Simon Roded, the Israeli ambassador to Thailand, said he belongs to a generation that grew up without television and had to rely on books borrowed from a public library to keep himself entertained. Now Roded is rarely seen without his iPad, with a rim-torn cover, as he is a sort of e-book advocate for their convenience and speed.
What are you reading?
Beyond The River by Hanna Meller-Faust. It is in Hebrew and talks about a small town in Romania, which is also the birthplace of my parents. It's like memoirs from labour camps that the Nazis sent the Jews to along the Romanian borders. I never knew there would be someone talking about this small place.
Can you recommend a book about Israel?
Let There Be Water: Israel's Solution For A Water-Starved World by Seth M. Siegel. By understanding water issues, one will understand Israel. It was written by a Jewish American and shows the Israeli perspective on how water disputes can be resolved. It's appealing to common readers as it's not technical.
Any other recommendation?
The late writer Prapassorn Sevikul recently translated Start-up Nation: The Story Of Israel's Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer for the embassy. While people read it to understand the economy of Israel, it explains the role of military service on a personal level to the entire society. Israelis' discipline comes from military service. For generations, we are raised to always challenge, question and debate. The military is the best managerial school as we learn how to lead in order to have people follow.
What book gave you insights on Thailand?
Culture Shock Thailand: A Survival Guide To Customs & Etiquette by Robert Cooper. It's not an in-depth book but an introduction to Buddhist culture and the different habits of Thais. I still read it sometimes. It's an indispensable guidebook.
You carry an iPad, so e-books before paper?
The iPad is extremely useful for downloading e-books. I don't have to carry bags of books around.
