by Ari Shavit
First published 2013
Renowned journalist Ari Shavit examines Israel's complex predicament as a Jewish-Western state surrounded by an Arab-Islamic world. Since its founding, Israel has faced existential threats while simultaneously occupying Palestinian territory. Shavit argues that the nation's innovative spirit and joy for life now clash with a crumbling society, exhausting conflicts, hollow military victories, and declining international respect. What began as a hopeful collective journey, particularly after Holocaust horrors, has transformed into widespread disillusion and social breakdown. Following his Zionist great-grandfather's path, Shavit presents a deeply personal account of Israel's last century and a half. He chronicles survival victories alongside tragic guilt and unmistakable decline. The book offers readers an intimate perspective on how a shared dream of building Eretz Israel devolved into fragmentation and loss of purpose.
Genres: history, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, jewish
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, social-commentary
Setting: Israel, Palestine
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
464 pages · Hardcover · Random House
Content warnings: colonialism