This was an inspiring and informative book.

 

In a previous book, Startup Nation (2009), the authors explored Israel's remarkable level of innovation, especially in the high-tech sector. Now they explore a different topic: the long lifespans and high levels of happiness reported by Israelis. If you ever wondered how Israelis cope with ever-present rocket attacks that necessitate bomb shelters throughout the country, this book provides something of an answer. 

 

Well-structured and with a good pace, the book moves swiftly through each topic.

It touches briefly on Israeli economic developments since 2009 (when Startup Nation was published), but despite the title, it's not really about "genius", or science and academics.

Instead, it mostly covers new topics:

• lifespan, health, and age

• social milieu, norms, and incentives

• family dynamics

• socially-based medical initiatives

• measures of social success

• inclusion and exclusion of subgroups, such as autistic or physically disabled people

• sense of meaning and community

• modernity vs tradition

• religious vs secular society

• Israel's 4-way subcultural divide and its effects

The authors frequently refer to Israel's compulsory 2-3 year conscription for 18-year-olds, because in their analysis, it's a major driver of the social and cultural benefits they observe. This is interesting, but I also found it a bit sad. Could there be any way to foster these positive effects in a country other than army conscription...?

 

Some things which the book didn't cover, but which I would have liked to know more about:

• Social safety nets (or lack thereof) for single parents. Being a single parent to 3-4 young children sounds nearly impossible but must surely be the reality for many Israelis.

• Discussing the long lifespans vs the young society. Maybe just a brief mathematical explanation of how this works out demographically.

• Respect for elders vs the veneration of youth in a young society.

• What isn't working well. The book is extremely optimistic, but at times it seems almost too good to be true.

Overall, this was an interesting read, especially the section outlining how Israel responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. I would recommend it to anyone curious about what Israeli society is really like