The Cursed Swamps Book Club

sorty by

YEAR

TITLE

RATING

BIAS

Order

Tom Segev

A State at Any Cost. The Life of David Ben Gurion

Must

READ

816

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2027

The people whose opinions are detested by both sides might be correct. “Both the left and right are correct,” Micah Goodman writes in his new book Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War.

“The arguments for both sides have proven valid. Hence the crisis.”Goodman, best known until now for a brilliant book about the rabbi Maimonides, a surprise best seller in Israel, refuses to traffic in the old clichés.

Catch-67, despite its title, is not really about the Six-Day War but about what Israel can do to break the stalemate with the Palestinians, the fallout from decades of failed peace talks.Goodman wants to repair Israeli political argument, which he knows is badly broken.

The debate about peace has devolved into mudslinging and catchphrases. The right sees Palestinians as a security threat that must be kept under control. The left still looks to them as partners for peace. “One camp is afraid of returning to Egypt, and the other camp is afraid of turning into Egypt,” he says. Both have a point, but neither will admit that the other side has one, too.

Oren Kessler

Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict

Must

READ

336

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2023

Published in just 2023, Kessler’s work is the first exploration of the (Great) Arab Revolt in Palestine of 1936-1939 for general audience. Which only underlines the tremendous lack of accessible historical material in this seemingly world-shaking conflict.

As every historian makes a bet on what to consider the zero hour of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Kessler argues that the revolt may very well be it, but at the very list it still massively influenced or even predetermined everything that followed, leading up the consequences of War of Independence.

The book undertakes a fresh (for me) approach: the key events of the revolt are followed through a set of biographies of relevant figures, somewhat equally divided between Jewish, Arab and British portraits. This turns it into a dynamic and volumetric narration, rich in details, even though quite short.

It is worth mentioning that Kessler lost a close relative as a first responder on October 7, the day he also had a wedding.

Derek Penslar

Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic Leader

Should

READ

256

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2020

Lectures by Derek Penslar, the scholar of the emotional history of all things Jewish, are always packed with deep historical insights and exemplary center-left thought, but this book makes one realize that a biography of even such a short-lived protagonist under 300 pages is simply not enough.

While Penslar’s introduction to this work is as good as his other writings and speeches, the rest of the book is somewhat rushed and runs out of steam towards the end, without structurally answering the key question: why Herzl was and still is so magnetic.

Just like in the case of Halkin’s Jabotinsky biography, one could blame Yale’s series for it.

Penslar’s main innovation is dissecting Herzl’s mental instability, with the center of his structure dedicated to Herzl’s fit in 1895 leading to the creation of his cornerstone writings and energy for Zionist activities right up to his deathbed.

It is, though, probably the best alternative to any other Herzl biography, which would be waxed and sterilized—and for this critical approach, we owe Penslar a big hug.

Micah Goodman

Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War

Must

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2017

Matti Friedman

Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War

Must

READ

272

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2016

Avi Shlaim

The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, Expanded

Must

READ

670

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2014

Daniel Gordis

Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul

Must

READ

320

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Begin is probably the least understood prime minister from today's people eyes. Yet, as Gordis shows, his deeds could be structured along a handful of principles which are far from just being extreme.

Although written by an American zionist which leads to oversimplifaction and some omissions which are hardly unconscious, this book is a great intro to Begin for beginners. It is extremely clearly written, and structured to be read.

Hillel Halkin

Jabotinsky: A Life

Could

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Hillel Halkin is a respected Israeli translator, novelist, and critic, which promised a great biography. It is a nice one, but, as probably conditioned by the contract of Yale’s Jewish Lives series, it is painfully short, giving no room for Halkin’s own voice.

Personally, I would prefer the same number of pages filled with Halkin’s meditations over Jabo, instead of him trying to squeeze Jabotinsky’s life timeline between the tight covers.

Halkin, being a literary person and obviously chosen because of this to author this biography, just like Jabo himself, balances between Jabo’s literature and Jabo’s Zionism, and one can clearly see which one he enjoys describing more—which is, of course, understandable.

