100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery ๐Ÿš€ Thank you for supporting our 100% NZ-owned bookstore โค๏ธ

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn

4.3 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 3,677 ratings, 465 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis offers a comprehensive overview of Israel's dynamic history from its inception to modern times. The book explores the challenges and triumphs the nation has faced, providing insight into its political, cultural, and social evolution. Gordis draws on historical narratives to present a balanced perspective on Israel's journey, making it accessible to both newcomers and those familiar with the subject.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$4500
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you're interested in a comprehensive yet accessible journey through the history of Israel, exploring its political, cultural, and social milestones. It's an engaging read that provides insight into the challenges and achievements of a nation that has profoundly influenced global affairs.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Originally published in hardcover in 2016 by Ecco.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Winner of the Jewish Book of the Year Award

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn is an illuminating voyage into the heart of one of the world's most intriguing countries. Authored by Daniel Gordis, a prominent intellectual and insightful analyst of Israeli society as noted by The Forward, this remarkable narrative takes readers on an enthralling journey from Israel's inception to contemporary times. Gordis, writing from his vantage point in Jerusalem, provides an accessible yet thorough examination of Israel's complex evolution.

This book delves into the enigma of why a small, seemingly distant nation preoccupies global discourse and imagination, and has even become a focal point of international criticism. Gordis asks probing questions: What are the motivations behind Israel's decisions? What future lies ahead for this tiny yet remarkable state? To grasp these complexities, one must first understand the people of Israel, their aspirations, and the formidable burdens of history that continue to shape their conversations and actions.

While Israel's history is indelibly marked by conflict, Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn delves deeper than these surface tensions. It seeks to reveal the enduring spirit of a people, fuelled by the dream that gave rise to the nation and the visionary ideals at the heart of the Jewish people's return to their ancestral homeland. Gordis skilfully guides us through pivotal moments in Israeli history, revealing the dynamic narrative of a nation constantly in flux.

With a keen and discerning eye, Gordis narrates how Israel has emerged as a cultural, economic, and military powerhouse on the world stage, while also candidly acknowledging the challenges and missteps that have compounded its isolation over time. In this context, Gordis not only elucidates the impressive achievements of the Israeli state but also the resilience and creativity of its people.

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn is more than a history bookโ€”it is a lens through which to view the complex tapestry of Israeli life. Gordis' work serves as a rigorous, balanced, and insightful guide for those seeking to comprehend the profound and often perplexing issues surrounding Israel's past and present. The book offers a vivid and nuanced portrait of a nation reborn, inviting readers to engage with the story of a people who have continually defied the odds, shaping a legacy that will influence both its own future and the world.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis is praised for offering a thorough yet accessible overview of Israel's history. It is noted for providing insights to readers who may not be fully familiar with the complexities of Israel's past and seeking a deeper understanding. The book is commended for its engaging narrative and balanced presentation.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780062368751

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 October 2017

Country: United States

Imprint: HarperCollins

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 560

About the Author

Daniel Gordis is the Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College--Israel's first liberal arts college--which he helped found in 2007. The author of numerous books on Jewish thought and political currents in Israel, he has twice won the National Jewish Book Award, including the prize for Book of the Year for Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn. Raised and educated in the United States, he has been living in Jerusalem since 1998.

More from History & Military

View all
  • Saving Elli
    One child. Two years in hiding. Three lives in mortal danger. In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, near Anne Frank's house, another Jewish girl is hidden. Her name is Elli. Her father has been executed at Mauthausen concentration camp. Her mother is fleeing for her life. Elli is next. To save her, resistance couple Frits and Jo Hakkens must risk everything, concealing her...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Spy and the Traitor
    The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre is a spellbinding Cold War thriller that unravels the true story of Oleg Gordievsky, a KGB double agent who risked everything to aid the British in the battle against Soviet oppression. In meticulously researched detail, Macintyre paints a vivid portrait of espionage, double-crossing, and unparalleled bravery, giving readers a riveting glimpse into...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Suicidal Empathy
    The bestselling author of The Parasitic Mind shows why empathy in politics leads to civilizational collapse. What happens when a society elevates victimhood to a virtue and decides that punishment is cruel? You get the disease Dr. Gad Saad calls suicidal empathy. And the West may be terminally infected. In his new book, Suicidal Empathy, Saad unleashes a blistering critique...
    Paperback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Betrayal
    โ€˜Tom Bower is the Inspector Morse of investigative biographers, a fluent, phlegmatic storyteller and a master of intricacies.โ€™ Sunday Times The British Crown is in crisis, with constitutional threats at home and abroad. At a landmark moment in royal history, can King Charles overcome the scandals that blight the Royal family? Can the broken bonds between the Houses of Sussex...
    Paperback
    $3499
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Man's Search For Meaning
    Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound, thought-provoking memoir and psychological exploration that delves into the harrowing experiences of life in Nazi concentration camps, intertwined with the authorโ€™s groundbreaking theories on existential psychology. The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, offering a beacon of hope and a roadmap for finding purpose...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Discipline
    Silence is complicity, but how do we confront the cost of speaking up? Sydney, May 2021. Ashraf is an academic whose career and personal life are in freefall. Hannah is a young journalist struggling to honour the voices of her community. When a Year 12 Al-Bayinnah College student is arrested for protesting a university's ties to an Israeli weapons manufacturer,...
    Paperback
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Shattered Lands
    'A sparkling debut by an outstanding young historian' โ€“ PETER FRANKOPAN 'This book is a revelation โ€ฆ both original and important' โ€“ MISHAL HUSAIN A history of modern South Asia told through five partitions that reshaped it. As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia โ€“ India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and...
    Paperback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Chief and the Empire
    The Chief and the Empire uncovers the extraordinary true tale of Te Tai Tokerau rangatira Te Pahi - the first influential Mฤori leader to cross the Tasman - whose curiosity about the Pฤkehฤ world forged alliances, saved lives, and ultimately cost him his own. On a visit to Sydney in 1805, Te Pahi was feted as a celebrity, building close...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Goliathโ€™s Curse
    Goliathโ€™s Curse by Luke Kemp offers a radical retelling of human history through the lens of collapse, delving into what this means for our uncertain future. This narrative spans from the dawn of our species to the urgent existential threats of the twenty-first century and beyond. It's grounded in the latest research and a comprehensive database of more than 440...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Women's Prize Winner
    The Finest Hotel in Kabul
    The story of a hotel. The story of a nation. When the Inter-Continental Kabul opened in 1969, Afghanistan's first luxury hotel symbolised a dream of a modernising country connected to the world. More than fifty years on, the Inter-Continental is still standing. It has endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion and the rise, fall...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • This Way Up
    The debut book from the YouTube sensation and all-round cartographical nerds, The Map Men! In their long-awaited debut, YouTubeโ€™s Map Men bring their highly infectious enthusiasm for everything map-related to the printed page for the very first time, in a brilliantly entertaining and eye-catching tome. Packed with humour and fascinating facts, This Way Up takes a deep dive into the...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Matariki: The Star of the Year
    In mid-winter, Matariki rises in the pre-dawn sky, and its observation is celebrated with incantations on hilltops at dawn, balls, exhibitions, dinners, and a vast number of events. The Matariki tradition has been re-established, and its regeneration coincides with a growing interest in Mฤori astronomy. Still, there remain some unanswered questions about how Matariki was traditionally observed. These include: What...
    Paperback
    $3399
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.