t’s amazing to read about the history of the Talmud paralleled that of the Jewish people. During the pogroms and ages which anti-Semitism was a societal and politically accepted, those who seek to destroy the Jews tried also to destroy the Talmud, mainly because they didn’t understand what it was about (ridiculously bringing about the blood-libel scenarios over and over).
About: Escape from Sobibor by Richard Rashke is a non-fiction book which details the biggest escape from a Nazi concentration camp in Poland during World War II. The book was first published in 1982 and won acclaim world wide. 416 pages Publisher: University of Illinois Press Language: English ISBN-10: 0252064798 My rating for Escape from Sobibor — 5 Buy this book from in paper or electronic format* More Recommended World War II books on Man of la BookStore Thoughts: Escape from Sobibor by Richard Rashke is an exciting history book, told as a novel. The book is divided into three sections which introduce the people, tell about the escape from a top secret Nazi death camp, and the after war years. Mr. Rashke knows that the strength of any book, non-fiction or otherwise, is the personal stories which make up the big picture, and does a great job introducing us to them. The people which the author chose to focus on were non-military Jews and a Russian officer, some were pulled out of the lines for the gas chambers due to special skills and some just by pure luck. The author engages the reader from the start with personal pre-war stories. This is not…
The story of the small village and its surroundings were responsible for saving thousands of people during World War II who were on the Gestapo’s wanted list
The story is told through the eyes of the woman who lived it, while it took around the same time, each one had an individual and unique experience. While the synopsis might sound like a fairytale (falling in love, crossing the ocean, etc.) the reality was much harsher and difficult.
About: Normandy: A Graphic History of D-Day, The Allied Invasion of Hitler’s Fortress Europe by Wayne Vansant is a graphic novel recounting the events of that fateful day and those leading up to it. 104 pages Publisher: Zenith Press Language: English ISBN-10: 0760343926 My rating for Normandy: A Graphic History of D-Day – 4 Buy this book from in paper or electronic format* Thoughts: Normandy: A Graphic History of D-Day, The Allied Invasion of Hitler’s Fortress Europe by Wayne Vansant connects to the reader more than a mere history book. The excellent art draws attention to historical details in vivid details and colors. Mr. Vansant starts at the weeks and months ramping up to D-Day, and ends at the liberation of Paris – about two months after D-Day. The author does a great job educating the reader about the leaders who made great, lucky and disastrous decisions on both sides as well as the consequences suffered by the civilian population of the battlefield. The author does an excellent job representing all the countries who participated in the invasion of Europe, not just the big ones we hear and learn about. A special mention of the Polish 1st Armored…
The book is not only a memoir, but a commentary about the life in a small southern town circa the 1920s. A town where almost everyone never even saw a Jew nevertheless interacted with one.
I was actually surprised to learn that Herzl cemented himself as a leading force in the Zionist movement in only 9 years, which is the time the book covers. In an aberration from conventional teachings, Mr. Avneri refutes that Herzl’s evolution of thought was not, as taught, out of the Dreyfus affair (which he covered as a reporter) but a gradual process.
Mr. Lavie lived among the Egyptians and writes about the warm, wonderful individuals he met. The author also writes about Egyptian society, the difficult life and analyzes the economy and the mess that Egypt got itself into and the difficulties the country faces in the future getting out of them.
An insightful book about the character of this very divisive politician.
About: Bringing Down Gaddafi: On the Ground with the Libyan Rebels by Andrei Netto is a non-fiction book telling the story of the author, a Brazilian journalist. Mr. Netto traveled to Libya to witness firsthand the uprising against Gaddafi. 320 pages Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Trade Language: English ISBN-10: 1137279125 My rating for Bringing Down Gaddafi — 4 Buy this book in paper or electronic (Kindle) format* Thoughts: Bringing Down Gaddafi: On the Ground with the Libyan Rebels by Andrei Netto tells of the Libyan Revolution, the author’s harrowing experience, captivity and the people he met along the way. Together with an Iraqi journalist, Mr. Netto’s capture and release was, for me, one of the most interesting aspects of the book. The book also gives an excellent overview of the situation in Libya, including historical context to the revolution. The story moves back and forth between profiles of the revolutionaries, a history lesson and the author’s experiences. Even though the civil war in Libya was brief, it was still very dangerous, especially for reports at the time. The book is written in a very professional, but also personal manner depending on what subject Mr. Netto writes about. Mr. Netto’s book is…