Overall, it’s definitely not a bad read and is useful for beginners. The best parts of it, as expected, are Halkin's explorations of Jabo's ideology, which Jabo clearly deserves after decades of being branded a fascist—first by mainstream Zionism and the Israeli left, then by anti-Israeli scholars and activists.

Amos Oz

How to Cure a Fanatic

Could

READ

104

pp.

BIAS

2010

Benny Morris

1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War

Must

READ

544

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2008

Michael B. Oren

Six Days of War: June 1967 & the Making of the Modern Middle East

Should

READ

480

pp.

BIAS

▒▒░

2001

Tom Segev

The Seventh Million: The Israelis and the Holocaust

Could

READ

593

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2000

The Seventh Million details complex relationship and positioning of the Yeshuv towards Holocaust in the wake of, during, and after the WW2.

Segev’s book, as all his work, dismantles dozens of myths in the common Israeli mindsets, exposing the hard truth: Zionist leadership in Palestine could not do anything to save European jewry without damage to their state-building cause and systematically chose not to, whilst almost never hesitating to exploit their European brother’s suffering.

The book is at times a bit repetitive which you won’t find it Segev’s later works, but is still extremely insightful.

Seeing that the first part is mostly dedicated to Zionist leadership response to Holocaust, it reads well as a second part of Segev’s own “A State at any Cost”, Ben-Gurion’s biography.

Moshe Dayan

Living with the Bible

Should

READ

232

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1978

Saul Bellow

To Jerusalem and Back: A Personal Account

Should

READ

192

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1976

Menachem Begin

White nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia

Should

READ

240

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1957

Menachem Begin, one of the most memorable Prime Ministers of Israel and the self-proclaimed heir to Jabotinsky, spent two years in an NKVD prison and Pechorlag at the beginning of the Russian phase of World War II. He was released by what can only be described as a miracle—a glitch in Soviet-Polish diplomacy.

His memoir offers a grim insight into the oppression of Zionists by the Soviets during the war, with their Kafkaesque ideological mindtricks. Fortunately, it avoids the excessive physiological detail typical of Soviet-era prison literature, making it bearable to read.

I would say it is important to read this one if you want to better understand Begin and his generation.

A startling fact: when the book was first published, many doubted its authenticity, accusing Begin of exaggeration—particularly in the way he described his daring communication with his interrogators. However, the declassification of his interrogation transcripts after the collapse of the Soviet Union largely confirmed his account.

Leon Pinsker

Auto-Emancipation!

Must

READ

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

1882

A canonical pre-Herzlian essay on the role of Jews subject to other nations. Although sometimes socially inapropriate for moden times, it is extremely well written.

Amos Oz

How to Cure a Fanatic

Could

READ

104

pp.

BIAS

2010

Avi Shlaim

The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, Expanded

Must

READ

670

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2014

Benny Morris

1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War

Must

READ

544

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2008

Daniel Gordis

Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul

Must

READ

320

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Derek Penslar

Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic Leader

Should

READ

256

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2020

Just like in the case of Halkin’s Jabotinsky biography, one could blame Yale’s series for it.

It is, though, probably the best alternative to any other Herzl biography, which would be waxed and sterilized—and for this critical approach, we owe Penslar a big hug.

Hillel Halkin

Jabotinsky: A Life

Could

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Personally, I would prefer the same number of pages filled with Halkin’s meditations over Jabo, instead of him trying to squeeze Jabotinsky’s life timeline between the tight covers.

Leon Pinsker

Auto-Emancipation!

Must

READ

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

1882

A canonical pre-Herzlian essay on the role of Jews subject to other nations. Although sometimes socially inapropriate for moden times, it is extremely well written.

Matti Friedman

Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War

Must

READ

272

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2016

Menachem Begin

White nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia

Should

READ

240

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1957

I would say it is important to read this one if you want to better understand Begin and his generation.

Micah Goodman

Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War

Must

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2017

Michael B. Oren

Six Days of War: June 1967 & the Making of the Modern Middle East

Should

READ

480

pp.

