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Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel
Winner of the 2017 National Jewish Book Award/Everett Family Foundation Book of the Year, this is the definitive biography of the iron-willed leader, chain-smoking political operative, and tea-and-cake serving grandmother who became the fourth prime minister of Israel.
Born in tsarist Russia in 1898. Golda Meir immigrated to America in 1906 and grew up in Milwaukee. where from the earliest years she displayed the political consciousness and organizational skills that would eventually catapult her into the inner circles of Israel's founding generation. Moving to mandatory Palestine in 1921 with her husband, the passionate socialist joined a kibbutz but soon left and was hired at a public works office by the man who would become the great love of her life. A series of public service jobs brought her to the attention of David Ben-Gurion, and her political career took off. Fund-raising in America in 1948, secretly meeting in Amman with King Abdullah right before Israel's declaration of independence, mobbed by thousands of Jews in a Moscow synagogue in 1948 as Israel's first representative to the USSR, serving as minister of labor and foreign minister in the 1950s and 1960s, Golda brought fiery oratory, plainspoken appeals, and shrewd-making to the cause to which she had dedicated her life--the welfare and security of the State of Israel and its people.
As prime minister, Golda negotiated arms agreements with Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger and had dozens of clandestine meetings with Jordan's King Hussein in the unsuccessful pursuit of a land-for-peace agreement with Israel's neighbors. But her time in office ended in tragedy, when Israel was caught off guard by Egypt and Syria's surprise attack on Yom Kippur in 1973. Resigning in the war's aftermath, Golda spent her final years keeping a hand in national affairs and bemusedly enjoying international acclaim.
Francine Klagsbrun's superbly researched and masterly recounted story of Israel's founding mother gives is a Golda for the ages.
Born in tsarist Russia in 1898. Golda Meir immigrated to America in 1906 and grew up in Milwaukee. where from the earliest years she displayed the political consciousness and organizational skills that would eventually catapult her into the inner circles of Israel's founding generation. Moving to mandatory Palestine in 1921 with her husband, the passionate socialist joined a kibbutz but soon left and was hired at a public works office by the man who would become the great love of her life. A series of public service jobs brought her to the attention of David Ben-Gurion, and her political career took off. Fund-raising in America in 1948, secretly meeting in Amman with King Abdullah right before Israel's declaration of independence, mobbed by thousands of Jews in a Moscow synagogue in 1948 as Israel's first representative to the USSR, serving as minister of labor and foreign minister in the 1950s and 1960s, Golda brought fiery oratory, plainspoken appeals, and shrewd-making to the cause to which she had dedicated her life--the welfare and security of the State of Israel and its people.
As prime minister, Golda negotiated arms agreements with Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger and had dozens of clandestine meetings with Jordan's King Hussein in the unsuccessful pursuit of a land-for-peace agreement with Israel's neighbors. But her time in office ended in tragedy, when Israel was caught off guard by Egypt and Syria's surprise attack on Yom Kippur in 1973. Resigning in the war's aftermath, Golda spent her final years keeping a hand in national affairs and bemusedly enjoying international acclaim.
Francine Klagsbrun's superbly researched and masterly recounted story of Israel's founding mother gives is a Golda for the ages.
824 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2017
468 people are currently reading
1899 people want to read
About the author
Francine Klagsbrun
32 books14 followersFrancine Klagsbrun, born Francine Lifton in 1931, is a writer. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College, a Bachelor of Hebrew Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a master's degree in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts. She edited The First Ms. Reader (1973) and Free to Be ... You and Me (1974). Some of her books are Too Young to Die—Youth and Suicide (1976), Married People: Staying Together in the Age of Divorce (1985), and Jewish Days: A Book of Jewish Life and Culture Around the Year (1996).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
June 25, 2024
5.0 ⭐
GENRE - BIOGRAPHY / POLITICS
I personally love reading about Israel, Israel-Palistine conflict, Politics and the Middle East. David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir are 2 towering figures in Israeli Politics and History that I always wanted to read about 📚
Golda Meir the first Women Prime Minister of a Western Country, Iron lady of the Middle East and one of the founder's of Israel. David Ben Gurion would ardently call her the only Man he had in his Cabinet during early formation days of Israel.
Having brought up in 2-3 countries before immigrating to the then Palestine state and later becoming Israel's 4th Prime Minister, Golda Meir had a tough childhood she showed exemplary leadership qualities right from her childhood during her student years in Milwaukee, USA where she managed to collect funds along with her group of classmates to buy textbooks for the underprivileged students of her town.Later on during her late teens she started actively taking part in Zionist activities in the USA and than finally immigrating to Palestine in 1920s.From than on started her journey in Israel politics where she would be one of its dominant figures until her death.
About the Book :- Francine Klagsbrun has done a wonderful job as the Author. She has been impartial in her approach and given readers a very unbiased description of Golda Meir.
Her childhood, relationship with parents, relationship with her husband Mr. Morris Meyerson, her political career, her various affairs has been clearly defined in the book.
Israel relationship with USA (the great friendship) has to be credited to Golda Meir which is very well documented in this book he relationship with FDR's wife Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Trueman, President John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissenger, President Richard Nixon have been explained in detail. She also shared a good relationship with King Hussain of Jordan as well as President Anwar Sadat of Egypt who acknowledged her leadership qualities.
The book is so well written and organized that it can be made into a Web Series which focuses on Golda Meir and her role in creation of Israel and later years as Premier.
All in all a very interesting read 📚 specifically for someone who wants to read about an Inspiring Woman, Golda Meirs life is all about grit and determination not to forget she was a very Intimidating Women and a true feminist as well.
Thank You 😊 🙏 ✌
GENRE - BIOGRAPHY / POLITICS
I personally love reading about Israel, Israel-Palistine conflict, Politics and the Middle East. David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir are 2 towering figures in Israeli Politics and History that I always wanted to read about 📚
Golda Meir the first Women Prime Minister of a Western Country, Iron lady of the Middle East and one of the founder's of Israel. David Ben Gurion would ardently call her the only Man he had in his Cabinet during early formation days of Israel.
Having brought up in 2-3 countries before immigrating to the then Palestine state and later becoming Israel's 4th Prime Minister, Golda Meir had a tough childhood she showed exemplary leadership qualities right from her childhood during her student years in Milwaukee, USA where she managed to collect funds along with her group of classmates to buy textbooks for the underprivileged students of her town.Later on during her late teens she started actively taking part in Zionist activities in the USA and than finally immigrating to Palestine in 1920s.From than on started her journey in Israel politics where she would be one of its dominant figures until her death.
