"[A] work of a cultural, social, and to an extent, political history, which shines methodologically in its critical discourse analysis. . . As much as it is a book about the rise of the individual in 1950s Israel, it is also a revisionist study of an era commonly remembered (and arguably mystified) by Israelis as extremely collectivist in ethos."-- "H-JUDAIC"
"Rozin makes an important contribution to understanding how Israel moved from a society that emphasized national and communal needs first, to one that gradually allowed average Israelis to seek--and expect the state to grant--individual freedoms that steadily led to a rising standard of living and personal fulfillment. . . . A major contribution to Israeli social history. . . . Highly recommended."-- "Choice"
"Rozin's book is a very useful source of well-collected information on the culture of austerity in early Israel, drawn from the period's newspapers, speeches, testimonies, and government records."-- "Israel Studies Review"
"The numerous primary sources that this book includes, showing the stereotyping and racism employed by the elite in Israel against the immigrants, makes this book a major asset and important work for understanding Israeli society."-- "Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online"