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Badulina: Colored Edition

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For the first time, this remarkably successful bestseller is available in English for the international community.Badulina is a tiny kingdom somewhere in Europe with 16,204 residents (as of last Friday), which conducts itself without laws, without politics, without marriage and without wars. Every resident of Badulina can be the next king. And everyone is brought up on the belief that there are only two ways to live in this world: as a king or as a victim. The book 'Badulina' recounts the journey taken together by the author Gabi Nitzan and the royal couple, the King and Queen of Badulina - a journey that reflects not only the author's life, but that of hundreds of thousands of readers. Nitzan accompanied the couple for three months, but the journey together quickly loses the impression of objective journalism: Nitzan falls in love with the Queen and becomes devoted to the enchanting King, who tells him a few things about hunting dragons, addiction to war and death, love devoid of possessiveness, eating with your hands and the national motto of Badulina - "Better be well and happy than sick and miserable." which practically guarantees that this story will not end in tears."Badulina has inspired me to live like a queen and love the world (and chocolate) as it is. It's one of those rare stories that are not only fun to read but give you a great deal to think about afterwards. The moral of this book is so strong and so powerful, and yet so simple that you wonder how come you and everybody else you know don't always act like the characters in the book. Highly recommended for anyone of all ages, this book is a game changer and it could wonderfully change your life forever". (Aura)"A funny, stirring, enchanting story ... It's not just a book, Badulina is a way of life". (Jini)"A book that is a present for life. Written delightfully with exceptional humor, it brought the strength back to my hands". (Tal)Are you ready to be crowned?Download the book Badulina today, a magical gift awaits you inside.

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

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Gabi Nitzan

5 books16 followers

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5 stars
226 (38%)
4 stars
157 (26%)
3 stars
118 (20%)
2 stars
62 (10%)
1 star
20 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Gal Debby.
24 reviews
October 10, 2021
ספר שמעצב מחדש את תפיסת העצמי והמרחב, דוחף גבולות ומפרק בחינניות ובחכמה את ההגדרות ששרושות בתרבותנו, כדי לאפשר לקוראיו להשתחרר ולרקוד בחופשיות בעולם
Profile Image for Almu.
5 reviews
February 17, 2024
פתחתי סתימה בכיור שבוע אחרי שסיימתי את הספר
זה היה מצחיק.
קליל ומרומם, הרבה נחת
Profile Image for Luda.
79 reviews9 followers
November 4, 2012
אחד הספרים הטובים שיצא לי לקרא בזמן האחרון. הספר הכי ישראלי שיש. ספר רענן וחכם.
ספר שדלאי למה היה כותב אם הוא היה חיי פה
18 reviews
October 31, 2020
נדיר שאני מפריע לאשתי עם התפרצות צחוק בלתי נשלט במטה, בקריאת ספר לפני השינה. הספר הזה גרם לזה לקרות לפחות 3 פעמים ועוד לא סיימתי לקרוא! תודה על יצירת המופת הזאת, הרבה זמן לא נהניתי כך.
Profile Image for Karin.
230 reviews
November 15, 2020
Brilliant, stunning, thought provoking - reminds me of The Little Prince in many ways.
74 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2021
Not sure if a 2 or a 3. At times really insightful, at others just pointlessly whimsical.
Profile Image for Lars Winky.
72 reviews1 follower
February 17, 2026
wonderful book about how to live with an open heart, moment my moment and own everymoment of your life. My favourite moments: (recommendation with Caro from the learning class)

“I expect to be totally satisfied with everything. I do only what I feel like doing. I am never afraid and never lack confidence, not even for a second, and as far as I’m concerned the entire world is a birthday present given to me to enrich and enhance my life until the day I die.”

“Yes. But without a moment’s hesitation, without feeling guilty, without thinking it’s immoral, without being ashamed. Believing with all your heart in your full right to enjoy whatever pleasure or treasure you chose.”

Anyone can be a king. Anyone can be a victim. The easy choice is to be a victim.

To remind them that their fundamental obligation in this world is not ideological or nationalistic, but personal: to be happy.”

“That OURS. Loving something because you think it’s yours. That’s not love. That’s attachment. That need to make something yours in order to love it guarantees that you’ll never really know love. If this country is the most beautiful place in the world because it’s yours, and not because of what it is, it means you’ve become obsessed with possessiveness, jealousy, competitiveness, war, defending borders. Just the way you would with a spouse, by the way.”

“when you don’t believe in problems, problems lose interest in you.”

You keep focusing on what you don’t want in your life instead of what you do want. Rehabilitation has to do with distracting attention. Okay, I have a gift for you: the most ancient and meaningful saying in Badulinian civilization, the proverb that is carved upon the gates to my palace. Are you ready? It’s really profound.” My heart pounding, I pulled out my pad and pen and he dictated: BETTER BE WELL AND HAPPY THAN SICK AND MISERABLE.