About the Book :- Francine Klagsbrun has done a wonderful job as the Author. She has been impartial in her approach and given readers a very unbiased description of Golda Meir.
Her childhood, relationship with parents, relationship with her husband Mr. Morris Meyerson, her political career, her various affairs has been clearly defined in the book.
Israel relationship with USA (the great friendship) has to be credited to Golda Meir which is very well documented in this book he relationship with FDR's wife Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Trueman, President John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissenger, President Richard Nixon have been explained in detail. She also shared a good relationship with King Hussain of Jordan as well as President Anwar Sadat of Egypt who acknowledged her leadership qualities.
The book is so well written and organized that it can be made into a Web Series which focuses on Golda Meir and her role in creation of Israel and later years as Premier.
All in all a very interesting read 📚 specifically for someone who wants to read about an Inspiring Woman, Golda Meirs life is all about grit and determination not to forget she was a very Intimidating Women and a true feminist as well.
Thank You 😊 🙏 ✌
January 21, 2018
In 1975 I read “My Life” by Golda Meir. To date Francine Klagsbrun has written the most definitive biography of Golda Meir. The book arrives at a propitious time in history. It has been seventy years since Israel became an independent state. Hostility with the Arab world is increasing as is worldwide anti-Semitism. Forty years after her death Golda is still universally known as the most important Jewish woman of the 20th century.
I found it interesting that Klagsbrun pointed out that Golda is more popular in American and the rest of the world than in Israel. Klagsbrun goes beyond the previous biographies by placing Golda’s personal life against the backdrop of the emergence of Israel.
The book is well written and meticulously researched. The author interviewed Golda’s son, and daughter, along with other family members, her personal assistant and bodyguards. Klagsbrun also reviewed thousands of documents, minutes of the American, Israeli, British and Russian government meetings, personal papers, diaries and recently declassified materials. Golda served as Israel’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Labor Minister, Foreign Minister and as Prime Minister. Klagsbrun points out Golda’s political shrewdness and achievements as well as her failings. She did not see the rise in nationalism amongst the Arab population. She failed to overcome the feelings of the Sephardic Jews of being second class citizens. Golda led the shift away from socialism to capitalist-oriented economy. I found it interesting that Klagsbrun pointed out that men are called by their last name but women public figures are referred to by their first name to show a lesser position. I learned so much about Golda and Israel from this book. I highly recommend it.
I read this as an e-book on my Kindle app for my iPad. The book is 848 pages. It was published October 17, 2017 by Schocker Publishing.
I found it interesting that Klagsbrun pointed out that Golda is more popular in American and the rest of the world than in Israel. Klagsbrun goes beyond the previous biographies by placing Golda’s personal life against the backdrop of the emergence of Israel.
The book is well written and meticulously researched. The author interviewed Golda’s son, and daughter, along with other family members, her personal assistant and bodyguards. Klagsbrun also reviewed thousands of documents, minutes of the American, Israeli, British and Russian government meetings, personal papers, diaries and recently declassified materials. Golda served as Israel’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Labor Minister, Foreign Minister and as Prime Minister. Klagsbrun points out Golda’s political shrewdness and achievements as well as her failings. She did not see the rise in nationalism amongst the Arab population. She failed to overcome the feelings of the Sephardic Jews of being second class citizens. Golda led the shift away from socialism to capitalist-oriented economy. I found it interesting that Klagsbrun pointed out that men are called by their last name but women public figures are referred to by their first name to show a lesser position. I learned so much about Golda and Israel from this book. I highly recommend it.
I read this as an e-book on my Kindle app for my iPad. The book is 848 pages. It was published October 17, 2017 by Schocker Publishing.
June 17, 2024
Golda Meir is a fascinating person. I really enjoyed this book.
It’s also a great book to get a history lesson about Israel. Golda Meir moved to Israel in 1921 when she was a young woman. She saw the waves of immigrants who came and created a society. She saw it become established as an official country, saw it defend itself over multiple wars, saw the country flourish culturally and economically, and shortly before her death, saw Israel arrive at a peace treaty with Egypt.
Unlike the experience of many Jews who moved to Israel to escape pogroms, Golda immigrated to Israel as a choice. She grew up in Wisconsin in the United States, and with her talents she could have easily built a life of peace and prosperity there. But she believed passionately in the Zionist cause and wanted to be a part of it. So she moved to Israel and lived in a crowded Kibbutz, working tirelessly to support the Kibbutz and build out a Jewish society.
What was she like? The thing I’ll remember most is that she had a backbone of steel. She knew what she stood for. She was not afraid to argue for it. She developed a reputation as stubborn and inflexible, which is partly unfair. She was also able to negotiate and compromise when she needed to.
What did she stand for? More than anything else, it was about creating a strong homeland that any Jew could immigrate to. She was also a Socialist and argued passionately for her ideals. Ideals that she steadfastly stood by herself; always living a modest lifestyle and working incredibly hard.
Golda was not the kind of Socialist who sold people on dreamy utopic visions of living in a world with abundance for everyone. She was very hard-headed about the sacrifices that needed to be made to provide for everyone, and she sometimes took a lot of flack for that. Also, while she was of the left, she was fiercely anti-Communist and argued passionately for the rights of Soviet Jews who wanted to come to Israel to be allowed to leave.
While her economic beliefs were on the left, and she was not religious, she still seemed to me to be quite culturally conservative. She was very protective of Jewish culture and wary of modern trends. During a talk she gave in 1971, someone asked her about the Beatles, and she didn’t know who they were. Later when she learned about them, and how a couple years earlier Israel explicitly prevented them from performing there out of a fear that they would corrupt Israeli youth, she commented scathingly that they should never be allowed in Israel.
She was very smart but she wasn’t an intellectual. She would speak bluntly and plainly, and this style worked for her. People kept giving her more and more responsibility as they saw her accomplishments and her success at persuading people to support Israel.
She was one of the few women in very powerful political positions and fought through a lot of discrimination to get there. She was a hero and an inspiration to many women around the world. But she never identified with the feminist movement and disliked answering questions about the challenges women face.
Even though she was on the left, she often took the relatively more hawkish position on security issues. She even criticized the efforts of the ultra-hawkish Menachem Begin to make a peace treaty with Egypt in the late 1970s.
