Knowing Too Much

Why the American Jewish Romance with Israel is Coming to an End

De: Norman G. Finkelstein

Narrado por: Tyler Crandall

Traditionally, American Jews have been broadly liberal in their political outlook; indeed African-Americans are the only ethnic group more likely to vote Democratic in US elections. Over the past half century, however, attitudes on one topic have stood in sharp contrast to this group's generally progressive stance: support for Israel.

Despite Israel's record of militarism, illegal settlements, and human rights violations, American Jews have, stretching back to the 1960s, remained largely steadfast supporters of the Jewish 'homeland'. But, as Norman Finkelstein explains in an elegantly-argued and richly-textured new book, this is now beginning to change.

Reports by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United Nations, and books by commentators as prominent as President Jimmy Carter and as well-respected in the scholarly community as Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer, and Peter Beinart, have increasingly pinpointed the fundamental illiberalism of the Israeli state. In the light of these exposes, the support of America Jews for Israel has begun to fray. This erosion has been particularly marked among younger members of the community. A 2010 Brandeis University poll found that only about one quarter of Jews aged under 40 today feel "very much" connected to Israel.

In successive chapters that combine Finkelstein's customary meticulous research with polemical brio, Knowing Too Much sets the work of defenders of Israel such as Jeffrey Goldberg, Michael Oren, Dennis Ross, and Benny Morris against the historical record, showing their claims to be increasingly tendentious. As growing numbers of American Jews come to see the speciousness of the arguments behind such apologias and recognize Israel's record as simply indefensible, Finkelstein points to the opening of new possibilities for political advancement in a region that for decades has been stuck fast in a gridlock of injustice and suffering.

©2012 Norman Finkelstein (P)2012 OR Books LLC

difficult listening

unfamiliar pronunciations made it a difficult listening. seems as the narrator heard different words in historical news reports

Important subject, but poor reader

What did you like best about Knowing Too Much? What did you like least?

The subject of the book is both important and interesting, the book itself well written. Unfortunately, this is marred by a reader who makes repetitive pronunciation errors which are quite inexcusable. It's too bad that this has happened.

How could the performance have been better?

You need a reader who can read properly!

Incredible Book, Insufferable Narrator

Would you listen to Knowing Too Much again? Why?

I will keep the print version for reference, as it is an invaluable resource. Listening to the inept, ignorant narration is unbearable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Knowing Too Much?

The entire book is revelatory of how the writing of Middle East history has been biased in favor of Israel, and how American Jews are becoming less supportive of the zionist state. It is meticulously documented.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

As others have noted, the narrator appeared to have little ability to pronounce many common words that have more than 3 syllables, and even names well known from history
(Robert McNamara pronounced as MacNAMera) It's galling that Mr. Crandall had to have figured out he was in over his head with the subject AND vocabulary, but chose to produce shoddy work anyway. This important book really needs to be re-done.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I only continued to listen at all because of Professor Finkelstein's wonderful scholarship and writing.

Any additional comments?

Please right the wrong done to this fine book by re-releasing a well-narrated version.

Well researched story

The incredible number of mispronounced words…..not a bad voice but kept the flow interrupted by the mispronouncations of words…..

Great Book.. Bad Audiobook

There are tons and tons of facts about great topics. However the reading is robotic and disengaging. It was hard for me to follow up during driving as usually do.

Amazing book. Terrible reading.

Finkelstein is a credible expert with all the necessary evidence for his views. He brings clarity to this confusing mess.

The narrator reads like a college student, mispronouncing many words, and screwing up names like Netanyahu.

Important book, horrible reader

What made the experience of listening to Knowing Too Much the most enjoyable?

The book is well argued and important.

What didn’t you like about Tyler Crandall’s performance?

This was the most unprofessional reading I have ever heard. The reader mispronounced words and names on almost every page of the book.

Great Content Awful Narrator

In typical Finkelstein fashion, the book is full of facts and concise and usually inescapable conclusions wherever the facts lead.

The narrator is awful, mispronouncing many words. He pronounces "nuclear" like George W. Bush and it's unforgivable. He reads like a robot at 1.5 speed.

Outstanding

This is an authoritative, interesting and entertaining book describing a very controversial and current topic.

Grear read, poor narration

I guess Norm got a student to read this. He can’t pronounce any of the most frequently used terms. However I really appreciate this exists in audiobook form