All we have to do is not be afraid, to realize that we always have an option, that we’re not helpless. A dragon is a dragon because you fear it. When you don’t, it’s just a lizard.

A king knows he doesn’t depend on anything or anyone, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to let others help. What matters is that turning to others for help comes out of free choice.

I’m talking about moving from a culture based on victims, passive creatures, to a culture of kings exerting unlimited personal freedom of choice.

The landscape you paint will be the landscape you see. With absolute freedom of choice there’s only one thing you’ve no choice about: having to choose.”

A King takes it for granted that everything will happen to his complete satisfaction. You don’t have to bang your head against the wall with plans. If you want it, there’s a free seat for you.
44 reviews2 followers
January 6, 2026
Badulina is a haunting, intimate exploration of memory, identity, and the quiet complexities of everyday life. Gabi Nitzan’s writing is precise and elegant, capturing emotional nuance with a lyrical yet unflinching eye.

The narrative follows as they navigate the intersections of personal history, relationships, and social realities. Nitzan’s prose is understated but deeply affecting, creating a world that feels both vividly real and subtly charged with tension.

What makes Badulina remarkable is its ability to combine introspection with narrative momentum. Every interaction, observation, and memory is imbued with significance, drawing the reader into a deeply reflective experience. Themes of longing, identity, and human connection resonate long after the final page, making this a novel that lingers in the mind.

For readers who appreciate literary fiction that is thoughtful, emotionally rich, and stylistically refined, Badulina is a compelling and rewarding read.
Profile Image for Gil Adler.
56 reviews2 followers
April 10, 2024
Excellent selection - entertaining, thought provoking, creative, slightly esoteric along the lines of and paying homage to the boy in The Alchemist. Highly recommended especially if you are a beginner-intermediate English-speaking native looking to read hebrew. If you are in a rut and looking to view life from a new perspective - this selection is a no-brained.

מבחר מצוין - משעשע, מעורר מחשבה, יצירתי, מעט אזוטרי בנוסח הנער ב"אלכימאי". מומלץ בחום במיוחד אם אתה יליד דובר אנגלית שמעוניין לקרוא בעברית. אם אתה בתלם ומחפש לראות את החיים מנקודת מבט חדשה - הבחירה הזו היא במיוחד חזקה
Profile Image for Genia.
382 reviews5 followers
November 3, 2018
זכור לי שאי שם ב2006 נאמר לי שהספר טוב. שנים עברו ומצאתי אותו בספרייה בפארק. החלטתי לקחת ולקרוא. הרגשתי שאמורה להיות פה מטאפורה כלשהיא. אך מעבר לשתי המנטרות החוזרות "או שאתה מלך או שאתה קורבן" ו-"טוב להיות בריא ושמח מעני ואומלל" לא מצאתי בספר כלום.
Profile Image for Or Lowi.
193 reviews10 followers
August 28, 2020
ספר חמוד וקליל אך קלישאתי מידי לטעמי. הספר מנסה לתאר באמצעות מלך ומלכת באדולינה מה יקרה אם אנשים יתחילו לחשוב ולהתנהג כמוהם. אני בהחלט מאמין בשיטה הזאת של ״אתה יוצר את המציאות שלך״ אך גם זה עד למקום מסויים. בעיניי חלק מהאנלוגיות שנעשו בספר היו קצת יותר מידי מופרכים ואפילו מעט מסוכנים
Profile Image for Boaz Ben-Zvi.
29 reviews
August 12, 2020
ספר קצר יחסית ונחמד, ששאב כנראה השראה מהנסיך הקטן, אם כי אין דמיון רב בין השניים. יש בו מסר של פילוסופית חיים שלוה והמנעות מסיכסוכים
Profile Image for NG.
59 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2025
ספר מעניין ומיוחד. נקודת המבט של המלך והמלכה היתה לטעמי קצת יותר מידי אוטופית ואף מנותקת לעתים, אבל בהחלט מעבירה מסר חשוב ומכניסה לפרופרציות.
2 reviews2 followers
December 22, 2016
Good read


The novel is thought provoking and inspiring. Wondering if it's a true account and if such a place exists. Worth your time! Be your own king or queen.

Profile Image for Coral Mia.
29 reviews7 followers
November 30, 2023
Thought provoking and an entertaining read.

A light hearted and easy read which will have you wondering if we're not kings and queens of our own stories. Loved every moment
3 reviews
September 26, 2019
Life-changing. Thought provoking. Inspiring. You’ll want to read it again and again throughout your life, guaranteed.
3 reviews
January 26, 2020
Brilliant. Engaging. Must Read.

This book quickly flew to the top of my list of Kwik brilliant life changing reads. I love this and recommend to all.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews