Description
In 1934, eleven-year-old Shimon Peres emigrated to the land of Israel from his native Poland, leaving at the back of an extended family who would later be murdered in the Holocaust. Few back then would have predicted that this young man would eventually change into one of the most towering figures of the twentieth century. Peres would indeed go on to serve the new state as prime minister, president, foreign minister, and the head of several other ministries. He used to be central to the establishment of the Israeli Defense Forces and the defense industry that would give you the young state with a robust deterrent power. He used to be the most important to launching Israel’s nuclear energy program and to the creation of its high-tech “Start-up Nation” revolution. His refusal to give up to conventional wisdom and political norms helped save the Israeli economy and prompted one of the vital most daring military operations in history, among them the legendary Operation Entebbe. And yet, as important as his role in creating and deploying Israel’s armed forces used to be, his stunning transition from hawk to dove—with its accompanying unwavering commitment to peace—made him one of the most globe’s most recognized, honored, and admired statesmen.
In this, his final work, finished only weeks before his passing, Peres offers a long-awaited examination of the the most important turning points in Israeli history through the prism of having been a decision maker and eyewitness. Told with the frankness of someone aware this would likely be his final remark, No Room for Small Dreams spans decades and events, but as much as it is about what happened, it is about why it happened. Examining pivotal moments in Israel’s rise, Peres explores what makes for a great leader, how to make hard choices in a climate of uncertainty and distress, the challenges of balancing principles with policies, and the liberating nature of imagination and unpredicted innovation. In doing so, he not only charts a better path forward for his beloved country but provides deep and universal wisdom for younger generations who are seeking to lead—be it in politics, business, or the broader service of making our planet a safer, more peaceful, and just place.