The NetanyahusThe Netanyahus
What it's about
Winter 1959–60, at a college in not-quite-upstate New York: Ruben Blum, a Jewish historian, is asked to host the interview of an exiled Israeli scholar of the Spanish Inquisition. When Benzion Netanyahu arrives with his family unexpectedly in tow, they lay waste to Blum's comfortable American life. Mixing fiction and history, it's a campus comedy with serious ideas.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It's a very funny and provocative novel about identity, assimilation and history.
You'll love it if you liked
The Human Stain
Portnoy's Complaint
The Plot Against AmericaGood to know
Benzion Netanyahu was the father of the future Israeli prime minister, who appears as a child. It's short.
By the numbers
- Readers36 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics75 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller11 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz26 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
If you like this, read next
Schindler's List
East West Street
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of NazarethExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Netanyahus worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It ranks #1,105 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Netanyahus about?
Winter 1959–60, at a college in not-quite-upstate New York: Ruben Blum, a Jewish historian, is asked to host the interview of an exiled Israeli scholar of the Spanish Inquisition. When Benzion Netanyahu arrives with his family unexpectedly in tow, they lay waste to Blum's comfortable American life. Mixing fiction and history, it's a campus comedy with serious ideas.
How long does it take to read The Netanyahus?
About 6 hours (248 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Netanyahus won?
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner (2022).
What should I read after The Netanyahus?
If you liked it, try The Human Stain by Philip Roth, Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth or The Plot Against America by Philip Roth.