How to Understand Israel in 60 Days by Sarah Glidden

I found this book in my bookcase on my ‘to read’ shelf. It is an award winning fictional graphic novel that recounts the author’s ‘birthright’ trip to Israel. The book was published in 2016. After having a debate with her mother about the State of Israel, Glidden decides she will take advantage of a free trip paid for by the Israeli government to explore the country for herself. Glidden is a progressive Jewish American women in her twenties, and since the trip is government sponsored, she is skeptical. She fears she will be influenced by propaganda that highlights Israel’s history in the best possible light. She travels with a friend who is trying to discover her own Jewish roots. Her family never really shared their Jewish heritage with her. Glidden and her friend go on the trip with different questions on their minds. After the tour, Glidden is left with more questions than answers; she is faced with the complexity of the politics of the region. The book is a thoughtful, humorous and engaging story that is historically informative and also delves into how cultural heritage plays a part in shaping personal identity. Glidden’s honest approach in telling her story definitely expanded my understanding of the complexity of the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict and reinforced my sense of urgency. War will never solve the extremely difficult problems in the region. Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches From Turkey, Syria, and Iraq by Sarah Glidden is now on my ‘to read’ list.