I came to appreciate Segev after reading his writing in Ha'aretz, an Israeli daily newspaper, and his book, "One Palestine Complete". While the latter was an impressive historical work, "Elvis in Jerusalem", is more closely related to his work as an editorial journalist. It is not a comprehensive or academic look at Israeli society.

"Elvis in Jerusalem" is full of great insight, consistently interesting and perceptive. Divided into four sections, Segev first tackles the development of Zionism prior to the establishment of Israel and during its early years. He then presents the slow shift of Israel from its collective and essentially socialist roots towards the predominately American ideal of the individual. Next he talks about several of the increasing divisions within Israel, including its conflict between secular and religious attitudes and the ethnic tensions involved in a country based largely on culturally diverse immigrants. His fourth and final section details a decreasing faith in Zionism and an increase in post-Zionist attitudes and policies in Israel. While these sections are outlined with a historian's eye, they are entirely different in content, focusing heavily on not just the ideology developed, but the way those ideas lived and moved in the people.

All of this is put together in a tight package. Segev structures his writing in concise arguments and logical sequences, and Haim Watzman has done a fantastic job translating this work into engaging and accessible prose, never meandering or obfuscating the message (for instance, he doesn't use words like "obfuscating").

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as long as they have considerable knowledge of the conflict's history and at least some knowledge of the Israeli social/political map (can you identify some of the political parties besides Labor/Likud?). In addition, familiarity with concepts or events such as aliyah, Greater Israel, the difference in Israeli perception of the wars of 48 and 67 vs. Yom Kippur and Lebanon, and the political shift from Labor to Likud will aid the reader tremendously.

Review of Tom Segev's "Elvis in Jerusalem: Post-Zionism and the Americanization of Israel"