BIAS

▒▒░

2001

Moshe Dayan

Living with the Bible

Should

READ

232

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1978

Oren Kessler

Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict

Must

READ

336

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2023

It is worth mentioning that Kessler lost a close relative as a first responder on October 7, the day he also had a wedding.

Saul Bellow

To Jerusalem and Back: A Personal Account

Should

READ

192

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1976

Tom Segev

A State at Any Cost. The Life of David Ben Gurion

Must

READ

816

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2027

Tom Segev

The Seventh Million: The Israelis and the Holocaust

Could

READ

593

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2000

The Seventh Million details complex relationship and positioning of the Yeshuv towards Holocaust in the wake of, during, and after the WW2.

The book is at times a bit repetitive which you won’t find it Segev’s later works, but is still extremely insightful.

Seeing that the first part is mostly dedicated to Zionist leadership response to Holocaust, it reads well as a second part of Segev’s own “A State at any Cost”, Ben-Gurion’s biography.

Benny Morris

1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War

Must

READ

544

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2008

Tom Segev

A State at Any Cost. The Life of David Ben Gurion

Must

READ

816

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2027

Leon Pinsker

Auto-Emancipation!

Must

READ

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

1882

A canonical pre-Herzlian essay on the role of Jews subject to other nations. Although sometimes socially inapropriate for moden times, it is extremely well written.

Micah Goodman

Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War

Must

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2017

Amos Oz

How to Cure a Fanatic

Could

READ

104

pp.

BIAS

2010

Hillel Halkin

Jabotinsky: A Life

Could

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Personally, I would prefer the same number of pages filled with Halkin’s meditations over Jabo, instead of him trying to squeeze Jabotinsky’s life timeline between the tight covers.

Moshe Dayan

Living with the Bible

Should

READ

232

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1978

Daniel Gordis

Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul

Must

READ

320

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Oren Kessler

Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict

Must

READ

336

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2023

It is worth mentioning that Kessler lost a close relative as a first responder on October 7, the day he also had a wedding.

Matti Friedman

Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War

Must

READ

272

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2016

Michael B. Oren

Six Days of War: June 1967 & the Making of the Modern Middle East

Should

READ

480

pp.

BIAS

▒▒░

2001

Avi Shlaim

The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, Expanded

Must

READ

670

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2014

Tom Segev

The Seventh Million: The Israelis and the Holocaust

Could

READ

593

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2000

The Seventh Million details complex relationship and positioning of the Yeshuv towards Holocaust in the wake of, during, and after the WW2.

The book is at times a bit repetitive which you won’t find it Segev’s later works, but is still extremely insightful.

Seeing that the first part is mostly dedicated to Zionist leadership response to Holocaust, it reads well as a second part of Segev’s own “A State at any Cost”, Ben-Gurion’s biography.

Derek Penslar

Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic Leader

Should

READ

256

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2020

Just like in the case of Halkin’s Jabotinsky biography, one could blame Yale’s series for it.

It is, though, probably the best alternative to any other Herzl biography, which would be waxed and sterilized—and for this critical approach, we owe Penslar a big hug.

Saul Bellow

To Jerusalem and Back: A Personal Account

Should

READ

192

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1976

Menachem Begin

White nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia

Should

READ

240

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1957

I would say it is important to read this one if you want to better understand Begin and his generation.

Matti Friedman

Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War

Must

READ

272

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2016

Oren Kessler

Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict

Must

READ

336

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2023

It is worth mentioning that Kessler lost a close relative as a first responder on October 7, the day he also had a wedding.

Avi Shlaim

The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, Expanded

Must

READ

670

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2014

Leon Pinsker

Auto-Emancipation!

Must

READ

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

1882

A canonical pre-Herzlian essay on the role of Jews subject to other nations. Although sometimes socially inapropriate for moden times, it is extremely well written.

