To the Promised Land (Penguin Politics) [Paperback]

David J. Goldberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997 | Series: Penguin Politics

A sympathetic but balanced account that lays bare both the paradoxes and the genuine achievements of the movement that changed the course of Jewish history. The origins and developments of Zionism, its politics and ideology are examined through the movement's leading thinkers and activistsMoses Hess, Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, and Vladimir Jabotinsky.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140125124
• ISBN-13: 978-0140125122
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,086,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Simply INcredible, June 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: To the Promised Land (Penguin Politics) (Paperback)

This book deserves 5 stars for bias and no stars for truth. It not only distorts the facts, it is a downright littany of unfair misrepresenations. For example, when the author quotes and then proceeds to legitimize Benito Mussolini's (of all balanced world leaders!) calling Vladimir Jabotinsky a "fascist," something must be inverted in his thinking. Jabotinisky was a talented journalist and deep thinker. The author, in a frighteningly messianic tone, describes Ben-Gurion, who, in truth, was a career politician, who ruthlessly erradicated his opponents to satisfy his insatiable hunger to become Israel's first Prime Minsiter. In addition to the many misspellings of foreign names and a haunting sense of unchecked facts, this book was a disappointment, to say the least.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intellectual History of Zionism, May 22, 2002

By 

E. Martin "scalawagg" (US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To the Promised Land (Penguin Politics) (Paperback)

Jabotinsky was a writer of deep thought and conviction. He saw, almost alone, that the Palestinians would not just "fold their tents and steal away into the night." His strategy of "the Iron Wall" is the one followed by zionist movement and the state of israel ever since the 1930's. He *was* however also an avowed admirer of fascism.

Goldberg may idealize Ben-Gurion-he discusses his personal relationship with the late Prime Minister in his introductory comments. But this is a solid intellectual history of zionism in all its aspects up to 1948.
It's concluding paragraph reads like a preamble to "post-zionism." I recommend this book along with Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi's ORIGINAL SINS.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Simply INcredible, June 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: To the Promised Land (Penguin Politics) (Paperback)

This book deserves 5 stars for bias and no stars for truth. It not only distorts the facts, it is a downright litany of unfair misrepresentations. For example, when the author quotes and then proceeds to legitimize Benito Mussolini's (of all balanced world leaders!) calling Vladimir Jabotinsky a "fascist," something must be inverted in his thinking. Jabotinisky was a talented journalist and deep thinker. The author, in a frighteningly messianic tone, describes Ben-Gurion, who, in truth, was a career politician, who ruthlessly eradicated his opponents to become Israel's first Prime Minsiter. In addition to the many misspellings of foreign names and a haunting sense of unchecked facts, this book was a disappointment, to say the least.