I’d strongly recommend this book to people interested in learning more about Golda Meir or about Israel. It is a very long book (Audio is 32 hours) but I was never bored and found it worthwhile.
It’s also a great book to get a history lesson about Israel. Golda Meir moved to Israel in 1921 when she was a young woman. She saw the waves of immigrants who came and created a society. She saw it become established as an official country, saw it defend itself over multiple wars, saw the country flourish culturally and economically, and shortly before her death, saw Israel arrive at a peace treaty with Egypt.
Unlike the experience of many Jews who moved to Israel to escape pogroms, Golda immigrated to Israel as a choice. She grew up in Wisconsin in the United States, and with her talents she could have easily built a life of peace and prosperity there. But she believed passionately in the Zionist cause and wanted to be a part of it. So she moved to Israel and lived in a crowded Kibbutz, working tirelessly to support the Kibbutz and build out a Jewish society.
What was she like? The thing I’ll remember most is that she had a backbone of steel. She knew what she stood for. She was not afraid to argue for it. She developed a reputation as stubborn and inflexible, which is partly unfair. She was also able to negotiate and compromise when she needed to.
What did she stand for? More than anything else, it was about creating a strong homeland that any Jew could immigrate to. She was also a Socialist and argued passionately for her ideals. Ideals that she steadfastly stood by herself; always living a modest lifestyle and working incredibly hard.
Golda was not the kind of Socialist who sold people on dreamy utopic visions of living in a world with abundance for everyone. She was very hard-headed about the sacrifices that needed to be made to provide for everyone, and she sometimes took a lot of flack for that. Also, while she was of the left, she was fiercely anti-Communist and argued passionately for the rights of Soviet Jews who wanted to come to Israel to be allowed to leave.
While her economic beliefs were on the left, and she was not religious, she still seemed to me to be quite culturally conservative. She was very protective of Jewish culture and wary of modern trends. During a talk she gave in 1971, someone asked her about the Beatles, and she didn’t know who they were. Later when she learned about them, and how a couple years earlier Israel explicitly prevented them from performing there out of a fear that they would corrupt Israeli youth, she commented scathingly that they should never be allowed in Israel.
She was very smart but she wasn’t an intellectual. She would speak bluntly and plainly, and this style worked for her. People kept giving her more and more responsibility as they saw her accomplishments and her success at persuading people to support Israel.
She was one of the few women in very powerful political positions and fought through a lot of discrimination to get there. She was a hero and an inspiration to many women around the world. But she never identified with the feminist movement and disliked answering questions about the challenges women face.
Even though she was on the left, she often took the relatively more hawkish position on security issues. She even criticized the efforts of the ultra-hawkish Menachem Begin to make a peace treaty with Egypt in the late 1970s.
I’d strongly recommend this book to people interested in learning more about Golda Meir or about Israel. It is a very long book (Audio is 32 hours) but I was never bored and found it worthwhile.
November 16, 2023
Free for Audible-Plus UK and US members!!!!!!
I AN EBJOYING THIS A LOT!
I'VE LIVED IN MILWAUKKE AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THE MANY JEWS WHO EMMIGRATED TO THE US AT THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
THE AUDIBLE NARRATION IS EASY TO FOLLOW.
I REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED THIS. I LISTENED TO SECTIONS SECERAL TIMES SO RHW INFORMATION WOULD SIMK IN. THERE IS AN EXCELLENT BALANC OF PERSONAL AND HISTORICAL DETAILS. I HAVE COME TO ADMIRE AND ENPATHIZE WITH GOLDA. READING ABOUT HER LIFE HAS DISTRACTED ME FROM THE MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BESEGED ME. ONE REALIZES THAT ONE'S OWN PROBLEMS ARE MNIMAL!
I WOULD GIVE THE BOOK FIVE STARS, BUT THIS I GENERAKKY DO NOT DO WITH NONFICTION. FICTION DEMANDS MORE CREATIITY AND IMAGINATION.
MY VISION IS DOWN TO TWO PERCENT IN ONE EYE. EVERYRGUBF THAT CAN G WRONG WITH EYES HAS HAPPENNED TO ME, BUT HECK I AM STILL ALIVE AFTER 61 YEARS WITH DUABETES. THAR UN ITSELF IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. O' WORKING ON KEEPING UP MY SPIRIRS. IT JELPS TO READ ABOUT OTHERS WHO HAVE NEEDED TO FIGHT TO LIVE.
LISTEN TO THIS BOOK. IT IS WORTH YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. READ IT BEFORE YU SEE THE NEW MOVIE!
I AN EBJOYING THIS A LOT!
I'VE LIVED IN MILWAUKKE AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THE MANY JEWS WHO EMMIGRATED TO THE US AT THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
THE AUDIBLE NARRATION IS EASY TO FOLLOW.
I REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED THIS. I LISTENED TO SECTIONS SECERAL TIMES SO RHW INFORMATION WOULD SIMK IN. THERE IS AN EXCELLENT BALANC OF PERSONAL AND HISTORICAL DETAILS. I HAVE COME TO ADMIRE AND ENPATHIZE WITH GOLDA. READING ABOUT HER LIFE HAS DISTRACTED ME FROM THE MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BESEGED ME. ONE REALIZES THAT ONE'S OWN PROBLEMS ARE MNIMAL!
I WOULD GIVE THE BOOK FIVE STARS, BUT THIS I GENERAKKY DO NOT DO WITH NONFICTION. FICTION DEMANDS MORE CREATIITY AND IMAGINATION.
MY VISION IS DOWN TO TWO PERCENT IN ONE EYE. EVERYRGUBF THAT CAN G WRONG WITH EYES HAS HAPPENNED TO ME, BUT HECK I AM STILL ALIVE AFTER 61 YEARS WITH DUABETES. THAR UN ITSELF IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. O' WORKING ON KEEPING UP MY SPIRIRS. IT JELPS TO READ ABOUT OTHERS WHO HAVE NEEDED TO FIGHT TO LIVE.
LISTEN TO THIS BOOK. IT IS WORTH YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. READ IT BEFORE YU SEE THE NEW MOVIE!
Read
August 23, 2022DNF: pg. 40 of 691.
Francine Klagsburn is an excellent writer, and made this biography particularly interesting.
I am glad that the book was not just about Golda Meir and her family, but also about the era of her childhood----oppression and poverty for Russian Jews in tsarist Russia, pogroms, the Pale of Settlement, and Jewish revolutionaries in Pinsk.
