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Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu Hardcover – May 1, 2018

by Anshel Pfeffer (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 182 ratings
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A deeply reported biography of the scandal-plagued Israeli Prime Minister, showing that we cannot understand Israel -- its history, present, and future -- without first understanding the life and worldview of the man who leads it

Benjamin Netanyahu is embroiled in numerous scandals, all of his own making, and may soon be ousted from the office he has held longer than any prior Israeli Prime Minister outside of David Ben Gurion. But Bibi, as he is known by friend and foe alike, is no stranger to controversy. For many in Israel and elsewhere, he is an embarrassment, a threat to democracy, even a precursor to Donald Trump. He nevertheless continues to dominate Israeli public life -- and he may yet survive his current crises, the most challenging of his career. How can we explain Netanyahu's rise, his hold on Israeli politics, and his outsized role on the world's stage?

In Bibi, the Haaretz journalist Anshel Pfeffer argues that we must view Netanyahu as representing the triumph of the underdogs in the Zionist enterprise. Born in 1949, one year after the state of Israel itself, Netanyahu came of age in a nation dominated by liberal, secular Zionists. Yet Netanyahu's grandfather and father bequeathed to him a brand of Zionism integrating Jewish nationalism and religious traditionalism, and he identified with the groups at the margins of Israeli society: right-wing Revisionists, orthodox, Mizrahi Jews, and small-time professionals living in the new towns and cities dotting the Israeli landscape. Netanyahu cultivated each faction individually and then fused them into a coalition that has frequently proven unstoppable in Israeli politics.

Netanyahu is also a child of America, where he spent many years as a young man, and where he learned the techniques of modern political campaigns as well as the necessity of controlling the media cycle. The product of the affluent East Coast Jewish community and the Reagan era, Netanyahu's politics and worldview were formed as much by American Cold War conservatism as by his family's hardline right-wing Zionism.

As Pfeffer demonstrates in this penetrating biography, Netanyahu's influence will endure even if his career soon comes to an end. The Israel he has helped make is a hybrid of ancient phobia and high-tech hope, tribalism and globalism -- just like the man himself.
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  1. Print length
    432 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    May 1, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.38 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0465097820
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465097821
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Superbly timed...insightful...Pfeffer is one of the smartest and most prolific of Israel's younger generation of journalists...Bibi, obsessed by hostile 'left-wing media,' complained preemptively that this biography would be a cartoon. It is not: it fleshes out a superficially familiar and invariably quotable figure with a wealth of background information and analysis that provide necessary and, of course, often highly critical context...This book is a necessary contribution to understanding a high-profile and internationally contentious figure and the fractured country he has led for so long."―Ian Black, New York Times

"[Pfeffer is] one of Israel's best informed writers...[Bibi is] a must read for everyone who is interested in the undercurrents of today's Israeli society"―Tom Segev, Economist

"Readers who are rooting either for or against Netanyahu will find that Pfeffer's reporting quenches their thirst for the complete picture of his rise to power."―Commentary

"A perceptive history of a beleaguered nation and one deeply flawed leader."―Kirkus Reviews

"Weaving together stories from Netanyahu's time in America and Israel, and from his family history, military service, and political career, Anshel Pfeffer's fascinating and insightful Bibi paints a portrait of the indomitable outsider who became Israel's three-time prime minister. Pfeffer's riveting account illuminates the ways in which the man leading Israel today is both a product and a beneficiary of bitter divides that have shaped the nation's politics from its earliest days."―Tamara Cofman Wittes, Senior Fellow in Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution

"In a career that could yet make him the longest serving Prime Minister in Israel's history, Benjamin Netanyahu turned out to be much more than the temporary speed bump in Israeli politics his critics once imagined. In this lively and trenchant biography, Anshel Pfeffer explains why and how Bibi came to dominate and embody the changing face of the remarkable and divided nation he still leads."―Aaron David Miller, Vice-President and Middle East Program Director at the Woodrow Wilson Center

