A Grudging Admiration

 

I have read nearly all of Tom Segev’s books, and I never felt an overwhelming sense of esteem in his works for Ben Gurion.  In his A State at Any Cost: The Life of David Ben-Gurion Segev finds more to admire about him, but with important caveats.   Despite Ben Gurion’s many accomplishments, Segev paints a picture of a deeply flawed man.  He is a leader but does not appear to understand people.  He is popular but has difficulty maintaining friendships.  He can be petty, small and vindictive.

But Segev presents a picture of the man in full.  He has faults, but also his strengths.  Segev strongly suggests that without Ben Gurion, Israel would not have been founded (at least not in its present incarnation).  His work ethic in his prime is Olympian. He also admires Ben Gurion’s journalism, high praises from a noted journalist like Segev.