However, I could not read for long knowing that Golda Meir was not only indifferent towards Palestinians, but also very racist. She participated in Palestinian-denial.
Yes, she changed US-Israel relations.
But I can not invest time in reading 691 pages about her life knowing that she contributed to the strong xenophobia towards Palestinians...
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/20...
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/hel...
Francine Klagsburn is an excellent writer, and made this biography particularly interesting.
I am glad that the book was not just about Golda Meir and her family, but also about the era of her childhood----oppression and poverty for Russian Jews in tsarist Russia, pogroms, the Pale of Settlement, and Jewish revolutionaries in Pinsk.
However, I could not read for long knowing that Golda Meir was not only indifferent towards Palestinians, but also very racist. She participated in Palestinian-denial.
Yes, she changed US-Israel relations.
But I can not invest time in reading 691 pages about her life knowing that she contributed to the strong xenophobia towards Palestinians...
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/20...
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/hel...
September 5, 2023
Audible Plus 32 hours 12 min. Narrated by Anna Perrin (B)
I told my husband last night that I didn't want this book to end. Listening to this book has been like being in a time machine that transported me back as an adult to twenty years prior my birth to witness the birth of the nation of Israel through the life of Golda Meir. What an extraordinary experience! My gratitude to author Francine Klagsbrun for. her research and wisdom on how much to include in a one volume biography. If, as a reader, you have an interest in the history of Israel, I believe you will find this well-balanced biography fascinating. If you are not familiar with the pronunciation of Hebrew names, the audio format will prove helpful in conjunction with the print version.
I can not attempt a summary of Golda Meir's life, but it was eventful from her birth in Ukraine 1898 until her death in Tel Aviv, Israel 1978. Golda was brought up in an Old World Jewish home speaking Yiddish and Russian and forced to learn English in elementary school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her family as New immigrants were desperately poor, but she was among many others like herself, all struggling to fit in to America. Knowledge of American English would become a key to Golda's success in her rise through the ranks to achieve the office of Prime Minister. She had no formal training in Hebrew though she made a serious attempt to learn to speak it, and that proved a handicap when she moved to Palestine and tried to fit in as a worker of a kibbutz. Yiddish was frowned upon there, but as she aged, it became a part of her persona. As Israel's top money raiser, labor minister, and foreign minister Golda flew 100,000's of air miles and possibly as many by train within the U.S and Canada. Golda's effective use of English allowed her greater ability to persuade her audiences often bringing all to tears and comprehend the desperate need for money to build an economy that could meet needs of all new immigrants coming in penniless to the new country.
Golda was a socialist, always championing the rights of workers. She became indebted to the labor unions in America for their financial support of the young Jewish community in the Middle East. Over her many years spent raising money in America for fellow laborers across the Atlantic, she developed an enduring friendship with the head of AFL-CIO George Meany, who had influence in Washington. In the final years of her life after retiring from the ministry, she was presented many honors, but one of her most prized was the top award from the AFL-CIO. Golda's heart was broken twice. Once, when the military ignored signals of military build-up of Egypt and Syria, which led to the Yon Kippur War and the deaths of 25,000 soldiers. The second time was after the war and as a direct result of it, the break-up of her labor party, which she and David Ben-Gurion had built. Golda did not relate to capitalism, which allowed a wealthy class and left others in poverty. Neither would she relate to feminism or the plight of Sephardic Jews. She was a loyal but demanding friend, and if a friend crossed her, she would be a dangerous enemy. As close as she was to David Ben-Gurion, when he failed to give up a demand, Golda cut him off completely. They were estranged for six years until Golda finally gave in and went to his house in the dessert and made peace just before his 85th birthday, and though he was in very poor health, he attended a party given for Golda celebrating the 50th anniversary of her arrival in old Palestine.
Despite her faults and failures, Golda left a legacy of determination, devotion, and courage for Jews not just in Israel but around the world. Her whole life was filled by one battle after another, but she never gave in to self-pity or complaint; instead, she used self-deprecation and wit to change the focus. One over arching battle was with her health. She experienced chronic migraines, gall bladder attacks which led to emergency surgery in U.S., a broken leg, dislocated shoulder, chronic swollen legs, heart attacks, and in the final fifteen year's of her life: lymphoma, painful cobalt radiation treatments, shingles, two severe eye infections. Only those closest to Golda ever knew of the lymphoma. The only illness Golda feared was dementia which took the lives of her mother and older sister to whom Golda was indebted and emotionally close. "My only fear is living too long." Her sister lay dying when the Yon Kippur War began, and Golda was called away from her bedside to deal with her country's demands.
One final anecdote attributed to Golda that I found humorous. "Let me tell you one thing, it took forty years for Moses to bring our people through the desert to take us to the only place that doesn't have any oil."
I told my husband last night that I didn't want this book to end. Listening to this book has been like being in a time machine that transported me back as an adult to twenty years prior my birth to witness the birth of the nation of Israel through the life of Golda Meir. What an extraordinary experience! My gratitude to author Francine Klagsbrun for. her research and wisdom on how much to include in a one volume biography. If, as a reader, you have an interest in the history of Israel, I believe you will find this well-balanced biography fascinating. If you are not familiar with the pronunciation of Hebrew names, the audio format will prove helpful in conjunction with the print version.
I can not attempt a summary of Golda Meir's life, but it was eventful from her birth in Ukraine 1898 until her death in Tel Aviv, Israel 1978. Golda was brought up in an Old World Jewish home speaking Yiddish and Russian and forced to learn English in elementary school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her family as New immigrants were desperately poor, but she was among many others like herself, all struggling to fit in to America. Knowledge of American English would become a key to Golda's success in her rise through the ranks to achieve the office of Prime Minister. She had no formal training in Hebrew though she made a serious attempt to learn to speak it, and that proved a handicap when she moved to Palestine and tried to fit in as a worker of a kibbutz. Yiddish was frowned upon there, but as she aged, it became a part of her persona. As Israel's top money raiser, labor minister, and foreign minister Golda flew 100,000's of air miles and possibly as many by train within the U.S and Canada. Golda's effective use of English allowed her greater ability to persuade her audiences often bringing all to tears and comprehend the desperate need for money to build an economy that could meet needs of all new immigrants coming in penniless to the new country.
