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  • Israel

  • A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth
  • Written by: Noa Tishby
  • Narrated by: Noa Tishby
  • Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (69 ratings)

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Israel

Written by: Noa Tishby
Narrated by: Noa Tishby
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Publisher's Summary

AUDIO EXCLUSIVE: INCLUDES THE SONG “ELATION STATION” BY INFECTED MUSHROOM!

A “fascinating and very moving” (Aaron Sorkin, award-winning screenwriter of The West Wing and The Social Network) chronological timeline spanning from Biblical times to today that explores one of the most interesting countries in the world—Israel.

Israel. The small strip of arid land is 5,700 miles away but remains a hot-button issue and a thorny topic of debate. But while everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Israel, how many people actually know the facts?

Here to fill in the information gap is Israeli American Noa Tishby. But “this is not your Bubbie’s history book” (Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher). Instead, offering a fresh, 360-degree view, Tishby brings her “passion, humor, and deep intimacy” (Yossi Klein Halevi, New York Times bestselling author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor) to the subject, creating an accessible and dynamic portrait of a tiny country of outsized relevance. Through bite-sized chunks of history and deeply personal stories, Tishby chronicles her homeland’s evolution, beginning in Biblical times and moving forward to cover everything from WWI to Israel’s creation to the disputes dividing the country today. Tackling popular misconceptions with an abundance of facts, Tishby provides critical context around headline-generating controversies and offers a clear, intimate account of the richly cultured country of Israel.

©2021 Noa Tishby. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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Well told

Overall I loved this book and Tishby’s reading of it. I think she tries to give solid context and information about an extremely misunderstood country. I wish there were citations included in the audiobook for further research/exploration into the topic.

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Absolutely essential read for all (not just Jews)

I recommend this book to all Jews and anyone who has ever expressed an opinion about Israel or wanted to be able to express an opinion. It is a balanced and fair look at the many layers of this complicated history. Truly a must read and more than once.

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Should be part of the school Curriculum

Education is key and Noa provides a great guide to understanding Israel and learning about the country that became an obsession for so many to hate

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Great historical overview of Israel

Loved learning about the history of Israel - especially relevant after Oct 7, 2023…forever engrained into my soul. Thank you Noa for being a warrior for the Jewish people.

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Entertaining but a little dismissive of Palestinian arguments

I set out to read this book knowing that the author’s views are starkly different from mine. I was disappointed that when Tishby argued against accusations of ethnic cleansing and apartheid, she didn’t actually take a second to look at what others use to argue for those accusations. Beyond that, the book was funny and an enjoyable listen. If you’re looking for a truly balanced and unbiased view of Israel and their conflict with the Arab world, keep looking. (You’re going to be looking for a long time.) if you’re looking for a book that helps explain the viewpoint of so many Israelis in this conflict, I’d recommend this book.

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A must read!

Incredibly interesting, trustworthy, and based on facts and research read about Israel. A must read! Highly recommended.

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A Wonderful Overview

Ms. Tishby takes an incredibly complex and nuanced situation and presents it in a way that is easily accessible and thoroughly engaging. Of course she is giving an Israeli perspective, but through her clear reliance on factual history as well as personal stories and perspective, she presents an overview that most people would enjoy. Thank you so much for this book. I hope everyone, most importantly people with no personal connection to the region, reads it.

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A Nice Primer

I found this book easy to digest as it’s presented in a casual way. However I do have a couple of minor criticisms. First is the use of profanity. In my opinion totally unnecessary and detracts rather than adds. Second is the quality of the recording. There’s hiss throughout the reading. Though it’s not loud I find it disappointing in this day and age of digital audio. Overall I liked the book.

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Good read

I learned quite a bit about the country. It is as the title said - the most misunderstood country in the world. Neat to see it from the author's eyes. An enjoyable and educational listen.

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Informative and inspiring

Not without a bias or problems but most definitely an excellent and compelling listen! I would definitely recommend it.

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