Rating: 
Summary: A first-class book!
Review: David Shipler's journalistic skills are enormous; the book is assembled nearly perfectly, with balance, insight, and compassion. I've read it through twice, and have never found another book that comes close in terms of presenting the truth of the Middle East conflict. For American readers, the greatest service this book offers is an uncompromisingly fair, even wise, portrayal of the Palestinian side of the conflict in this region, if only because of America's historically pro-Israel policies; policies, incidentally, which have not always concerned themselves with truth. Because of that act of journalistic justice, the peculiarly touching aspect of Israel's unavoidable internal sorrow at her predicament becomes, perhaps for the first time, something understandable and noble. It is an easy thing to take sides in a situation such as one finds in the Middle East; it is not so easy to patiently explore the myriad strands of time and fate that weave through both sides of such an 'unsolvable' conflict. This book goes a long way toward making an attempt to do just that. This is a clear-headed book 'spoken' by the very people involved; it is wise and engaging, and full of David Shipler's heart. It is no wonder that it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Highest recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: A first-class book!
Review: David Shipler's journalistic skills are enormous; the book is assembled nearly perfectly, with balance, insight, and compassion. I've read it through twice, and have never found another book that comes close in terms of presenting the truth of the Middle East conflict. For American readers, the greatest service this book offers is an uncompromisingly fair, even wise, portrayal of the Palestinian side of the conflict in this region, if only because of America's historically pro-Israel policies; policies, incidentally, which have not always concerned themselves with truth. Because of that act of journalistic justice, the peculiarly touching aspect of Israel's unavoidable internal sorrow at her predicament becomes, perhaps for the first time, something understandable and noble. It is an easy thing to take sides in a situation such as one finds in the Middle East; it is not so easy to patiently explore the myriad strands of time and fate that weave through both sides of such an 'unsolvable' conflict. This book goes a long way toward making an attempt to do just that. This is a clear-headed book 'spoken' by the very people involved; it is wise and engaging, and full of David Shipler's heart. It is no wonder that it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Highest recommendation!
Rating: 
Summary: Insightful and Even-handed
Review: Great book. If there were a way to give this book 4 and a half stars, I would have rated it such. Shipler's book manages to give a face to both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without taking sides. Never before has there been such a need for people to be exposed to the intricacies behind both sides of the Middle East conflict. If you are interested in the historical facts that have led up to the Promised Land's current state of volatility, there are probably better books to go to. However, if you want to hear from the inside what the Palestinian experience is like living in occupied West Bank, Golan Heights, and Gaza Strip and their viewpoint of Israelis, no book can do it better. Also, what stands out above the fray of literature on this subject, is the continual reaching out of individuals and individual groups' to reconcile their differences and the points of hope and points of futility that result from these attempts. If you are looking for something black and white that will give you a clear conclusion on what is to be done in the middle east Pandora's Box that is modern day Israel, this book will not give it to you. What it will give you is an epiphany as to just how complex the human dimension is between the Jews and Arabs and how there really is no clear solution to the conflict as long as things remain status quo. It is not a hopeful book, but a deeply revealing one. Don't hesitate to buy this book if you are interested in the human dimension in modern day Israel and Palestine.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing for some reason
Review: I can't quite put a finger on why I was let down by this book; Shipler is an excellent writer and most of the stories in the book are simply great. He seems to excel in finding the perfect anecdote for each situation, so that even though many of the people interviewed hold similar views, each seems to add a new angle to the argument rather than being repetitive. On the other hand, this book seems to have no point. As a collection of stories and personal testimony, it has no equal. But in the end, the narrative just kind of trails off into oblivion; Shipler offers neither solutions nor suggestions, not even direction. Given, he admits at the start of the book that such direction is difficult, if not impossible to offer. But you'd think that especially after revising the book following the collapse of the Oslo Accords, he'd have something to say, some greater point to offer. But, unfortunately, nothing is there, and it seems to harm an otherwise wonderfully written collection.
Rating:
Summary: An Israeli resident
Review: If you want to read a book about the Arab-Israeli conflict in order reinforce your position, this is not the one. This book offers no solutions nor presents any new arguments. In fact, its poignant depiction of suffering on both sides will make you question any prior views you've held, and that's a very difficult choice for some people to make. The prose is almost hypnotic, transcending the dryness of most non-fiction books. There hasn't been a book like Shipler's Arab and Jew in the last fifteen years. This book was written before the first intifadah, so some of the statistics are out of date, and rhetoric has intensified. I only wish Shipler could update this great work.
Rating:
Summary: great to understanding the Middle East conflict
Review: In Arab and Jew, Shipler shows the history of Israel from 1948 on. The book provides information on a lot of the contemporary issues of the country. It shows how terrorism, racism, and prejudice have been practiced by both sides. It looks at how Israel has fought and won its wars and the measures it takes to prevent terrorism. It provided me with a lot better understanding of Israel.
Rating:
Summary: Goes beyond the facts and lets us meet the people.
