Chicagoland Pro-Israel Political Update
If you're allodoxaphobic, this newsletter might not be for you
December 30, 2018
If you're looking for some good books to read (and some books to avoid), this newsletter is for you.
Welcome to all the Philadelphia Jewish News
readers who subscribed last week (and thanks to Dan Loeb for inviting them). Today's newsletter is somewhat atypical, but we'll be back to the usual format next week, which includes the fun features toward the bottom of every newsletter, including this one.
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Friends,
What a week. For the past two years, every week has been what a week, and when you
start feeling too much like this
, it’s time to take a break from Facebook, Twitter, and even 1,000 word newsletters and read a good book instead.
Below, in order, are the notable books I read (or re-read) in 2018, whether for fun or to learn. Most were published in 2018, but some were published before. Some might interest you, others you’ll want to avoid, but maybe this will help you work out your 2019 reading list. Happy reading and Happy New Year!
Molly’s Game, by Molly Bloom
---Very interesting story about the woman who ran a high stakes poker game for several years; the movie is based on this book.
Fire and Fury, by Michael Wolff
--Very poorly written, but I slogged through it for the content, which at times was interesting. But really just more detail about what we already knew about Trump.
Red Wind, by Raymond Chandler
--Needed some good writing after reading Michael Wolff. Love this opening paragraph: “There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands’ necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.”
The Little Sister, by Raymond Chandler
--Needed even more good writing after reading Michael Wolff.
The First Love Story: Adam, Eve, and Us, by Bruce Feiler
--A few insights, but not that deep, and the meandering about his interviewees eating food, how they looked, etc. became annoying quickly. I can get that in almost any issue of
The New Yorker
, plus cartoons.
Rise and Kill First, by Ronen Bergman
--Fascinating history of Israel’s targeted assassinations. As one of the reviewers said, it reads like a John le Carre story with endnotes. Highly recommended.
How Democracies Die, by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
--Interesting but not quite persuasive analysis of the threats to democracy posed by Trump relative to threats faced, successfully and unsuccessfully, by other democracies.
Sadness is a White Bird, by Moriel Rothman-Zecher
--Shallow novel with cardboard characters about an Israeli soldier and his Palestinian friends. Well-written enough that I finished it, but not recommended.
Slouching Towards Bethlehem, by Joan Didion
--Collection of amazingly well-written essays about life in California in the 1960s that still hold up.
The Exodus, by Richard Elliott Friedman
--Fascinating book by the author of
Who Wrote the Bible
that uses archeology and careful reading of the texts to piece together what really happened. Friedman says that there was an exodus, but probably only of Levites who then merged with Judah and Israel who were already in the Land.
Papillon, by Henri Charriere
--Amazing tale of his escapes from prison and his adventures in between.
The Hilltop, by Assaf Gavron
--One of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. Funny, serious, satirical, sweeping story of a hilltop West Bank settlement and its residents. Everyone will like it.
Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, by Yossi Klein Halevi
--Condescending, superficial collection of letters to an imaginary Palestinian neighbor about the Jewish narrative. A few interesting ideas, but as short as it is, not worth reading. Should have been titled
Letters to Jewish Organizations Who Will Pay Me To Speak At Their Events
.
My Country, My Life, by Ehud Barak
--Very well-written memoir that is also about Israel, as Barak played such an important role in so many decisions. The last chapters alone, on the Iran Deal and the current situation, make the book worth reading, but his account of the peace negotiations with Arafat remain relevant today, as does his entire life.
I devoted a newsletter to it earlier this year
.
The World As It Is, by Ben Rhodes
--Fascinating history of the Obama administration written by a key player from beginning to end. The focus is on foreign policy, and it sheds light on controversies regarding the Cairo speech and why Obama didn’t visit Israel, Syria and the “red line” statement, the Iran Deal, the “echo chamber” remark, and so much more. Highly recommended.
The Ruined House, by Ruby Namdar-
-Brilliant writing even in translation from Hebrew. Won the Sapir Prize, Israel’s highest literary award. Novel about a professor in mid-life crisis who has visions of the destruction of the Temple that cause him to question his life and his sanity. But it has funny parts too and is a pleasure to read.