Golda was a socialist, always championing the rights of workers. She became indebted to the labor unions in America for their financial support of the young Jewish community in the Middle East. Over her many years spent raising money in America for fellow laborers across the Atlantic, she developed an enduring friendship with the head of AFL-CIO George Meany, who had influence in Washington. In the final years of her life after retiring from the ministry, she was presented many honors, but one of her most prized was the top award from the AFL-CIO. Golda's heart was broken twice. Once, when the military ignored signals of military build-up of Egypt and Syria, which led to the Yon Kippur War and the deaths of 25,000 soldiers. The second time was after the war and as a direct result of it, the break-up of her labor party, which she and David Ben-Gurion had built. Golda did not relate to capitalism, which allowed a wealthy class and left others in poverty. Neither would she relate to feminism or the plight of Sephardic Jews. She was a loyal but demanding friend, and if a friend crossed her, she would be a dangerous enemy. As close as she was to David Ben-Gurion, when he failed to give up a demand, Golda cut him off completely. They were estranged for six years until Golda finally gave in and went to his house in the dessert and made peace just before his 85th birthday, and though he was in very poor health, he attended a party given for Golda celebrating the 50th anniversary of her arrival in old Palestine.
Despite her faults and failures, Golda left a legacy of determination, devotion, and courage for Jews not just in Israel but around the world. Her whole life was filled by one battle after another, but she never gave in to self-pity or complaint; instead, she used self-deprecation and wit to change the focus. One over arching battle was with her health. She experienced chronic migraines, gall bladder attacks which led to emergency surgery in U.S., a broken leg, dislocated shoulder, chronic swollen legs, heart attacks, and in the final fifteen year's of her life: lymphoma, painful cobalt radiation treatments, shingles, two severe eye infections. Only those closest to Golda ever knew of the lymphoma. The only illness Golda feared was dementia which took the lives of her mother and older sister to whom Golda was indebted and emotionally close. "My only fear is living too long." Her sister lay dying when the Yon Kippur War began, and Golda was called away from her bedside to deal with her country's demands.
One final anecdote attributed to Golda that I found humorous. "Let me tell you one thing, it took forty years for Moses to bring our people through the desert to take us to the only place that doesn't have any oil."
November 26, 2021
I enjoyed this book as it helped me put togheter bits of info, building my fragile understanding of some international political contexts, on top of an amazing example of determination and wits. It extended the list of topics I want to read more about (nationalism and how Einstein approached it, Hanna Arendt, Ben Gurion, Russian Jews, Middle East conflicts in the 20th century and especially Egypt -> maybe by Arab writers to understand the other side etc.).
Interesting facts: born in Tssarist Russia, emigrated with her family in America and left it in her 20s to pursue the Zionist dream and, next to Ben Gurion, she is considered one of the founders of the Israel state. Without any formal degree, she mobilizied masses through her speaches and managed to raise millions of dollars from American Jews mainly to build the Israel state.
Still little space given to the Palestian refugee problem. While I am recommending the book, I am not supporting many of her view points. What would I have done in her situation? I am happy to have discovered her biography.
Interesting facts: born in Tssarist Russia, emigrated with her family in America and left it in her 20s to pursue the Zionist dream and, next to Ben Gurion, she is considered one of the founders of the Israel state. Without any formal degree, she mobilizied masses through her speaches and managed to raise millions of dollars from American Jews mainly to build the Israel state.
Still little space given to the Palestian refugee problem. While I am recommending the book, I am not supporting many of her view points. What would I have done in her situation? I am happy to have discovered her biography.
January 11, 2018
This 824 page book was densely written but was well worth the read. The history of modern Israel is told from the point of view of Golda Meir. Her personal morality left much to be desired (abortion, treatment of husband and family, and multiple affairs). When the Jews and Israel needed her she was a tower of strength never wavering in doing everything she could do to help the Jews and Israel. She gave herself totally to whatever job she had. At various times she headed the ministry of Labor, Foreign Affairs Prime Minister, or Party Secretary. She was not an intellectual; she did not attend college but she did work with those who were extremely gifted as intellectuals. Israel consist of people from wide ranging languages, cultures, and mores. To melt these people into one people to defeat outside forces in wars in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 was remarkable. Meir style of leadership was to listen to every one, not take notes and then to choose a path of action an not to waver. She was a chain smoker. In one meeting that lasted seven hours she smoked three packs of unfiltered Chesterfields (60). She suffered from Lymphoma (which she kept secret from the public) and was in her seventies when she lead Israel during the 1973 war. She was a leftist socialist but was courageous when she needed to protect the diaspora Jews or the nation of Israel. While I remembered reading about many of the events mentioned in this book some events were clarified in my mind. I highly recommend reading this book.
February 3, 2018
Fascinating subject matter. I would have given it 5 stars, but the details often overwhelmed the story. For someone who wants to know how each particular player reacted to every crises in the Israeli state's history this is the book for you. I, on the our hand, would have preferred less minutia and a stronger focus on the key players. All in all still a worthy book.
March 13, 2018
GOLDA
One of the best biographies I ever read. Hated to put it down each night to go to bed. If you want the story of a strong woman, this is it.
One of the best biographies I ever read. Hated to put it down each night to go to bed. If you want the story of a strong woman, this is it.
June 30, 2024
What I didn't know about Golda Meir could just about fill the Grand Canyon. What an extraordinary woman.
January 7, 2024
The holidays were busy. Review to come.
April 2, 2025
Francin Klagsbrun has written a well researched and "definitive" biography of Golda Meir. Golda is endlessly determined, unwaveringly devoted to the creation of a Jewish state, and very funny. She is also a chain smoker, something that did not affect my reading.
On the whole, I enjoyed reading about Grandma Golda and admired her ability to accomplish so much amidst the conflicts both internal and external to the state of Israel. It is a very long book – more than 800 pages. I think the material sometimes slogged along, but mostly it taught me a lot of things that I did not know about Golda and about the political life of Israel.
On the whole, I enjoyed reading about Grandma Golda and admired her ability to accomplish so much amidst the conflicts both internal and external to the state of Israel. It is a very long book – more than 800 pages. I think the material sometimes slogged along, but mostly it taught me a lot of things that I did not know about Golda and about the political life of Israel.
August 13, 2024
What a woman!
I enjoyed this thorough in depth deep dive into the iconic Golda Meir. Her story is fascinating, inspiring and thought provoking.
I enjoyed this thorough in depth deep dive into the iconic Golda Meir. Her story is fascinating, inspiring and thought provoking.