Daniel Gordis

Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul

Must

READ

320

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Tom Segev

A State at Any Cost. The Life of David Ben Gurion

Must

READ

816

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2027

Micah Goodman

Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War

Must

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2017

Benny Morris

1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War

Must

READ

544

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2008

Saul Bellow

To Jerusalem and Back: A Personal Account

Should

READ

192

pp.

tilt

░░░

1976

Michael B. Oren

Six Days of War: June 1967 & the Making of the Modern Middle East

Should

READ

480

pp.

tilt

▒▒░

2001

Menachem Begin

White nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia

Should

READ

240

pp.

tilt

░░░

1957

I would say it is important to read this one if you want to better understand Begin and his generation.

Derek Penslar

Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic Leader

Should

READ

256

pp.

tilt

░░░

2020

Just like in the case of Halkin’s Jabotinsky biography, one could blame Yale’s series for it.

It is, though, probably the best alternative to any other Herzl biography, which would be waxed and sterilized—and for this critical approach, we owe Penslar a big hug.

Moshe Dayan

Living with the Bible

Should

READ

232

pp.

tilt

░░░

1978

Amos Oz

How to Cure a Fanatic

Could

READ

104

pp.

tilt

2010

Tom Segev

The Seventh Million: The Israelis and the Holocaust

Could

READ

593

pp.

tilt

░░░

2000

The Seventh Million details complex relationship and positioning of the Yeshuv towards Holocaust in the wake of, during, and after the WW2.

The book is at times a bit repetitive which you won’t find it Segev’s later works, but is still extremely insightful.

Seeing that the first part is mostly dedicated to Zionist leadership response to Holocaust, it reads well as a second part of Segev’s own “A State at any Cost”, Ben-Gurion’s biography.

Hillel Halkin

Jabotinsky: A Life

Could

READ

264

pp.

tilt

▒▒▒

2014

Personally, I would prefer the same number of pages filled with Halkin’s meditations over Jabo, instead of him trying to squeeze Jabotinsky’s life timeline between the tight covers.

Leon Pinsker

Auto-Emancipation!

Must

READ

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

1882

A canonical pre-Herzlian essay on the role of Jews subject to other nations. Although sometimes socially inapropriate for moden times, it is extremely well written.

Amos Oz

How to Cure a Fanatic

Could

READ

104

pp.

BIAS

2010

Saul Bellow

To Jerusalem and Back: A Personal Account

Should

READ

192

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1976

Moshe Dayan

Living with the Bible

Should

READ

232

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1978

Menachem Begin

White nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia

Should

READ

240

pp.

BIAS

░░░

1957

I would say it is important to read this one if you want to better understand Begin and his generation.

Derek Penslar

Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic Leader

Should

READ

256

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2020

Just like in the case of Halkin’s Jabotinsky biography, one could blame Yale’s series for it.

It is, though, probably the best alternative to any other Herzl biography, which would be waxed and sterilized—and for this critical approach, we owe Penslar a big hug.

Micah Goodman

Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War

Must

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2017

Hillel Halkin

Jabotinsky: A Life

Could

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Personally, I would prefer the same number of pages filled with Halkin’s meditations over Jabo, instead of him trying to squeeze Jabotinsky’s life timeline between the tight covers.

Matti Friedman

Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War

Must

READ

272

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2016

Daniel Gordis

Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul

Must

READ

320

pp.

BIAS

▒▒▒

2014

Oren Kessler

Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict

Must

READ

336

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2023

It is worth mentioning that Kessler lost a close relative as a first responder on October 7, the day he also had a wedding.

Michael B. Oren

Six Days of War: June 1967 & the Making of the Modern Middle East

Should

READ

480

pp.

BIAS

▒▒░

2001

Benny Morris

1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War

Must

READ

544

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2008

Tom Segev

The Seventh Million: The Israelis and the Holocaust

Could

READ

593

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2000

The Seventh Million details complex relationship and positioning of the Yeshuv towards Holocaust in the wake of, during, and after the WW2.

The book is at times a bit repetitive which you won’t find it Segev’s later works, but is still extremely insightful.

