Israel: An Introduction [Paperback]

Barry Rubin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2012

This comprehensive book provides a well-rounded introduction to Israel—a definitive account of the nation's past, its often controversial present, and much more. Written by a leading historian of the Middle East, Israel is organized around six major themes: land and people, history, society, politics, economics, and culture. The only available volume to offer such a complete account, this book is written for general readers and students who may have little background knowledge of this nation or its rich culture.

Based on research by scholars with extensive firsthand knowledge of Israel, this book offers accessible, clearly explained material, enhanced with a generous selection of images, maps, charts, tables, graphs, and sidebars. This book provides readers with a solid foundation of knowledge about Israel and provides useful reference lists by topic for those inspired to read further.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“There have been many hundreds of books for and against Israel but no volume presenting the essential information about its domestic politics, its society, as well as its cultural life and its economy. This gap has now been filled.”—Walter Laqueur, author of A History of Zionism

(Walter Laqueur )

"[An] essential resource for readers interested in learning the truth about the Zionist project in the 20th and 21st centuries."—Sol Stern, Commentary

(Sol Stern Commentary )

“Offering in-depth perspectives with encyclopedic breadth on the makeup of the Jewish state, focusing only briefly on Israel's struggle for self-preservation. The section "History" provides a masterful summary of Israel's past from its socialist beginnings before independence to the modern struggles with the Iranian regime. . . .”—Publishers Weekly

(Publishers Weekly )

“A well-written portrait of a vibrant nation at the center of turmoil in the region.”—Jay Freeman, Booklist

(Jay Freeman Booklist )

"It is indeed just a starting point, but Israel: An Introduction, if disseminated among our universities to the extent it deserves, will at least allow students of the Middle East and of Jewish history to start off on the right foot. A glimpse into the real Israel may do more for the future of U.S.-Israeli relations than any amount of rhetoric ever could."—Daniel Perez, Jewish Voice New York

(Daniel Perez Jewish Voice New York )

About the Author

Barry Rubin is professor and director of the Global Research in International Affairs Center at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel. He is also editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs and author of numerous books on the Middle East.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (February 21, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300162308
• ISBN-13: 978-0300162301
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.7 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the state of Israel March 18, 2012

By Shalom Freedman HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

This book aims to be an introductory guide for the general reader and a textbook for college students. Barry Rubin its editor and author of its first chapter claims that there is no single comprehensive volume that describes modern Israel. And this series of essays intends to do the job. In the impressive opening essay Rubin dispels many false notions about the Jewish people, their history and the whole story of the coming into being of Israel. First and perhaps above all he refutes the frequently repeated propaganda claim that Jews are exclusively a religious group. He briefly outlines the history of the Jewish people, showing that the collective and national component have been essential to Jewish identity throughout their history. Israel is not as many of its critics claim a colonial imperialist European imposition on the Middle East but rather the national project of the Jewish people who in returning to their homeland ingathered their scattered people and built a modern nation. Rubin is very good in describing the many obstacles Israel faced in state and nation- building and the achievement of creating a thriving albeit extremely threatened state. He speaks of the various strategies employed at different stages of Israel's history to meet the challenge of integrating people from so many different countries and building a modern economy.
In subsequent chapters the History, the Land and People, the Society, the Economy and the Culture are described. The presentations are factual and accurate but often have a superficial survey quality. What is sustained however throughout is an emphasis on the variety and richness of Israeli society and life, and how different it is from cliché views of it presented daily in the Western and world media. The book is thus most often a valuable corrective to mistaken views, and a treasure - trove of accurate information.
Though I have lived in Israel for over thirty- five years and tend to follow what is going on it as best I can I learned much from the book and believe it an important one.
I would however say that I found two reasons for complaint. The text- print is small, and the pictures and illustrations are not colorful and extensive enough. They do not do justice to the richness of the text.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent primer on Israel February 8, 2012

By Seminole3

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent way to become acquainted with the nation of Israel. Chapters on its history, politics, people, the land itself, culture and social structure give a good overview of the country and make it much more understandable.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Let the facts speak March 29, 2012

By JMM

Format:Paperback

I read the book a few months back in draft form, and was impressed by its breadth and depth, as others have remarked. Throughout, Rubin is evenhanded, stating facts plainly and letting them speak for themselves. Look particularly for his "topic sentences" (remember freshman English?), many of which are quite remarkably compact explanations of complex and seemingly diverse events. It is unusual for a book so dense with information to be such a good read!