February 19, 2020
This is a biography of Golda Meir and because she was so linked with the establishment and early history of Israel, I learned a lot about Israeli history. This is well written and very readable but there is sooo much. It was occasionally a challenge to come back to the book.
I was startled to learn about the strong disagreements among the founders--many of the strains are still apparent currently in Israel, for instance, about the west bank settlements. I also had not been aware of how socialist the Yishuv and early government had been. Nor did I see the change in the US attitude toward Israel.
I was startled to learn about the strong disagreements among the founders--many of the strains are still apparent currently in Israel, for instance, about the west bank settlements. I also had not been aware of how socialist the Yishuv and early government had been. Nor did I see the change in the US attitude toward Israel.
January 24, 2018
This was a most insightful biography on Israel, the community and its' politics at a beginning for a small but important nation. Although I have not read any other books on Israel, I found it delightful and most informative on Golda Meir's life, personality and outlook on her people and her child nation. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Well written and not too biais. Author does not embark on suppositions but sticks to facts mostly (except for all the supposed lovers) in light of Golda's personality and her wishes when she was alive. A great woman and an excellent author!
January 17, 2018
enlightening, if sometimes dull, profile of her rise from committee work and local activism to prime minister. author gives context to some of the more well-known Golda quotes -- such as her assessment if the Israeli Jewish Black Panthers. ["they are not nice boys"] I've read more engaging accounts of the Yom Kippur war but this biography is worth reading.
September 12, 2021
I enjoyed reading about a woman with passion and what it took to create a nation. Some of the events occurred during my childhood so it helped make sense of names and personages and their role in history.
February 14, 2018
It was a biography written as a novel, it assumed nothing of the reader and delved into an emerging world of an important figure.
February 23, 2024
To everyone who likes a great book or audiobook this is it, it’s long but that is because she accomplished so much. To any feminist out there this book represents what a real feminist is not someone who has sex like a man or asks for equality and does nothing but post memes! To any historians this book is full of exciting stories. To people who like political maneuvers this is your book people who just love a good story. This is your book! You can learn so much from her I’m just blown away by her accomplishments and her story! I look forward to coming back to this book in a few years. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have!
October 11, 2020
A wonderful book. An even-keeled look at a giant, almost charicaturical figure of 20th century history, trying to untangle the truth from the myth. I've long-admired Meir and in this book was surprised to find some things to extremely dislike her for (her political climbing, her neglect of her children, her constant need to be right), and some other things that I didn't know about her, to admire her for (her ability to make extremely difficult decisions, her understanding of PR before there was PR.) Strong recommend for anyone interested both in Israeli history and in both the good and bad about how leaders are made.
September 11, 2018
A very thorough and, of course, one-sided account of the founding of Israel and one of its most charismatic leaders. She was a powerful voice for her people when they needed it most.
August 1, 2020
Biographies are not my thing but this one owned me and how! What a inspirational trail blazer 💙
April 27, 2019
Hyper-detailed yet profoundly compelling portrait not only of Golda Meir as a woman and a political leader but of the nation she helped birth...
A remarkable achievement by Francine Klagsbrun, this bio should join the cannon of must-reads for those interested in all-things Israel: in pre-1948 Palestine; the inside baseball of Israeli politics from 1948 through the 1970s; Influx of Jewish refugees into Israel post-Holocaust, and from the Soviet Union; and all things Meir-related: her journey from
Minsk to Milwaukee to Israel; the intricacies of her family, romantic, and political relationships.
And by the way, why is she the only former prime minister who doesn’t have a museum in her name?
A remarkable achievement by Francine Klagsbrun, this bio should join the cannon of must-reads for those interested in all-things Israel: in pre-1948 Palestine; the inside baseball of Israeli politics from 1948 through the 1970s; Influx of Jewish refugees into Israel post-Holocaust, and from the Soviet Union; and all things Meir-related: her journey from
Minsk to Milwaukee to Israel; the intricacies of her family, romantic, and political relationships.
And by the way, why is she the only former prime minister who doesn’t have a museum in her name?
September 8, 2021
Wow, this was so wonderful on audio. I looked at the physical book, too, to be able to see the photos and the names in print, and could tell that its density would make it pretty well unreadable as anything other than a college textbook. But on audio! At first I didn't love the narrator because she uses both the Shatner and Walken Commas (see humorous internet memes), but she grew on me so now I can't imagine hearing this amazing story narrated by anyone else. Maybe that's also because I spent so many months with it. It'll keep you busy for a good long time!
The chain of events that led me to this book was a Kveller article including the movie "A Woman Called Golda" in some cute list, watching and loving it (mainly because Leonard Nimoy was in it!), then becoming fascinated and searching for a real biography-- this one new even! No detail of Golda's life went un-researched; the author's note that it was basically the result of researching every scrap of anything ever to do with Golda proved true. That movie that led to my reading this turned out to be a pretty good distillation and the short, easily accessible version, covering the bulk of the material. But, how gorgeous and fascinating all the extra detail.
For example, I never knew Golda Meir lived and got her earliest Zionist start in Denver, where I live and drive past every day. This book even tells her historical address here, and I totally intend to go see that house. I never knew anything or thought anything of Golda Meir before, but she was such an excellent and interesting person. The book isn't a biased glowing review of her, though, but includes everything, from faults to mistakes and legitimate political critiques (especially by others such as Amos Oz, who is greatly beloved by me-- never knew he was on an opposite political side as Golda Meir) to lovingly conveyed details of her life.
Her life covered so much important history that now whenever I read anything historical that took place during that long time period, anywhere in the world, I think to myself "this is at the same time that Golda was [doing whatever she was doing at that same time]." Her story gives structure and context to so many other world events, because she touched so many of them in some way. I'm so amazed to learn through her story that Jews in Israel were essentially fine during the Holocaust, just looking on in horror through the news. I never, never knew that. Of course, their great struggle was to try to get as many Jews as possible out of the places where they were being killed and into Israel, in defiance of British rule.
Anyway, I could go on forever about how interesting, how fascinating, how great the story of this book is. I would actually venture to say that no one can rightfully have an opinion on Israel/Palestine without reading or listening to this in its entirety, so in depth is the necessary, fundamental background it gives on the entire nascence of Israel.
