The Book that Matches the Bus

The cover of Dear Zealots is blue and yellow like the interior of most London buses. The content of Amos Oz’s collection of essays is complex and balanced like London.

I picked up the book last evening after finishing Emma and I could not stop reading since. The book starts with an essay about zealots, discussing the numerous types of fanaticism - different levels of evil. Then Amos Oz goes on to talk about the complicated history of his people, always reminding the reader about diversity, acceptance, equity, equality or lack of.

Is it the history of Jewish people or is it the history of each and every one of us in some way? I can certainly say it is a beautiful lesson of history. You know that a writer is great when you become interested in a subject you never paid attention to. And then, reading these essays in the international city of London, on the bus with people coming from all around the world, maybe even people who were born in or visited places mentioned in the book, makes it even more interesting.

Someone recommended this book to me, and now I recommend it further to everyone who wants to look deeper into human nature or into the recent history of Jewish people or just want to enjoy a very well written piece of literature.