Review: Subtitled "Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land", the author won a Pulitzer Prize for this book in 1987. He's a journalist for The New York Times and was assigned to Jerusalem from 1979-1984. The book has been updated in May of 2002 and now includes references to 9/11 as well as other more recent events in the Middle East. Now, more than ever, this book is relevant for an understanding of what is going on today. Mr. Shipler, who makes a point of saying that he is neither Jewish nor Arab, has an impartial American's point of view. The book is dense with facts and I found his explanations of the history of the region clear and balanced.The major part of the book, however, is devoted to a great many interviews of both Arabs and Jews. And, through their eyes, the reader is thrust into the human element of the conflict. Often, it is repetitive as over and over again he makes his point of contrasting the viewpoints from the different sides. But that only added to the intensity of the experience of reading this book, which was assigned as required reading for a course I am taking at NYU about the Middle East. I've taken other courses that dealt with the facts, but this book goes well beyond the facts. It goes into the hearts and minds of the people. In contrasting chapters he brings out the viewpoints of the opposing groups. The Arabs view the Israelis as violent, craven, and alien with a superior attitude. The Israelis view the Arabs as violent, craven, primitive and exotic. Both have fears and fantasies regarding seduction and intermarriage, and even though sometimes there is a mingling of cultures, fear and distrust usually prevails. The first edition of the book seems to end with a bit of hope as there are visits back and forth between Arab and Jewish schools, and some group activities inspired by the human potential movement. Some young people were even sent to camp together in Maine, and friendships were forged. However, by 2002, all this had turned to ashes as the last few years have again divided people and left each group with hatred for the other. Now I understand the reasons why. Reading this book was uncomfortable at times, but I'm well aware that it is more than merely uncomfortable for the people involved. Mr. Shipler has given me the opportunity to appreciate an experience that has always seemed strange and distant to me. It is not light reading. It's 531 pages of well-written prose that manages to unravel the threads of complexity and make it all seem real. I applaud Mr. Shipler for writing this book.
Rating:
Summary: A New Light
Review: The book was probably one of the best non-fiction pieces of literature that I have ever read. It was in-depth yet not boring. I especially enjoyed the way it outlined the stereotypes between the two peoples. The stories of friends who become enemies as time goes on are extremely compiling.
In the book I was able to identify some of my own predigest that I never even know existed. I am also able to identify the things I see and hear for what they are. I have always looked at the trouble in the Middle East from one side. I am now able to realize that there are two peoples in the Promised Land
This book takes stories of the people. I thought this was a most excellent approach. Every time I read an article it always goes into politics and laws issues and referendums. This book delved into the real problem between the people. I now see that even thought it may be the slow pace a diplomatic approach between the people is the only way peace will come.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting book
Review: This book has plenty of fascinating anecdotes about the Jews and Arabs in Israel. And it is illuminating. We see negative stereotypes that each have for the other. More than that, I think this book shows some of the reasons why there isn't peace.
While some of the stereotypes are shown to be overstated, the reader will come away with a very negative picture of the people who live in the area. Some people appeared prepared to live, and some to let live, and a few weren't prepared to do either, but very few of the people Shipler showed us seemed ready to do both.
Shipler's description of Arab complaints about Israel were interesting. Sure, many Arabs said they had a devotion to their land. And that's why they needed it back from the Jews. But instead of reacting sympathetically, I asked myself if they were for real. If I were to act the same way, what would I do? Demand, as a descendant of Tatars who were evicted from what is now Yalta, that the Muslim Tatars get Yalta back? Or demand, as a Pagan, that the Dome of the Rock be removed so that we could restore the Temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva?
I rarely see Arabs demand land "back" that is now lived on by other Arabs. Nor would it make sense to anyone to "return" Warsaw to the Jews. Worse, it seemed to me that many Arabs were saying that they would do Anything to get their land back ... except pay for it. And that they would insist on being true Israeli citizens, except they wouldn't fight for Israel! Since I'd never want to live in a country I couldn't support, I found it hard to sympathize with the attitudes of many Israeli Arabs.
Shipler explained to us a common Arab complaint that the Jews are punishing the Arabs for Jewish misfortunes in Europe. But this complaint grossly underestimates Arab blame for what happened to many Jews. And it also tacitly and incorrectly assumes that it should be a crime for Jews to live near Arabs.
Almost all the Jews Shipler described had given plenty of thought to whether overall Jewish behavior made sense. They came up with different answers. But they left me with the impression that if they ever had a chance to make good policy decisions, most of them would do it. That's not the impression I got about the Arabs he depicted.
I think Shipler failed to show us the big picture in this conflict. And to me, the main point is that the Jews have rather little land. In the long run, if everyone chooses peace, the Jews probably will wind up with at least as much land as they now have. The Jews have options. They can fight. They can make allies. They can flee. They can even convert. Yes, they can get badly hurt. But my point is that they have shown great resiliance and have surprisingly little to lose. Their land has few resources. In my opinion, contrary to popular belief, they might well survive the loss of several wars.
Meanwhile, the Arab side is unlikely to lose a big war. But their Empire would be gone if they ever lost one. They have an enormous amount of land and huge resources, and seem to act as though they can't lose it. Instead, there is a huge focus on fighting a war for an arbitrary cause which, if they win it, will give them virtually nothing.
Finally, this whole struggle is being fought primarily between those who believe Jews ought to have human rights in Israel and those who do not. That's not very symmetrical. I have to ask myself if Shipler was helping anyone by allowing folks to get the impression that these two points of view are equally valid. Perhaps it would have been better if he had taken a stand, and simply said that both sides are hurting. And that the Arabs have a choice to make: do they want it to be better for everyone or worse for everyone? That would have allowed me to give his book a couple more stars.
Rating:
Summary: Deep, Insightful and Informative
Review: This was an outstanding book. Over 500 pages packed full of information and insight. The book goes in depth on the problems in Israel and the Middle East. Not just the problems that we hear about on TV. But the people problems. The author goes to the deep underlying problems. The people and their customes and beliefs. Covering the stereo types, the religious differences, their histories. The book interviews people about their fears. The author talks to both Arabs and Jews. He talks to Christians, Muslims and Jews. He reviews incidents of terrorism on all sides of the conflict. This is a must read book if you are interested in understanding the problems of the Middle East. Although it is full of information it is not hard to read. It goes a long way at explaining things. We all know that the problems in the Middle East are not easy to solve but this book showed me how truly deep the problems run. The prejudices from all sides are astounding. This is an outstanding piece of writing and research! Read it and enjoy.
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