Indeed, I personally believe that while Golda Meir's vision for Israel was right and necessary, ultimately Amos Oz turned out to be right. Ie, while Arabs were initially the original anti-refugee, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, ultimately gun-toting NIMBY group toward the influx of newcomers, so Golda was right to say no that and keep pushing for the dream of a safe home for Jews... however, a la Amos Oz's viewpoint, a safe home for Jews was sadly not, and could never be, and never will be the result of pushing against Arabs' rejection of them. His viewpoint was essentially "Don't do the things that will make them right about Israel, not least because then it will be equated with Jews as a whole." The world would sadly muster more sympathy for the Jews if they were to be homeless yet again. Now, they are able to be made out as "occupiers" and "colonists" and "oppressors," adding a new volley of world opinion against them from normally sympathetic corners on top of, and in addition to perennial racist anti-Semitism. I have no doubt that Golda would be turning in her grave at the current state of affairs of the nation she created.
One last piece- I don't necessarily buy the narrative in this book that Golda had all these sidepieces everywhere- affairs with every guy she met. The very affectionate rhetoric of the letters exchanged, while today would be considered romantic, I really don't think were back then. That was just how people spoke to each other in writing. Letters of equally great affection could be found between heterosexual men in that time period. It's fun to think she was such a heartbreaker, leaving a trail of bloodied men crazed with love in her wake, and maybe it's true (I kind of hope it is).... but it might not necessarily be true.
The chain of events that led me to this book was a Kveller article including the movie "A Woman Called Golda" in some cute list, watching and loving it (mainly because Leonard Nimoy was in it!), then becoming fascinated and searching for a real biography-- this one new even! No detail of Golda's life went un-researched; the author's note that it was basically the result of researching every scrap of anything ever to do with Golda proved true. That movie that led to my reading this turned out to be a pretty good distillation and the short, easily accessible version, covering the bulk of the material. But, how gorgeous and fascinating all the extra detail.
For example, I never knew Golda Meir lived and got her earliest Zionist start in Denver, where I live and drive past every day. This book even tells her historical address here, and I totally intend to go see that house. I never knew anything or thought anything of Golda Meir before, but she was such an excellent and interesting person. The book isn't a biased glowing review of her, though, but includes everything, from faults to mistakes and legitimate political critiques (especially by others such as Amos Oz, who is greatly beloved by me-- never knew he was on an opposite political side as Golda Meir) to lovingly conveyed details of her life.
Her life covered so much important history that now whenever I read anything historical that took place during that long time period, anywhere in the world, I think to myself "this is at the same time that Golda was [doing whatever she was doing at that same time]." Her story gives structure and context to so many other world events, because she touched so many of them in some way. I'm so amazed to learn through her story that Jews in Israel were essentially fine during the Holocaust, just looking on in horror through the news. I never, never knew that. Of course, their great struggle was to try to get as many Jews as possible out of the places where they were being killed and into Israel, in defiance of British rule.
Anyway, I could go on forever about how interesting, how fascinating, how great the story of this book is. I would actually venture to say that no one can rightfully have an opinion on Israel/Palestine without reading or listening to this in its entirety, so in depth is the necessary, fundamental background it gives on the entire nascence of Israel.
Indeed, I personally believe that while Golda Meir's vision for Israel was right and necessary, ultimately Amos Oz turned out to be right. Ie, while Arabs were initially the original anti-refugee, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, ultimately gun-toting NIMBY group toward the influx of newcomers, so Golda was right to say no that and keep pushing for the dream of a safe home for Jews... however, a la Amos Oz's viewpoint, a safe home for Jews was sadly not, and could never be, and never will be the result of pushing against Arabs' rejection of them. His viewpoint was essentially "Don't do the things that will make them right about Israel, not least because then it will be equated with Jews as a whole." The world would sadly muster more sympathy for the Jews if they were to be homeless yet again. Now, they are able to be made out as "occupiers" and "colonists" and "oppressors," adding a new volley of world opinion against them from normally sympathetic corners on top of, and in addition to perennial racist anti-Semitism. I have no doubt that Golda would be turning in her grave at the current state of affairs of the nation she created.
One last piece- I don't necessarily buy the narrative in this book that Golda had all these sidepieces everywhere- affairs with every guy she met. The very affectionate rhetoric of the letters exchanged, while today would be considered romantic, I really don't think were back then. That was just how people spoke to each other in writing. Letters of equally great affection could be found between heterosexual men in that time period. It's fun to think she was such a heartbreaker, leaving a trail of bloodied men crazed with love in her wake, and maybe it's true (I kind of hope it is).... but it might not necessarily be true.
May 25, 2018
This very long book chronicles the entire life of Golda Meir, offering a balanced view of her triumphs, challenges, and flaws in her personal, political and public lives. TMI is both a strength and weakness if the book.
May 7, 2018
I read this book in preparation for our trip to Israel to better understand the history of this country. Her rise to power was impressive and her fierce commitment to the Jews having their own country was unwavering. She commanded a great deal of respect during a time when women were still not recognized as leaders. She was often called the "iron lady" and her lover/friend David Ben-Gurion used to call Meir "the best man in the government". She was tireless in her fund raising efforts and raised hundreds of millions of dollars from Jewish communities all over the world to further the cause of an independent Israel. And somehow, she still had time and energy to have affairs.
August 21, 2018
Highly recommended and will reread at some stage.
If you found yourself worthy to get your life story written for the world to read, go no further than Francine Klagsbrun. What you get is a well-researched and balanced narrative of your life. Caution: if you have skeletons in the closet, she'll find it and laid it all bare in the chronicle of your life as fact and nothing else and the readers to form their own judgement.
I have no prior opinion about Golda Meir, all I know she was at one time a Prime Minister of Israel. What you find in this book is not only the life of Golda Meir from the beginning to the end but the historical events surrounding her life and also what's going on the international stage as well. The bonus I find in this book is the historical events in the Middle East in late 1800s and the early 1900s that inevitably shaped modern day Israel. To understand Israel's political complexity, one need to go back past 1948.
This is a page turner book though the thickness of this book (824 pages) may discouraged most people from reading it, but one only need to read until page 691. Here's the thing, if you keen to learn about Golda Meir and understand Israel and the challenges that Israel face today, this book is worth the hassle. As I read from page to page, I grew fond of Golda and I respect what she tried to achieve for Israel. Could anyone did a better job in her shoes at the time when Israel was in the most vulnerable position? I don't think so. She had the tenacity and attributes to led Israel through the dark times. The success of Israel today has a lot to do with the groundwork that she alongside her comrades laid down for the future generations. Without her leadership, it's hard to imagine Israel could thrive and emerged into the only democratic country, developed economy in the Middle East, notwithstanding the war of attrition that Israel's enemies continue to inflict in order to demoralized and destabilized Israel.
