An incisive look at the connection between the US and Israel, and their respective roles on the world stage. . . .
Israel vs. Utopia is a book that could only be written by someone intimate with the ethos of both countries.–
The Jerusalem Post [Schalit] refuses the polarities of Zionism/anti-Zionism and embraces a position on Israel that is critical but nonetheless understanding of the complex motivations of the protagonists in the conflict.–
HaaretzSchalit's elegant, often digressive prose, together with his honest use of personal stories, further helps to break out of the sterile polemical style of much of the writing on Israel.–
The Forward In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there are few levelheaded voices to be heard in the mainstream . . . Joel Schalit, in his recent book
Israel vs. Utopia, is a rare voice indeed . . . a quick, terrific read.–
The Daily of the University of Washington If the title doesn't get armchair Zionists' blood boiling,
Israel vs. Utopia's flora-and-barbed-wire cover art will. And that's a shame, because they'd find valuable revelations in Joel Schalit's clear-eyed vision of Israel.–
Philadelphia City Paper Schalit does . . . a great job, going out of his way to present as fair a look at both sides of these issues as possible, despite his unhidden bias from being a liberal himself . . .–
Chicago Center for Literature and Photography
