The Israeli Mind - by Alon Gratch (Hardcover)

About the Book

An Israeli-American psychologist examines his native nation's state of mind and its disproportional impact on the Middle East and the global community.

Book Synopsis

Israelis are bold and visionary, passionate and generous. But they can also be grandiose and self-absorbed. Emerging from the depths of Jewish history and the drama of the Zionist rebellion against it, they have a deeply conflicted identity. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the collective, but also to sacrifice that very collective for a higher, and likely unattainable, ideal. Resolving these internal conflicts and coming to terms with the trauma of the Holocaust are imperative to Israel's survival as a nation and to the stability of the world.
Alon Gratch, a clinical psychologist whose family has lived in Israel for generations, is uniquely positioned to confront these issues. Like the Israeli psyche that Gratch details, The Israeli Mind is both intimate and universal. Intelligent and forthright, compassionate but sometimes maddening, it is an utterly compelling read. Drawing on a broad cultural and historical canvas, and weaving in the author's personal and professional experience, The Israeli Mind presents a provocative, first-hand portrait of the Israeli national character.

Review Quotes

"Alon Gratch's book intends to explain the Israeli mind to the world, because of Israel's importance to other countries. But it is first and foremost a beautiful love song to Israel, by a post-Israeli, who is able to look at us from a certain distance, understand us better than we can understand ourselves, warn us against existential dangers, and encourage us to do the right things." --Yossi Beilin, former Israeli Minister of Justice

"Alon Gratch has wielded his Israeli mind to produce an incisive and provocative analysis of how his countrymen think about life, culture and the politics of the Middle East. His brilliant riff on the roots of the oppositional Israeli character is worth the price of the book alone. You may not always agree with Gratch but you will certainly be stimulated, absorbed and entertained." --Joseph Berger, author of The Pious Ones and Displaced Persons

"[A] provocative blend of psychological profile and foreign policy analysis... Illuminating and full of fresh insights into contemporary geopolitics...a fascinating thought exercise, and worth the read." --Publishers Weekly

"Gratch demonstrates a mastery of the delicate inner workings of the human mind and, at the same time, a profound insight into the epochal movements of history -- a rare but essential balancing act. He is a compassionate but exacting observer of the Israel character at a moment of great peril and consequence. That's why his book is not only a work of genius but also, and more important, a beacon of light and hope." --The Jewish Journal

About the Author

Dr. Alon Gratch is an Israeli-born, New York-based clinical psychologist, organizational consultant, and author. He has been on the faculty of Columbia University and worked with clients such as Pepsi, Chase Manhattan Bank, Nikko Hotels International, and the NFL. Dr. Gratch is the author of two previous books, the international bestseller If Men Could Talk, which was translated into 25 languages, and If Love Could Think. He has written for both academic and popular publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.