Hayekian

Superb history, of Jabotinsky and times.

Revisado: 07-02-24

Given the never-ending chaos and polarizations relating to Zionism as we are clearly seeing, the monumental importance of men like Jabotinsky is increasingly vital. This was a superb book not only covering Jabotinsky's life but how the surrounding ideas and circumstances shaped his views and oh so much more. Great history of Zionism and related players as well. Just one of the best history books I've come across in general. A hidden gem.

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Great book to understand the liberal Zionist view.

Revisado: 06-07-23

This was a great book that helped me not just gain a few tidbits of history here and there but also get a deeper feel for the modern liberal Zionist perspective which Mr. Gordis seems to be a great and popular representative of.

I have to preface my brief remarks by mentioning that I am what you may call an Anti-Zionist. I simply believe that the idea of Zionism, and especially its numerous calamities leading to the creation of Israel and ongoing polarizations, were and remain an intellectual error. It is important to recall that during the early days of Zionism the ideas was strongly rejected by most Jews. The rabbinical establishment, reflecting views shared by most Jews in Munich, Germany, where Herzl wanted to hold the First Zionist Congress, strongly rejected the idea so the meeting was moved to Basle Switzerland(29-31st/8/1897). They told him :

“…how can one speak with people who on the one hand are fanatics regarding Jewish nationhood and, on the other hand, complain that the Austrian government required a baptismal certificate from the candidate for the position of secretary of Bukowina. If the Austrian Jews support the efforts of the Zionists, then they should not complain that they are treated by the government like foreigners and are barred from public office. *We, however, can say to our fellow countrymen with complete conviction that we comprise a separate community solely with respect to religion. Regarding nationality, we feel totally at one with our fellow Germans and therefore strive towards the realization of the spiritual and moral goals of our dear fatherland with an enthusiasm equaling theirs…*.Eighteen hundred years ago, history made its decision regarding Jewish nationhood through the dissolution of the Jewish State and the destruction of the Temple”

This makes perfect sense. German, Polish, Russian, Spanish Jews spoke German, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and for centuries their identities had evolved in those locations where their Synagogues had been built and they made real tangible contributions to the evolution of Western Civilization. Until the last couple of centuries most people had never even seen a map and their "identities" were tied, not to a nation, but to a local town or village. The cultural concept of a 'Nation' as we currently treat it, did not generally arise until maps, better communication, faster transportation, etc. allowed our more local-tribal 'identities' to be expanded to now include much larger groups. This of course has led to bigger and bigger tribalistic National and then World Wars.

If you just look at the title of the book, it wonderfully captures the naive liberal Zionist perspective.

"Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After Its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders’ Dreams?"

Right, a monumental error, which to many seemed 'impossible', and understandably continues to polarize the entire planet into us vs. them, good vs. evil views, with unimaginable suffering in countries devastated by American and Israeli popularized military interventions like Iraq. All of this suffering and the little recognized destruction of the American economy via 1.2+trillion yearly military spending and more.... All of this suffering is just glossed over, as some people just pursue their "dream".

Mr Gordis rightly criticizes the current Israeli state and wants to see certain changes. In reality, I have a feeling that Mr. Gordis is ultimately an Anti-Zionist, because if Israel changes its Jew-only character by having multiple national anthems and-or flags as Gordis suggests, and eventually makes other changes where all citizens are really treated equally regardless of religion, then Zionism is in many ways ended. Is Mr. Gordis secretly working for Khamenei?

Again, excellent book, as well as Gordis' "We Stand Divided: The Rift Between American Jews and Israel"... Which also shows how many Jews are increasingly realizing how Zionism was a monumental error. As with Communism, often times bright and caring people fool themselves into monumental errors and any astute observer can see that liberal non-religious Jews are starting to see Zionism as an error that really needs massive changes. We really have two ways to undo this error. The angry sorta antisemitic way which sees Zionism as the result of bad Jews, or the compassionate wise way, which simply sees it as an understandable error. I'm glad to see that the latter correct approach is slowly gaining ground. We desperately need a Zionist Gorbachev before it is too late. The Neocons are going to destroy civilization otherwise.

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Great history book. Easily explains much of today.

Revisado: 05-24-23

Great book that easily explains much of today's continuing expanding world-wide chaos. Although I find Carter to have mande countless errors regarding the American economy he remains by far the most thoughtful and considerate president of at least the last 40+ years. Makes sense how Carter immediately somewhat fell in love with Sadat. Sadat was, for the times, and the country, an incredibly wise and considerate man who really believed in fellow human beings and talking to others. One easily sees how totally brainwashed into naive historical narratives and "identity" Begin was. Begin too I can see as being a great person, but as with Communist ideologues, sometimes wonderful people can fall for disastrous ideologues. It is scary to realize that if men like Carter, Sadat, and Begin were not able to make significant steps towards peace, how can we do so now with a senile Biden who is surrounded by the most naive Zionists like Blinken and Sullivan and Nuland and countless others who have expanded the naive good vs. evil to now include countries that get along with critics of Zionism like Russia due to its good relations with Syria and Iran? I mean, the Zionist calamity is just engulfing the whole planet and world leaders are 1/100th as bright and caring as they were 40 years ago. As the book deals with the histories of each men, one gets a nice snapshot of the history of the conflict etc. Just a wonderful book everyone will enjoy.

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This book is needed to save civilization.

Revisado: 08-19-21

I am somewhat shocked and in a sense of stupor in a way. How can this book be so good and so monumentally important, especially given the totalitarian CovidMania that is destroying civilization, yet not be talked about everywhere by the millions who are trying to stop this seeming madness? I think I understand though. We are still, at least in 8/19/2021, at a time where anyone questioning vaccinations at all is in such a small minority that it is easy to lump us with simplistic 'conspiracy theorists'. There is a monumental and vital difference between a conspiracy, and a myth. Naive thinkers see conspiracy everywhere, and if they do so where there is mythology, then they rightly look like fools and make it nearly impossible for people who are trying to study the evolution of myths to be treated properly and taken seriously.

Drop everything and just read/listen to it and try to help mankind and its millions of priest-like doctors to realize they have fallen for myth just like our religious leaders. Of course MDs are priest-like in their intolerance/negligence. But this must be done in order to improve our health/wellbeing and save us from Coromunism and the growing competition-less medical state that is destroying civilization.

I simply can't recommend this book enough. Again, it is a book that is desperately needed to save civilization. It is that important.

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superb in so many ways

Revisado: 03-28-21

Does a superb job showing just how narrow-minded medical experts have been throughout history doing on average far more harm than good for countless things.

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Superb in every way

Revisado: 03-25-21

Wonderful book. Great science, explanations, narrations, story, the way everything was intertwined. Simply a fantastic book and oh so desperately needed in today's CovidMania.

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Superb!

Revisado: 12-19-19

This is an excellent book. Superb history not just about the man but obviously then entire Zionist enterprise and its numerous influences and repercussions. Great way to learn about one of the world's key individuals. As one finishes the book one sees how Ben-Gurion was simply a sign of the times, I guess like we all are. Although natural selection has been working on our planet to create slightly smarter apes some absorb a cultural identity of "Jews" and inevitable non-Jews ... and ohh boy was everything seen through that lens for Gurion and obviously most other Israeli leaders..Too bad Ben-Gurion never read fellow Jew Ludwig von Mises :-( ... Great book....

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Excellent!

Revisado: 07-09-19

Does a nice job showing how sort of toxic and polluted modernity. Entertaining book. Highly recommended. Also liked how it describes the perverse incentives that dominate gov funded research and also how little money even from private charities goes to real meaningful research

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