More pressingly: Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future?

    We cannot answer these questions until we understand Israel’s people and the questions and conflicts, the hopes and desires, that have animated their conversations and actions. Though Israel’s history is rife with conflict, these conflicts do not fully communicate the spirit of Israel and its people: they give short shrift to the dream that gave birth to the state, and to the vision for the Jewish people that was at its core. Guiding us through the milestones of Israeli history, Gordis relays the drama of the Jewish people’s story and the creation of the state. Clear-eyed and erudite, he illustrates how Israel became a cultural, economic and military powerhouse—but also explains where Israel made grave mistakes and traces the long history of Israel’s deepening isolation.

    With Israel, public intellectual Daniel Gordis offers us a brief but thorough account of the cultural, economic, and political history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, levelheaded, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on the Israel’s past so we can understand its future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people, and a nation, reborn.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateOct 18, 2016
    ISBN9780062564351
    Author

    Daniel Gordis

    Daniel Gordis is the Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College—Israel’s first liberal arts college—which he helped found in 2007. The author of numerous books on Jewish thought and political currents in Israel, he has twice won the National Jewish Book Award, including the prize for Book of the Year for Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn. Raised and educated in the United States, he has been living in Jerusalem since 1998.

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    Reviews for Israel

    4.5/5

    112 ratings10 reviews

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    • 5/5
      "Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn" (2016) by Daniel Gordis is an excellent, one-volume account of the history of the State of Israel, from before its establishment up through the present day.The book can be divided into roughly three sections. The first section is most concerned with the philosophies of important Zionist thinkers and their ultimately successful efforts to found the Jewish state. The second section deals with three wars (the War of Independence, the Six-Day War, and the Yom Kippur War), a period when Israel's neighbors repeatedly attempted and failed to destroy the Jewish state. The third section spends most time on the history of the conflict with the Palestinians, including attempts to make peace and crackdowns on terrorism. Other topics are covered briefly, such as the role of literature and music, the improvement of Israel's economy, and the integration of Jewish immigrants of various backgrounds into Israeli society. However, for the most part, Gordis' history focuses on the big thinkers and politicians who shaped the important decisions that led Israel to where it is today.The history is unashamedly told from a Jewish perspective, but Gordis appears to make considerable effort to be objective and factual throughout. I am not expert enough in these events to judge the extent to which Gordis has succeeded in achieving neutrality.Overall, I felt the book was very interesting, engaging, the right length, and focused on the events and people that are most important to understanding how today's Israel came to be. I can ask for little more from a concise history book.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The best kind of non-fiction, like reading a thriller. Highly recommended, especially to learn the context for ongoing difficulties in Middle Eastern relations.
    • 5/5
      I can’t remember reading a better book outlining the history of Israel and providing a detailed timeline of how the state came into being.
    • 5/5
      Detailed overview of the history of a nation reborn. Covering the spectrum of Israel society and culture. Would read again.
    • 5/5
      This book is a detailed history. I took my time to read it, & I learned so much about these wonderful people. I was a supporter of Israel. I'm now an ARDENT SUPPORTER of Israel!
    • 5/5
      Incredible book! A must read for anyone interested in the history of the State of Israel.
    • 5/5
      Not to be missed….

      Looking philosophically, the book vividly outlines the stuff dreams are made of. The grit and determination on the nation is unbelievable and is very nicely captured in the book.

      A must read/hear….
    • 5/5
      First time reading about Israel, and i am extremely happy i read this book. I learned so much from this!
    • 1/5
      The history of Israel is one of violent colonization and ethnic cleansing.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Very detailed, footnoted, and indexed. Contains extensive bibliography. Pro-Israel.