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From Beirut to Jerusalem
- Narrated by: Thomas L. Friedman
- Length: 3 hrs and 2 mins
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Publisher's Summary
No issue in international politics has been more hotly debated than the Arab-Israeli conflict. And no reporter has illuminated both the conflict and the rhythms of life in the Middle East with more immediacy and brilliance than Friedman, a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. Whether it's extremism, terrorism, or fundamentalism on right and left, Friedman puts all the operative currents into perspective with an inimitable specificity and clarity.
Critic Reviews
"[Friedman's] writing is vastly descriptive, incredibly illuminating, very educational, and marvelously persuasive." (Library Journal)
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What listeners say about From Beirut to Jerusalem
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Theodore
- 03-31-14
This is an abridged version
What disappointed you about From Beirut to Jerusalem?
I had read this book back when it first came out. I purchased the audio book to listen to (while driving) in preparation for our trip to Israel. I was quite disappointed that much of the guts of the book was removed in this version. I had to go back to my hard cover.
16 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-14-18
Typical pro-Israel slant
The narratives about Lebanon are interesting, but as soon as he starts discussing Israel/Palestine, it turns into the standard pro-Israel rationale. Comparing the time leading up to the 6 day war (in which Israel was the aggressor) with the holocaust is standard, one-sided western bias. To gloss over such events with false assumptions and limited historical context is extremely irresponsible. If you like books that are written like a poorly researched newspaper article, this is great for you.
5 people found this helpful
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- Annie
- 09-20-10
They choose the past over the future
Enlightening memoir of reporters' experience in the early stages of the dismantling of Beiruit and then his subsequent time in Israel. Clearly discouraged, he describes firsthand the suffering of families and their culture in the palistinian/israeli escalation. He gives some historical perspective that helped me to understand the timeline of the events after '47 establishment of Israel . I recommend this book for those who want to folllow the peace process this year in Washington. Will they choose to be modern or tribal?
5 people found this helpful
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- DS
- 12-24-12
COLLECTIVE GUILT - GIVEN AND RECEIVED
Growing up in postwar NYC, as the only non-Jew in my public school classes, I was very much aware of the holocaust.
The idea proposed in this book rings true to me. Jews are infused with victimization and want everyone else to feel guilty about it.
This dynamic is Israel's problem. However, Israel's problem is a problem for the entire world. The Middle East is the thorn in the world's side and this book points out why this thorn is not about to be removed anytime soon. It's been how long? Oh right, over 35 years.
Let's hope it is resolved sooner than the US resolved slavery (over 75 years) and then racial equality (another 100 years).
4 people found this helpful
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- Kevin
- 01-28-09
We are so blessed in America!
Wonderful read and very entertaining. I was amazed at what some people go through in their daily life. This book has a light and sometimes humorous tone, but also educates the average listener about a very complex part of the world that most of us will never understand. I really enjoyed this book and even listened to it twice just so my wife could hear it. I laughed out loud through many spots. He is a very engaging writer and it was read well. If you like other books by Friedman you will not be disappointed.
6 people found this helpful
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- busyreader
- 07-24-18
Very short, anecdotal without detail
I listened to the audio version of this book, and was very surprised when it came to an abrupt end. I thought perhaps I had only downloaded a sample. While the experiences he shared we’re captivating, I know very little more than I did before listening. I was expecting some historical facts but only got some observations about the chaos of Beirut. Disappointing.
2 people found this helpful
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- Cindy
- 06-20-16
It's not really a book
This is merely an accounting of remembrances of the author. His memories are shocking and recalled with precise detail, however he does little to explain WHY there is such turmoil in Israel and Palestine. I'm sorry I waisted my time and money on it. it is a shame because the author is obviously talented, and there is a story there (somewhere), just not here.
4 people found this helpful
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- Tsipi Kaplan
- 10-01-20
Mostly Jerusalem
I absolutely love Thomas Friedmans work, however, I felt that Jerusalem/Israel was very detailed and informative but was hoping to understand Lebanon's turmoil and civil war a little more. I felt some key information was missing (why the civil war? who were the key players? how the religion played a part in all of this, what happened in Sabra and Shatila?)
Thomas Friedman is such a brilliant journalist, I was just hoping for more political information about Beirut.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 01-29-19
Thomas Friedman does it again
Great performance and overall very interesting teaching the history of the Arab Israeli conflict. Couldn’t put it down.
1 person found this helpful
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- A
- 06-29-11
Interesting perspective on Israel
I agree with a previous reviewer that the author's voice is a bit high pitched for the seriousness of the text. However, I excuse this since the author is telling us his own story, and these really are his words. Also, his reading is dynamic and never boring or mechanical.
The first half gives an interesting perspective on what it is like to be in Lebanon.
What I found most interesting was the second half regarding Israel. Being a Jewish author gives Friedman credibility when discussing the feelings of the Israelis. Even though I had read quite a bit on this subject (I strongly recommend O Jerusalem by Lapierre), I was enlightened by the clear description of the three aspects of the future Israeli state that Ben-Gurion and subsequent leaders dealt with. This alone makes the book worth listening too as this basic aspect of the formation of a Jewish State is fundamental to all understanding of this major world issue. Having some background in the geography and history will greatly enable the listener to follow the discussions about the Labor and Likud parties.
Because this abridged version is short, it is easy enough to get through, and I recommend it.
1 person found this helpful
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- keksi212
- 09-02-16
Was hoping for more
More of a personal account of someone who lived in the region during the early 80s. I was hoping for more historical context to the conflict, which there was very little.
Well written and easy to follow. Was just hoping for more.
1 person found this helpful
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- P
- 09-07-11
Highly recommended!
One of the most captivating audio books I have listened to in a while. The book is more than ten years old but Thomas Friedman's story of life in Beirut during the war is timeless. Also brilliantly narrated and excellent technical quality of the recording. Highly recommended.
1 person found this helpful
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- Lulu
- 12-11-20
Amazing but too short
I understood before purchasing this audiobook that a 630 pages book could not only be 3 hrs audio, while it is still a disappointment that only (very very) small part of the book is made into audio. This audiobook plays more an intro role of this extraordinary book. The book is definitely a MUST READ to anyone who's interested in that region or journalism or psychological matters etc.
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- S. Phares
- 05-26-18
good read
glimps of middle east troubled and complicated history. the journey of a remarkable journalist into the hotbed of mistrust and politics of conflict.
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- Lucy Abrahams
- 03-13-18
False equivalence and anti Israel bias
He declares himself not to be an anti-Israel Jew but he smiles at the murderous chaos of the Lebanon streets with warm indulgence whilst criticising Israel's desire for quiet and surfing as superficial and contemptible. He views Israel's insistence on remembering and honouring the Holocaust and its fallen soldiers, the deepest trauma of its citizens, as lamentable, if not contemptible.