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Title: My Promised Land

Subtitle: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel

Author: Ari Shavit

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-19-13

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 551 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Winner of the Natan Book Award

An authoritative and deeply personal narrative history of the State of Israel, by one of the most influential journalists writing about the Middle East today.

Not since Thomas L. Friedman's groundbreaking From Beirut to Jerusalem has a book captured the essence and the beating heart of the Middle East as keenly and dynamically as My Promised Land. Facing unprecedented internal and external pressures, Israel today is at a moment of existential crisis. Ari Shavit draws on interviews, historical documents, private diaries, and letters, as well as his own family's story, illuminating the pivotal moments of the Zionist century to tell a riveting narrative that is larger than the sum of its parts: both personal and national, both deeply human and of profound historical dimension.

Critic Reviews:

Shavit's provocative book avoids the clichés typical of some works about the Middle East, and the audio version benefits from Paul Boehmer's superb presentation. (AudioFile)

One of the most nuanced and challenging books written on Israel in years . . . [The] books real power: On an issue so prone to polemic, Mr. Shavit offers candor. (The Wall Street Journal)

The most extraordinary book that Ive read on [Israel] since Amos Elons book called The Israelis, and that was published in the late sixties. (David Remnick)

Members Reviews:

Too important to be ruined by its narration!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I've withheld comment until I had a chance to listen to some samples of Paul Boehmer's narration of other works. In other contexts, he has a terrific voice and style. But this was a mistake - the faux-Israeli accent makes it almost unbearable to listen to, and undermines the content of this important book. As I was listening in my car, I almost had to pull over because I was laughing so hard at the pronunciation of "1936" - the "theerrty" so far back in the throat I thought he would choke. Over and over again. This during the "Arab Uprisings" - not the intended effect, I'm sure.

The irony is that the author himself speaks far better English than the narrator - a richly-intoned, articulate, British-inflected voice.

What did you like best about this story?

If all Israelis - and Palestinians - had a sensibility akin to Shavit, the two nations would surely find a way to coexist peacefully. He holds the remarkable achievement of the Jews in Palestine in perfect tension with its tragic impact on the Palestinian people. Essential reading on the history of this land.

How could the performance have been better?

See above. Really unfortunate. In that this is clearly a reaction many have had, the publisher should strongly consider re-doing the recording.

Do you think My Promised Land needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, just a new recording - same narrator, sans accent. Please consider it - this book is too important to be ruined by its narration.

Horrible narration

What made the experience of listening to My Promised Land the most enjoyable?

The book is great, but the narration was painful. As others have said, I found the faux-Israeli accent distracting and a bit insulting.