El Alamein 1942: The Turning of the Tide Book

A comprehensive and detailed account of Israel's birth, particularly focused on the Irgun and Lehi, and their revolution against the British for independence. This book is meticulously researched and spares no detail (in fact, my only tiny complaint is that perhaps there is too *much* detail, causing the reader to get bogged down just a little bit from time to time).

There were many stories that are well known'but when told in the broader context as presented in this book together with the lesser-known stories, they form a clearer narrative of the history, and help provide a better understanding of the motives and circumstances behind various decisions.

One thing I've taken from this book in particular: although I've been an admirer of Menachem Begin long before I even read this book, this book actually opened my eyes even more so to just how much of a determined'and principled'hero Begin was. As a fighter, as a leader, as a Jew, and as a statesman. He stood for certain values that'unlike many politicians today'he would never compromise even though it cost him almost 3 decades in the opposition. He stood firm, though, and his ideals and unbending principles ultimately won out and brought some of the most historic victories to Israel'both military and diplomatic.

All in all, though, whether you're an admirer or a detractor'or even not interested particularly in Begin himself'this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the tumultuous backdrop and the difficult birth of Israel as the world's only Jewish state, the one and only place in the world where Jews have fought to reacquire their land from generations prior, a safe haven from persecution at the hands of the world's majorities, where anti-Semitism tends to historically rear its ugly head generation after generation.