Arik: The Life of Ariel Sharon

I just stated reading the book, it seems well written, nicely wowing little personal life facts into a broader historical narrative.The quality of the binding is awful thought - I barely reached 19th page as I noticed first pages of the book stating to disconnect from the binding. This book does not seem to have a chance to survive a single reader (and I treat my books with outmost care).

Except for those who like military history recounted in the most minute detail. Then, you will love it.At first, I thought it was interesting. Until I realized that it was relentless. It never changed until I finally gave up. That is, the entire thing is recounting what "really" happened down the the millisecond and down to the dialogue, between parties in a thousand and one instances, ad infinitum. Instances that perhaps are famous, and hotly debated in Israel, but to a US novice in Israeli military and political history are entirely unknown except for the big ones.I rated it 5 stars because for those people who like minute by minute recounting of every single thing that ever happened in someone's political and military life, they will love this book. It is expertly sourced and perfect, for what it is. As it happens, what it is for me is a giant sleeping pill and excellent doorstop. But I know for others, it will be a great read, and it was really well done. So five stars, and I'll either donate mine to the library or use it to block drafts in winter.

Admittedly I only read through page xiii. I hit the sentence, "Israel's misguided colonization of the Palestinian territories, which Sharon himself had done more than any man to put in place...", and I was done. This is utter hogwash word by word."Misguided" - Israel was attacked by Egypt, then Jordan, then Syria (and don't forget Iraq) in 1967 (again!), and waged an aggressive war of defense. They dramatically shortened their border with Jordan, pushed Egypt back one hundred miles, and seized the high ground of the Golan. How is that misguided?"Colonization" - In 1967 Israel finally conquered the remaining portions of the British Mandate of Palestine that Egypt (Sinai) and Jordan (West Bank) had seized and occupied in 1948. The land had not had a sovereign since the Ottoman Empire relinquished it in 1919. The Balfour Declaration, the San Remo Declaration, the League of Nations, and the UN all established a Jewish home in the British Mandate in Palestine. No colonization was involved."Palestinian territories" - there had never been a "Palestinian" (read Arab) government in the Mandate until the Israeli allowed one to form under the PA/PLO. There certainly were no "Palestinian territories" in 1967, except for the Mandate lands illegally seized by Jordan."which Sharon himself had done more than any man" - Total BS. Truth be told, Modern Israeli saints Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres were the ones responsible for the post-1967 movement of Israelis into what had been Jordanian-occupied land. They hemmed and hawed, but both winked and nodded at the Gush Emunim movement. Sharon was an army general at the time.The author's Labor/leftist biases blind him to the established history.A great disappointment, and a waste of $22, but fortunately not of much of my time.

I had not read a book on the middle east in over ten years. I found this book to be a remarkable thought provoking read and history.Sharon,from the 1948 war to his untimely death was a participant or policy maker in Israeli history during this time period so book is more than a biography. Sharon is an amazingly complex man and I kept asking myself would I like him? A brilliant ambitious General, a bombastic politician and the man who gave Israel maybe it's best chance for peace while renouncing his previous constituency...amazing..Another fascinating aspect of this book was reading and thinking about the what ifs. What if Arafat was committed to the peace process? What if Sharon had lived longer ? What if both the Israelis and Palestinians had been more committed to peace process earlier?A recommended read!

Sharon is responsible for settling Israelis on conquered territory. His military exploits from the 1948 war of independence thru the war to invade Lebanon to displace the PLO and try to make peace with a compiant Lebanese Christian government are fascinating. The unlikely path of his political career, when an older and wiser Sharon became head of the government and led Israel to unilaterally disengage from Gaza, and probably would have withdrawn from parts of the conquered territoy if he had not suffered a stroke, is illuminating. The dirty side of Israeli political life with almost all figures, including Sharon, compromised, is a revelation.

OK

I am reading it now, because I knew little of Sharon, except that he is considered a "right winger." David Landau is not completely objective, but the story that he tells is compelling, and I have a new found respect for Sharon, despite Landau.

A very good and relatively objective review of the life of an extraordinary man written by someone who was not especially favourably disposed to him. Had he lived, he may very well have changed the course of Israel for the good.

Excellent book. Made me read it many times . Arik ! You had a glorious life though can't say the same about your last days..

The book starts off drawing you into the times and circumstances in Arik's early years. His trials and tribulations are a testament to his love of Israel and his ancestry. A true hero of the land of the bible.

This book was well-written and informative. It gives a overview of historic events during Ariel Sharon's leadership--some of his strengths and weaknesses and reasons for some of his political decisions.

Biografia muito boa. Vale a pena.

A bit heavy going in some places, but an excellent biography of a great if a somewhat controversial man.