Israel : A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby
Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby.
This is one of the most informative, remarkable, and interesting books about Israel that I have ever read. Granted, I am not the most sophisticated person about the history of the Jews throughout all time nor even do I claim to know all the players in conflicts since the formation of Israel as an independent country. The author of this book does provide an in-depth knowledge and insight into the history, the key players, and the clash of cultures. She also clarifies the discrimination against the Jews and against Israel not only dating back to ancient times, but before and after the Holocaust. One only has to appreciate the number of Arabs living in Israel now with full citizenship and even being represented in the Israeli parliament the Knesset and yet the continued BDS movement– Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Israel coming from the overwhelming majority of the Arab world that continually is trying to destroy Israel and the Jews.
The author, aside from being an outstanding writer, has been an entertainer and even a comedian. She writes with a lively style and backs up everything with historical facts.
I recommend very strongly that everyone who has an interest in the history of Israel (and hopefully even though those who have been oblivious to the history of the Jews and Israel) should read this book. The insight and clarity you will have will help make the world a better place.
A young woman goes to a party on the Stanford University campus and gets drunk and passes out at the party. While unconscious she is sexually assaulted and raped in a nearby park. Two witnesses identify the guy who did it and there is eventually a trial.
This book is based on the life of a real woman in the early 1900s who became the executive assistant to the extremely wealthy JP Morgan and worked very closely with him in developing in what became the world famed Piermont Library and Museum in New York City. She traveled throughout the world on his behalf accumulating extremely valuable items in both their historical and artistic merit. The secret personal history of this woman and her struggles with her own identity and how she was perceived by the rich and famous in both the United States and throughout the world is the essence of this fascinating book. Although it has nothng to do with religion, one of us was reminded of the story of the Muranos or the “ Secret Jews “who lived in Spain in the 15th century and had to hide their Jewish identities in order to stand a chance prospering in that society . The collaboration of the two authors is a fascinating story itself which is discussed in the interesting epilogue to the book 
Gidon Lev is one of a small number of children who survived the Nazi concentration camp of Theresienstadt. He went on to travel through Europe and then spent time in Canada and the United States before settling on a kibbutz in Israel. He has led a full fascinating and complicated life including two marriages and several children. Gidon met Ms. Gray who is 30 years his junior and is an experienced and accomplished memoir writer. They collaborated for what must have been several years traveling together throughout the world tracing Gidon Lev’s fascinating life, which included many tragedies, complications, and great joys. She put together a memoir that is written by her but interspersed and weaved together with Gidon’s first person account.
This a very pleasant personal memoir of both the talented author and also a memoir of State of California through the eyes of Ms. Didion. She pulls no punches as she described the unethical behavior of large agricultural companies, the defense contractors, the land speculators, the prison builders, many others who exploited the land and the riches of the Golden State. She also provides an insight into the soul of the people of California particularly when she talks about her own family over many generations. I am sure her writing will live on for future generations and can be a humanizing adjunct to the life and times about which she has written.
Ms. Didion has a style and skill to bring out the essence and feelings of various characters as they deal with the major events of a lifetime. The book consists of 20 essays and is apparently her first non-fiction book. It mostly addresses personalities and events of the 1960s on the West Coast in California where she grew up. She did delve into the life of John Wayne, Joan Baez and Howard Hughes and touches upon what it was to live in Haight-Ashbury during the 1960s. Ms. Didion takes the reader into a deep dive into various characters as well as a particular time period. I did get the feeling that she truly captured each person and their life setting. As I read each essay, it seemed quite real and genuine. She provides a brief visit with an interesting person. However, as honest and is true as the encounter may be, the essay was not particularly memorable. I did not find myself engrossed in each essay nor reminiscing over the literary experience. No doubt she is a great photographer with her words. I had the thought that I would treasure one of her essays, if she were writing about a time and place of people with whom I had interacted and lived. For example, I would really enjoy reading her insight into Brooklyn during the years that I lived there in my youth. Also, I should add that I have not the slightest idea what the title has to do with the contents of her book.