Seeing that the first part is mostly dedicated to Zionist leadership response to Holocaust, it reads well as a second part of Segev’s own “A State at any Cost”, Ben-Gurion’s biography.

Avi Shlaim

The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, Expanded

Must

READ

670

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2014

Tom Segev

A State at Any Cost. The Life of David Ben Gurion

Must

READ

816

pp.

BIAS

░░░

2027

Leon Pinsker

Auto-Emancipation!

Must

READ

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

1882

A canonical pre-Herzlian essay on the role of Jews subject to other nations. Although sometimes socially inapropriate for moden times, it is extremely well written.

Micah Goodman

Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War

Must

READ

264

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2017

Benny Morris

1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War

Must

READ

544

pp.

BIAS

▒░░

2008

Michael B. Oren

Six Days of War: June 1967 & the Making of the Modern Middle East

Should

READ

480

pp.

tilt

▒▒░

2001

Daniel Gordis

Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul

Must

READ

320

pp.

tilt

▒▒▒

2014

Hillel Halkin

Jabotinsky: A Life

Could

READ

264

pp.

tilt

▒▒▒

2014

Personally, I would prefer the same number of pages filled with Halkin’s meditations over Jabo, instead of him trying to squeeze Jabotinsky’s life timeline between the tight covers.

1976

Saul Bellow

To Jerusalem and Back: A Personal Account

Should

READ

192

pp.

bias

░░░

get from amazon

review link

2001

Michael B. Oren

Six Days of War: June 1967 & the Making of the Modern Middle East

Should

READ

480

pp.

bias

▒▒░

get from amazon

review link

2010

Amos Oz

How to Cure a Fanatic

Could

READ

104

pp.

bias

get from amazon

review link

2016

Matti Friedman

Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War

Must

READ

272

pp.

bias

░░░

get from amazon

review link

2000

Tom Segev

The Seventh Million: The Israelis and the Holocaust

Could

READ

593

pp.

bias

░░░

The Seventh Million details complex relationship and positioning of the Yeshuv towards Holocaust in the wake of, during, and after the WW2.

The book is at times a bit repetitive which you won’t find it Segev’s later works, but is still extremely insightful.

Seeing that the first part is mostly dedicated to Zionist leadership response to Holocaust, it reads well as a second part of Segev’s own “A State at any Cost”, Ben-Gurion’s biography.

get from amazon

review link

2023

Oren Kessler

Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict

Must

READ

336

pp.

bias

░░░

It is worth mentioning that Kessler lost a close relative as a first responder on October 7, the day he also had a wedding.

get from amazon

review link

2027

Tom Segev

A State at Any Cost. The Life of David Ben Gurion

Must

READ

816

pp.

bias

░░░

get from amazon

review link

1957

Menachem Begin

White nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia

Should

READ

240

pp.

bias

░░░

I would say it is important to read this one if you want to better understand Begin and his generation.

get from amazon

review link

2014

Daniel Gordis

Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul

Must

READ

320

pp.

bias

▒▒▒

get from amazon

review link

2014

Hillel Halkin

Jabotinsky: A Life

Could

READ

264

pp.

bias

▒▒▒

Personally, I would prefer the same number of pages filled with Halkin’s meditations over Jabo, instead of him trying to squeeze Jabotinsky’s life timeline between the tight covers.

get from amazon

review link

2020

Derek Penslar

Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic Leader

Should

READ

256

pp.

bias

░░░

Just like in the case of Halkin’s Jabotinsky biography, one could blame Yale’s series for it.

It is, though, probably the best alternative to any other Herzl biography, which would be waxed and sterilized—and for this critical approach, we owe Penslar a big hug.

get from amazon

review link

1882

Leon Pinsker

Auto-Emancipation!

Must

READ

pp.

bias

▒░░

A canonical pre-Herzlian essay on the role of Jews subject to other nations. Although sometimes socially inapropriate for moden times, it is extremely well written.

get from amazon

review link

2017

Micah Goodman

Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War

Must

READ

264

pp.

bias

▒░░

get from amazon