By Steven Pressfield

This is a powerful account of the Six Day War in 1967. The subtitle gives the perspective: On the Front Lines of the Six Day War. The author has spent countless hours interviewing Israeli soldiers and participants in the Six Day War. The entire book is told through their eyes. His firsthand accounts include everyone from Moshe Dayan, the famous Israeli military hero of 1948, who served as the Minister of Defense during the 1967 war. It includes reports from the famous general, Arik Sharon. It includes firsthand accounts of many officers and many soldiers. For example, at the outset of the war he might quote dozens of perspectives of the initial hours. Then there will be day-by-day accounts from many different soldiers. It does give a sense of being there and experiencing the things they experienced, including the thrills of victory and the heartbreaks of loss. Especially poignant is when a soldier will talk about a fallen comrade.

In the Six Day War, the proud President Nassar of Egypt fully intended to crush little Israel. Then Jordan and Syria joined the attack. But the Israelis fought fiercely and smartly. In a carefully planned air attack after the start of the war Israel demolished much of the Egyptian Air Force. They would eventually take the Sinai, recapture the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordan. They even capture much of the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria. It was a stunning victory.

The major powers convinced Israel to give back most of the Sinai for the sake of future peace.

This book is fascinating, and it makes me want to read a full-length biography of David Ben-Gurion, the father of modern-day Israel, along with Moshe Dayan.