American Pastoral, by Philip Roth
--Masterpiece of literary fiction. His writing is worth savoring; not the kind of book to rush through, but to think about and read for the writing as well as the content.
This Is Real And You Are Completely Unprepared, by Alan Lew
--Classic High Holidays preparation book always worth re-reading, although a bit heavy on the death metaphor.
Yes We (Still) Can, by Dan Pfeiffer
--Very hopeful, well-written, entertaining book about applying lessons from Obama’s victories to defeating Trump.
No Country for Old Men, by Cormac McCarthy
--Taut, sparsely written novel about fate and luck. Very interesting. Great writing.
21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari
--Interesting enough to finish, but the sections on religion were simplistic to the point of offensive, and much of what was good was not new. Not recommended, but easy to see why this guy appeals to people who want to feel like intellectuals.
Fear, by Bob Woodward
--Basically a better-written version of the Michael Wolff book. Not much new, and by the time I read it, what was new had already been reported. After a while, I began to skim through it. Not worth the time.
Big Game, by Mark Leibovich
--I’m not a big football fan, but this book is funny and entertaining.
Catch-67, by Micah Goodman
--Tightly written, balanced book argues that both the right and the left in Israel are right in what they affirm and wrong in what they deny. Recently translated from Hebrew; it was a best-seller in Israel. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand the dilemmas Israel faces and how Israelis are debating them and how they (and perhaps we) should debate them.
The New American Judaism, by Jack Wertheimer
--Prominent historian looks at contemporary challenges faced by varying streams of Judaism. Very good analysis. He concludes that the rebuilding of Judaism will require a renewed appreciation for Jewish memory, continuity, and particularistic content; synagogues will remain important, as will the notion of Judaism as a religion to be observed in all settings.
The Fifth Risk, by Michael Lewis
--This short, well-written book might be the scariest account of the inner workings of the Trump administration yet written. The “fifth risk” is the existential threat that you never even imagine as a risk. “It is the innovation that never occurs, and the knowledge that is never created, because you have ceased to lay the groundwork for it. It is what you never learned that might have saved you.”
Brief Answers to the Big Questions, by Stephen Hawking
--Interesting, accessible set of answers to some very big questions. My favorite: “Why are we so worried about artificial intelligence? Surely humans are always able to pull the plug?
"People asked a computer, ‘Is there a God?’ And the computer said, ‘There is now,’ and fused the plug.”
An Uncivil War, by Greg Sargent
--Sober look at the causes of, and possible solutions for, our politics of disinformation and blood sport politics and how to restore fair play to our political system. Spoiler alert: No easy answers.
Thanks A Lot Mr Kibblewhite, by Roger Daltrey
--Entertaining, witty autobiography by the founder of The Who, a band (as I learned from reading this book) once described by Pete Townshend as “three geniuses and a singer.” Lots of good stories, lots of fun, best rock autobiography that I've read.
Your Duck Is My Duck, by Deborah Eisenberg
--Collection of very well-written and insightful short stories peppered with dry humor.
Dear Zealots, by Amos Oz
--Three essays on zealotry and Israel; very interesting and thought-provoking. Oz was one of Israel's greatest writers.
He died on on Friday
. May his memory be for a blessing.
Almost Everything, by Anne Lamott
--Collection of very well-written, witty, uplifting essays on hope.
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
--Dystopian novel with themes that resonate in today’s political climate, especially how quickly things can change. Well-written page-turner. The perfect book with which to end 2018.
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The Fine Print
: This newsletter usually runs on Sunday mornings. Unless stated otherwise, my views do not necessarily reflect the views of any candidates or organizations that I support or am associated with. My views might not even be my views tomorrow; I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more, and sometimes I make myself mad too. Intelligent, well-informed people may disagree with me; seek out opposing views and decide for yourself. When I link to an article, it doesn't mean that I agree with everything its author has ever said or that I even agree with everything in the article; it means that the article supports or elaborates on the point I was making. Advertisements reflect the views of the advertisers, not necessarily of me, and advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements. I read, value, and encourage replies to my newsletters, but I don't always have time to acknowledge replies or to engage in one-on-one discussion. Don't expect a reply if your message is uncivil or if it's clear from your message that you haven't read the newsletter or clicked on the relevant links.