Israel's newest prime minister as of February 6, 2001, Ariel Sharon is a dynamic and controversial leader. A hero in Israel's wars, perhaps the most daring and successful commander in Israel's extraordinary military history, Sharon has always been a warrior, whether the enemies were hostile Arab nations, terrorists, Time magazine, or rival politicians. The public man is well known -- aggressive in battle, hard-line in politics -- but the private man has always been obscured by Sharon's dazzling career and powerful personality. In this compelling and dramatic auto-biography, the real Sharon appears for the first time: a complex man, a loving father, a figure of courage and compassion. He is a warrior who commands the respect and love of his troops, a visionary, and an uncompromising, ruthless pragmatist. Sharon tells his story with frankness, power, intelligence, and a brilliant gift for detail. Always controversial, he is as outspoken as his friends -- and enemies -- would expect him to be. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly Arguably Israel's most colorful and controversial public figure of the past decade, Sharon is known for his brilliant generalship in several wars, as well as his accomplishments as minister of defense and agriculture. In this engrossing autobiography written wth freelancer Chanoff, he reveals his private self: his upbringing on a farm in Palestine; his rise in army ranks amid alleged intrigue; his enjoyment of physical labor on his farm (and pride in the cooperative efforts of his Arab and Israeli employees); and personal tragedies, including the accidental death of his son. Sharon is bluntly outspoken about the most provocative phase of his varied career; the 1982 invasion of Lebanon ("Israel's war against the PLO's kingdom of terror") and the question of his responsibility for the Sabra-Shatilla massacre. He presents evidence to refute the charge that he was "indirectly responsible" for the tragedy. This major work reveals much about high-level policymaking in Israel, the Israeli Defense Force and the responsibilities of its general officers. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Library Journal This is an autobiography of one of the most controversial personages of contemporary Israel. Depending upon the commentator, Ariel Sharon is a hero or a spoiled parvenu. More than a self-portrait of an Israeli pioneer and a general, this is a serious glimpse into the real political world of the Israeli government and a deeply believed statement on the Jewish state's credo. Sharon not only served the state as a military officer but also, using his expertise as a farmer, as the Minister of Agriculture. On the subjects of the highly contentious decisions in the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict and in the incursion into Lebanon in 1982, Sharon sets out his version of events and their interpretation. Since there is no other similar version of Sharon's life, this is essential reading and highly recommended for a wide variety of audiences. For Sharon's actions in the 1973 war, Uri Dan's favorable account Sharon's Bridgehead (o.p.) might be consulted. - Sanford R. Silverburg, Catawba Coll., Salisbury, N.C. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.