"Certain to elicit both consternation and praise, Anshel Pfeffer's Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu is a fascinating exploration of the complex ideological and familial foundations that continue to shape the thinking and governing of the man who may soon become Israel's longest serving Prime Minster. This is a book that will lead both Bibi's friends as well as his foes to see him a new--and infinitely more nuanced--light."―Daniel Gordis, author of Israel:A Concise History of a Nation Reborn

"Anshel Pfeffer has done something hard to do. He's given us an understanding, even compassionate, portrait of Benjamin Netanyahu--the family, the formative experiences, the logic of his belligerent ideology--while keeping his distance from Netanyahu's stances and exposing many of the unpleasant truths that lie beneath the surface Netanyahu works so hard to polish. Not coincidentally, Pfeffer has also given us a short-hand account of Israel's political history. Pfeffer is essential reading in Haaretz. His book gives Western readers some idea why."―Bernard Avishai, author of TheHebrew Republic

About the Author

Anshel Pfeffer has covered Israeli politics and global affairs for two decades. He is a senior correspondent and columnist for Haaretz and the Israel correspondent for the Economist. He lives in Jerusalem.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; 1st edition (May 1, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465097820
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465097821
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.44 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.38 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 182 ratings

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Anshel Pfeffer

Anshel Pfeffer

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Anshel Pfeffer has written on Israeli politics and global affairs for two decades. He is a senior commentator and columnist for Haaretz and the Economist's correspondent in Israel, as well as a contributor to the Guardian. He has covered wars, revolutions and political upheavals on four continents. Pfeffer's latest book, Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu, is a deep and complex biography of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
182 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

mjD
5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom and Chutzpah (in a good sense).
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2023
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This is a book of history as well as one man's experiences over a lifetime, most of it in the public eye. My admiration has grown exponentially for Bibi. I recommend this to everyone on all sides of the political spectrum in our divided world. The centerpiece of the book revolves around Bibi's sons spending lots of time with their grandfathers (maternal and paternal). From them, these young men have gained generations of wisdom. Bibi is no different, a wise man. This book I will pass on to my own family.
One person found this helpful
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bigdaddy
4.0 out of 5 stars History is history
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2018
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A lot of what happened in a country that is small an big in the world today and for 70 years. History, but with out bibi’s input.
2 people found this helpful
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S. Bassin
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent biography
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019
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A very thorough and readable biography of an interesting modern figure. The text is well presented and very readable. The parallels between Bibi’s conduct in office and Donald Trump are amazing

One concern is that Bibi and his people did not cooperate with the author. Most of the sources appear to be former Bibi associates who are no longer in his circle. And there are many of them
6 people found this helpful
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L. Geller
5.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a novel!
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2018
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A compelling, page turning history of the State of Israel, in addition to its long serving prime minister. Reads like a novel yet taught me many things I didn’t know about Netanyahu’s life, family and personal history. Highly recommend.
17 people found this helpful
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Lisa S Florea
5.0 out of 5 stars Benjamin Netanyahu biography
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018
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This is a great book about a great man. I love it. It was a good price and arrived very quickly. Thanks again, Amazon! 😄Lisa
2 people found this helpful
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Lee Joon Kyoung
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Service!
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018
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Timely delivery of what looks set to be an interesting read! Thank you!
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Hilary Goldstein
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit of a harsh review on a revered and popular leader
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2023
It was a compelling story and one that did keep me entertained. That said, Bibi is a well liked leader and strong voice for those who feel the entire world is against them.
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Robert Joseph Ahola
2.0 out of 5 stars Meh! I died of boredom.
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2023
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A bio one of the most exciting political figures of our time, and it reads like a bad episode of the Goldbergs. So very, very average.
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Top reviews from other countries

