Very, very good book. When researched.

I picked up this audiobook when I saw the previews for the movie "Munich". (I've not yet seen the movie)

It's packed with details and really does grab your interest. On the basis of entertainment value I give this book five stars. I'd definitely recommend it.

I took off a star because it is somewhat biased. While it is written in the tone and manner of a journalistic research book (lots of facts, dates, times, references and quotes to specific interviews) it is written from an Israeli perspective. While it does relate many details that negatively reflect on some of the actions taken by the Mossad, it is easy to see the writer has a bias. When the Mossad ordered a killing it is a "counter-terrorism mission, when it is a Palestinian killing it is called terrorism.

Again, I do not say that the author condones/condemns the Mossad, it's just that the book was not researched from a balanced Israeli/Palestinian perspective.

I'd really be interested in reading (listening) to a book detailing the same subject but from the Palestinian perspective. I think they balance would be great and that would help me make my mind up for myself.

All in all great book if you're interested in the subject.

24 people found this helpful

History of the Israeli Secret Service

This is less a story of the Munich Massacre, than of the Israeli hunt for those involved in that event. Having just listened to the CIA history, Legacy of Ashes, the difference between the two secret services is striking. While the author notes that mistakes were made, and questions whether the assassinations made any difference, the Mossad at least had the appearance of competence, unlike the CIA.

The recording is very good. While I cannot vouch that all of the foreign names were properly pronouced, Mr. Rudnicki did a credible job; is there anything that he can't read? I think I would listen to him reading a phone book!

In all, I enjoyed the book. It is very specific regarding names places and dates, so its it good for those who enjoy history. The pacing is good. It is written from an Israeli standpoint, but is fairly balanced, noting the mistakes that were made and some of the motivations involved. I found it a fascinating listen.

19 people found this helpful

engrossing!!

This tale is like a real-life James Bond story without the silly stuff. Justice is applied violently (and sometimes erroneously) as the reader rollercoasts through two decades of Israeli-Arab conflicts. I could barely turn off the recording, doing so only when I had to. I let a friend listen to it (he is not big on audiobooks) and he was enthralled. Can you tell I liked it? One of the best I have heard. You do need some working knowledge of current affairs of the latter 20th century though. The quality of the narration is also superb.

13 people found this helpful

Outstanding!

Very well written and superbly narrated. A great story of the Mossad and their determination at meeting out justice. If you liked the movie "Munich", you'll love this audio book. Striking Back goes into far more detail than the movie could. You won't be sorry!

7 people found this helpful

Myth vs. Reality of Covert Operations

Basically, after the Munich Olympic Terrorist event, the Israeli government adopted a policy of assonating anyone that they could find who was involved. The widespread myth is that it might have taken them a decade, but they got every last man, they always get their man, you can't hide from the all knowing Mossad.

The reality is that even the vaunted Mossad was shockingly ineffective and on occasion downright inept. So if the Mossad is approximately the best in the world at this, but still not very good at it, it says something profound about the task.

It would seem that you can use terror against the terrorists, but expecting a lot more than that from covert operations is rarely realistic. Certainly expecting them to "fix" the terrorist problem is dangerously naive.

I found the book a little bit emotionally draining. I seemed to invest in one killing, and then another, and then another. But in many ways this seems strange, the book is neither brutal nor graphic, if anything it's roughly the opposite, slightly clinical.

6 people found this helpful

Wow

To say that I was more than a little shocked at the mistakes and incompetence of the Israeli government and security would be an understatement. I chose this book after seeing the movie "Munich". The movie delt with the aftermath and payback of the Munich massacre and this book delt with the actual massacre and how the Israeli athletes were put in a risky situation with not much thought to their saftey. To much trust and too much "passing the buck" quashed any chance these men would have had at survival. A real eye opener!

6 people found this helpful

One of the Best! Absolutely Fantastic!

They don't get much better than this book! WOW! What a book!

I was a little too young to remember the Munich Massacre, so after this book, I also rented a documentary of the event.

There is so much good stuff in here, it's hard to know where to start.

The details of the hostage taking and the unbelievable response of the German Special forces were not only fascinating, but very troubling as well.

The author maintains his neutrality well. He portrayal of the German Special Forces is balanced with the story of the operatives who killed the wrong person (and went to jail for it). Hard to believe that some of this stuff really happened.

The one story that sticks with me is the one that really got the Israelis in trouble in France, when they took out a terrorist (while being very careful not to kill his wife and child) in a rather unorthodox way - something I didn't realize was possible at that time.

Another highlight is the "Chocolate" story - how the Israelis got to one of the terrorists living in Iraq.

VERY GOOD BOOK! I've probably listed to over 100 audiobooks, and this is one of my favorites! Highly recommend!

4 people found this helpful

Great!!!

The Munich Olympics was a heartbreaker! This book tells the whole story, from first concerns about security weaknesses in Olympic Village housing through the attacks, and then follow-up by the Mossad. I rented a documentary about this (I think it was called "One Day in September") after listening to this account. It was a great addition to the book, with lots of actual footage of people and events described so well here. The narration is excellent, as well. Highly recommended!!!

4 people found this helpful

Deep and dark

This book was well researched. If you want to know what to expect when you cross the Jewish Nation this book will let you know. There is a reason why you don't mess with Israel. In the end you will not get a warm fuzzy feeling for having listened, but you will gain perspective.

3 people found this helpful

WOW...What a story!

Would you listen to Striking Back again? Why?

I think so because I often miss things the first time around.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of Mossad. I have a deep admiration for those men and women and the work they do. I could never do it but it is work that must be done and they did it. So everyone that had to strike back basically.

What about Stefan Rudnicki’s performance did you like?

It was very "official" sounding. I am not sure how to explain it but his voice and delivery were perfect for this story

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That Germany was not really interested in bringing the terrorists to justice

Any additional comments?

There are many who question Mossad and this operation but Israel is in a unique position. A tiny country surrounded by countries that want to destroy it, retribution must come into play (it also does in other middle eastern countries) as a kind of deterrent. We can question the morality of it all day long but that is not what this book is about. It does make you question it and examine it but it is about a group of men and women with a job to do and the trials of tribulations of doing that job.

Jews dying on German soil only 18 years after the end of WW2 was something Israel could not have simply ignored, no matter what anyone might think otherwise.

2 people found this helpful