What bug me is the positive portrayal of socialism, fortunately Israel chose wisely.
If you found yourself worthy to get your life story written for the world to read, go no further than Francine Klagsbrun. What you get is a well-researched and balanced narrative of your life. Caution: if you have skeletons in the closet, she'll find it and laid it all bare in the chronicle of your life as fact and nothing else and the readers to form their own judgement.
I have no prior opinion about Golda Meir, all I know she was at one time a Prime Minister of Israel. What you find in this book is not only the life of Golda Meir from the beginning to the end but the historical events surrounding her life and also what's going on the international stage as well. The bonus I find in this book is the historical events in the Middle East in late 1800s and the early 1900s that inevitably shaped modern day Israel. To understand Israel's political complexity, one need to go back past 1948.
This is a page turner book though the thickness of this book (824 pages) may discouraged most people from reading it, but one only need to read until page 691. Here's the thing, if you keen to learn about Golda Meir and understand Israel and the challenges that Israel face today, this book is worth the hassle. As I read from page to page, I grew fond of Golda and I respect what she tried to achieve for Israel. Could anyone did a better job in her shoes at the time when Israel was in the most vulnerable position? I don't think so. She had the tenacity and attributes to led Israel through the dark times. The success of Israel today has a lot to do with the groundwork that she alongside her comrades laid down for the future generations. Without her leadership, it's hard to imagine Israel could thrive and emerged into the only democratic country, developed economy in the Middle East, notwithstanding the war of attrition that Israel's enemies continue to inflict in order to demoralized and destabilized Israel.
What bug me is the positive portrayal of socialism, fortunately Israel chose wisely.
February 21, 2018
Lioness; Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel, by Francine Klagsbrun, is surely the definitive work on Golda Meir, one of the founders of the modern nation of Israel. The body of the book, not including notes, is almost 700 pages, so it is not something you expect to read in a few sittings.
Nevertheless, though I skimmed some sections of it, I found everything I read fascinating. Born in Ukraine in 1898, Golda immigrated as a young child with her family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
She immigrated to what would become the state of Israel in 1921 and never looked back, becoming an ardent supporter of a Zionist state in the Middle East. Because of her formative years in America, Golda, as an Israeli leader, had a warm relationship with the United States.
The personal details of her life—her relationship with her husband and two children, as well as friendships with Israeli leaders—add to the telling.
However, what I remember most, after I finished it, was the impact of the refugees, because of the parallels with today’s refugee issues.
What would have happened without World War II? That caused mass movements of persecuted Jews, the vast majority of whom were unwanted in western democracies. No wonder they fled to their fellow compatriots in the Middle East.
Once there, such a mass movement was bound to affect the lives of all Middle Easterners and their politics.
We are reminded of today’s refugees and the various responses to them. Many of them are unwanted by other nations as well.
But mass movements today also have consequences. Think of small African villages turned into massive refugee settlements by refugees fleeing war and famine.
So read Lioness with appreciation for a woman’s bravery, intelligence, and sheer grit. Also search for lessons useful to today’s upheavals and politics.
Nevertheless, though I skimmed some sections of it, I found everything I read fascinating. Born in Ukraine in 1898, Golda immigrated as a young child with her family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
She immigrated to what would become the state of Israel in 1921 and never looked back, becoming an ardent supporter of a Zionist state in the Middle East. Because of her formative years in America, Golda, as an Israeli leader, had a warm relationship with the United States.
The personal details of her life—her relationship with her husband and two children, as well as friendships with Israeli leaders—add to the telling.
However, what I remember most, after I finished it, was the impact of the refugees, because of the parallels with today’s refugee issues.
What would have happened without World War II? That caused mass movements of persecuted Jews, the vast majority of whom were unwanted in western democracies. No wonder they fled to their fellow compatriots in the Middle East.
Once there, such a mass movement was bound to affect the lives of all Middle Easterners and their politics.
We are reminded of today’s refugees and the various responses to them. Many of them are unwanted by other nations as well.
But mass movements today also have consequences. Think of small African villages turned into massive refugee settlements by refugees fleeing war and famine.
So read Lioness with appreciation for a woman’s bravery, intelligence, and sheer grit. Also search for lessons useful to today’s upheavals and politics.
February 19, 2022
This in-depth biography of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir might be my greatest reading accomplishment of 2022. The book offers a minute examination of how Golda Meir contributed to Israel as a nation, her political views, her successes and failures as a leader as well as her personality, which was both tenacious and gentle, often called "motherly." If you are looking for a biography that seamlessly combines the personal and political aspects of Golda's life, this may be the book for you, although reading it from start to finish is quite a commitment (the book is over 800 pages). I must confess that I considered not finishing it, but was always interested to continue when I did pick it up, and really appreciated Golda's legacy as a whole when I committed to finishing the book this month. From reading this book, I can say I have deep admiration for Golda's devotion to her ideals, her toughness and her convictions which she worked so hard to uphold for almost 60 years.
I do find the discussion of the Israel/Palestine conflict in the book to be somewhat one-sided, and it is still hard for me to sympathize exclusively with Israel's side of things, simply based on the number of Palestinians killed versus the number of Israelis. This book did give me an appreciation of the circumstances that led to the necessity of creating a Jewish state and why Israel wants to protect its territory so uncompromisingly. Aside from the discussion of Israel's foreign policy, I found this book to be balanced, objective and well-documented. If you want a full picture of Golda Meir the person and the politician, pick this book up knowing that it is not for the faint of heart and is not a quick and easy read. If you have the time and the desire, this book is definitely worth it. Although it took me over 8 months to read, I am glad I stuck with it!
I do find the discussion of the Israel/Palestine conflict in the book to be somewhat one-sided, and it is still hard for me to sympathize exclusively with Israel's side of things, simply based on the number of Palestinians killed versus the number of Israelis. This book did give me an appreciation of the circumstances that led to the necessity of creating a Jewish state and why Israel wants to protect its territory so uncompromisingly. Aside from the discussion of Israel's foreign policy, I found this book to be balanced, objective and well-documented. If you want a full picture of Golda Meir the person and the politician, pick this book up knowing that it is not for the faint of heart and is not a quick and easy read. If you have the time and the desire, this book is definitely worth it. Although it took me over 8 months to read, I am glad I stuck with it!
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