Francesc Sardà
5.0 out of 5 stars Impecable
Reviewed in Spain on September 14, 2021
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Molt bon retrat personal i polític del polític més determinant en la política israeliana els darrers 25 anys. No només és una biografia de Netanyahu com a personatge polític, sinó que també és el relat d'una determinada corrent política israeliana com el és el sionisme revisionista. Imprescindible per a qualsevol qui estigui interessat en conèixer amb més profunditat aquest país.
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Angel
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
Reviewed in India on May 11, 2019
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I bought this book after watching the author's interviews on internationally renowned news channels..n loved the book..everything is described in such detailed manner..can't skip a single line..loved it..must buy..n value for money for sure..
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Angel
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
Reviewed in India on May 11, 2019
I bought this book after watching the author's interviews on internationally renowned news channels..n loved the book..everything is described in such detailed manner..can't skip a single line..loved it..must buy..n value for money for sure..
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One person found this helpful
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Gabrield
5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Bibi
Reviewed in Germany on March 13, 2019
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Though one should remember that the author‘s home is Haaretz, hardly a member of Bibi‘s fan club, this well–researched book is an excellent source for those who want to understand what makes Bibi tick.
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SW
5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading if you want to understand better the state of Israeli politics today.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
Anshel Pfeffer is an experienced British-born Israeli journalist who currently writes in Haaretz, Israel’s increasingly left-leaning daily newspaper. He is also the Israel correspondent for The Economist newspaper.

In his acknowledgements towards the end of this book, Mr. Pfeffer writes that he can’t count the number of times an Israeli, upon hearing that he was writing a biography of Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted to tell him his or her recollection of meeting Bibi at some point with a “Let me tell you my Bibi story” and then, having told their story, they would invariably ask to remain anonymous.

In the following paragraph, he then writes that one Israeli who refused to cooperate with him was Netanyahu himself and that his formal and informal requests for interviews were always ignored. Nevertheless, he did visit him in his office twice during the period of research but these were meetings together with senior editors of The Economist. Moreover, although the contents of those meetings were off-record, on each occasion on entering the office, Netanyahu turned to Mr. Pfeffer’s bosses saying, “This is Mr. Pfeffer who’s writing a book about me. He doesn’t know anything about me. It will be a cartoon.”

Well, perhaps Mr. Netanyahu meant “caricature” and not cartoon because it’s worth bearing in mind that cartoons are also full-size drawings made on paper as studies for paintings, stained glass or tapestries, used in the production of frescoes. Examples of these are the large cartoons by Raphael in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Leonardo da Vinci him self also drew such cartoons, which are highly regarded in their own right. I would like to think that Mr. Pfeffer’s book is a cartoon of the latter kind.

In addition to being a biography of Bibi Netanyahu, this book is also a pithy political history of modern Israel in which the focus is on Bibi. The picture Mr. Pfeffer paints is of a complex character—clever, well educated, widely read but so bound to a particular ideology as to be almost incapable of being pragmatic. He comes across as a hesitant and risk-averse decision-maker when confronted with situations that conflict with his ideological view of the world, as a person who is not a team player if he is not the team captain. He is portrayed as a man who regards criticism as a personal affront almost to the extent of paranoia, which is apparently a family weakness. He is also a person who has systematically, during the more than two decades in which he has been a leading figure in Israeli politics, managed to discard anyone who appears to challenge his authority, so much so that many Israelis believe that there really is no alternative to Bibi. But, of course, one day he will go and someone else will take his place.

The author also presents the attraction to material comforts of Netanyahu and his third wife, Sara, a woman who is privy to all the information and decision-making conundrums that he faces; and if we are to believe this account, she also has a final say over everything. Their attraction to the high life—their greed—has landed them in more trouble than they could have imagined and this is a part of their story that has yet to reach its conclusion.

It is hard to be objective when dealing with a person as divisive as Benjamin Netanyahu. Anshel Pfeffer does a pretty good job at concealing whatever personal opinions he might have about the man he has chosen to depict in this book.

This biography is a really good read for in addition to being intrinsically interesting, it is extremely well written and should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand better the state of Israeli politics today.
6 people found this helpful
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Janine L Hartley
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly researched
Reviewed in Australia on August 5, 2021
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A very good book for those seeking to gain a deeper understanding of not only Israels social and political history, but also how Netanyahu’s legacy continues to contribute to the plight of the Palestinian people.
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