When I spoke at Kenton Synagogue recently I mentioned that over the last 11 years I have read well over 50 books about Israel and related issues. An audience member approached me afterwards to suggest I write a post comprising of a selection of recommended books, with a short description of each.
So I did. This is not necessarily a ‘top 20′, and it includes a few books about non-Israeli issues.
Israel: A History
This was probably the key book in making me understand the case for Israel and also decide I just had to visit the place. Authoritative, readable, fascinating and inspiring. Nice photographs, too.
The Case for Israel
A powerful book that needs little introduction by me. To be read particularly critically.
Holy Land, Unholy War: Israelis and Palestinians
This was one of the first books I read on Israel and the Palestinians. It comes closer than most to neutrality on this most fiery of issues. One of those vivid books that transports you to the place you’re reading about.
The Prime Ministers
A phenomenally good read from a man with decades of insider experience of Israeli politics. Menachem Begin emerges as the star of this breath-taking tome that takes you into the heart of the history of Israel’s governments. Magnificent, magnificent stories.
Israel is Real
A quirky, highly-original and at times engagingly personal take on the history of Israel. His chapter on the Six Day War is particularly breathtaking.
The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land, Updated in 2008 for the 60th Anniversary of Israel
This intimately-researched and colourfully-written book certainly captures the Israel and Israelis I know. Absolutely magnificent real-life tales of everyday Israelis. (More from me here.)
When I Lived in Modern Times
This novel, set in pre-state Tel Aviv, has a gripping plot and a sharply-realised cast of characters. Makes you long to be in that wonderful city.
The Punishment of Gaza
Levy is a polarising writer and one I frequently disagree with and sometimes despair of. Still, this book is worth reading to learn about the true human costs of Israel’s handling of the seemingly intractable issue of Hamas’s rule of Gaza. Again, to be read particularly critically.
The Rebbe’s Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch
If you want a nuanced, balanced and informed account of the miraculous way one group kept faith alive in modern times and spread its light across the globe, this is the book for you. A stunningly-written page-turner about an imagination-capturing organisation.
Jerusalem: The Biography
Jerusalem, if I forget you… I won’t do that in a hurry after reading this majestic and approachable tome.
Saving Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End
A less personal and more punchy read than some of his other books. This is a timely and engagingly realised contribution to the debate over the issues that will dominate Israel’s future, including the Iranian threat.
Coming Together, Coming Apart (A Memoir of Heartbreak and Promise in Israel)
Simply my favourite book about Israel. I explained why here.
Real Jews: Secular Versus Ultra-orthodox – The Struggle for Jewish Identity in Israel
As even-handed and informed a take on the tensions and divisions between the Haredim and secular populations as you are ever likely to read. The issues this book covers become more relevant and explosive every day. Efron more than most could show a way forward.
A New Voice for Israel: Fighting for the Survival of the Jewish Nation
I know J-Street is a controversial group. However, you may find you agree with a lot of what their President writes in this book. After all, we’re all open-minded, right?
Tales of the Hasidim: v. 1-2 in 1v.
I bought this on a bit of a whim to read on the flight home from New York several years ago. I was gripped, staggered and inspired by the wondrous, sometimes cryptic, but nearly always uplifting tales I found. Dip in and be joyful.
Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov
This book focuses on the founder of the Hasidim. This motivating man brought so much light and joy to the world. He was the great grandfather of the wondrous Rabbi Nachman of Breslov – their light shines on.
A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism (Saban Center at the Brookings Institution Books)
This is the most recent Israel-related book I’ve read. It takes the reader through the history of Israel’s anti-terrorism methods and evaluates them fairly and expertly. Go right into the heart of some thrilling missions.
Ariel Sharon: An Intimate Portrait
Perhaps more readable than Sharon’s son’s recent biography, this is also a touching account of a close relationship between one journalist and one extraordinary Israeli leader. What a life.
Imagine – John Lennon & the Jews
A zany, lively, original and compelling championing of being Jewish. It will make you think, but more than anything, it will make you feel alive, loving and loved. (More from me here.)
The J-Word
One of my favourite ever novels. Sanger’s book focuses on the relationship between an 80-year-old man called Jack and his 10-year-old grandson. When Jack is attacked by an antisemitic gang, everything changes.
What books would you recommend?
May be a bit dated now but ‘Exodus’ by Leon Uris is the seminal pro-Israel book. His research regarding the Holocaust is exemplary. I wonder just how many people made aliyah on the basis of this book?
Ah yes, I’ve long wanted to read that. Thanks!
“Israel and related issues.” The Bible and the Babylonian Talmud should keep Duvidl going for quite some time on any desert island. But if he has any spare time left then he might bring along the Mishna, Shulchan Aruch, Pirke Avot (Sayings of the fathers), Apocrypha, Jewish Encylopaedia (out of print) and Encyclopaedia Judaica.
Also, a small tome by Guy Oseary entitled “Jews who Rock”, price $12.95 published by St.Martin’s Griffin with a foreword by Ben Stiller and including the complete lyrics to Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song” might come in useful. Sadly it appears to have been published before the late Amy Winehouse hit the big time and includes no entry for Amy, but your biography, Chas, would fill that gap.
Interesting list Chas – I’ve read Gilbert, Dershovitz and Rosenthal, have read something by Linda Grant but I think it was more about her stay in Tel Aviv than a novel.
I’m reading Sebag- Montefiori now and have also read about Sharon by Uri Dan and I too thought it was a very readable book.
I also read decades ago a book called O Jerusalem by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins which I thought very powerful at the time. Exodus by Leon Uris was worth reading too and I agree with romo’s comment about how influential it was.
If I remember any others, I’ll add them.
Chas, “A Tale of Love and Darkness” by Amos Oz. He writes so well and it describes Jerusalem in the 40s and 50s, but much, much more!
Can I suggest two more recent books.
Israel: Reclaiming the Narrative, by Barry Shaw
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-Reclaiming-the-Narrative/145526272187389
Israel, An introductions by Global Research in International Affairs Center (GLORIA), (Barry Rubin)
http://5mfi.com/introducing-israel/
‘A State Beyond the Pale’ is a fairly good read dealing on the Israel issue in Europe and the new anti-semitism that is anti-Israel sentiment.
I’d also recommend “A Place Among the Nations” by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Although not strictly just about Israel, I would recommend the memoirs of Chaim Herzog – ‘Living History’.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-History-Memoir-Chaim-Herzog/dp/0297819410/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329336769&sr=1-1
I would second your choice of Dershowitz’s ‘The Case for Israel’ and Sergio’s choice of Robin Shepherd’s ‘A State Beyond the Pale’. Although about Jews rather than Israel,Paul Johnson’s ‘A History of the Jews’ gives an excellent perspective. Also, as a companion piece to ‘Israel: a History’, Martin Gilbert’s ‘The Holocaust’ is for me the definitive work on the subject.If you really want a meaty tome, Shmuel Katz’s two-volume biography of Jabotinsky ‘Lone Wolf’ will keep you (ahem) occupied.
I’d recommend The Rape of Palestine by William B Ziff, 1938.
One of the most important books I’ve read. It’[s a bout the British and the Mandate of Palestine and how they oppressed the Jews there.
The British banned this bnook to prevent news of their perfidy getting out.
A very detailed , footnoted book, Ziff writes sometime satiricsally but always well about that period and the location of the antiSemtism of Whitehsall and how it translated to the troops/ British military and administrative management in Palestine.
I’ve probably made it sound ry It isn’t at all. The behaviour of the British is so poisonous tbhough, it made me furious to read. Just an amazing book.
I always loved the novels of Chaim Potok, The Promise, The Chosen, My Name is Asher Lev, In the Beginning, Davita’s Harp, The Book of Lights. Such lyrical, clean writing.
Not so much about Israel, though of course it is a factor in all of these books, but great stories faturing the Orthodox Jews.
This is a terrific book:
Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle -
Dan Senor, Saul Singer.
That book by Linda Grant noted above: would it be “The People on the Street”? about (anonymised) people she met there.
I’d also add two books by Benny Morris (no longer a “new historian”, far more a centrist one): “1948: The First Arab-Israeli War” (his revised view of that war and the events leading up to it, published in 2009). He notes of this period that his view is that the 1948 war was effectively inevitable from the 1870s, when the first modern Zionists started arriving in what was then Palestine.
That and his more recent book “One State, Two States” (I reviewed it on Engage here – at least it summarises the book: http://engageonline.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/on-benny-morris-book-one-state-two-states-resolving-the-israelpalestine-conflict/).
Surely, anything by Oz, not just “Love and Darkness”, and if Oz, why not David Grossman?
And these are just the first decade of the 21st Century writers!