About the Author

Neville Teller
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Born in London, Neville Teller is a graduate of St Edmund Hall, Oxford. A veteran BBC radio and audio dramatist and abridger, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006 he was awarded the MBE for services to broadcasting and drama.

He has been commenting on the Middle East scene for over thirty years, and has written five books on the subject.  He now writes regularly for the Jerusalem Post. He is also Middle East correspondent for the online journal Eurasia Review. 

In 2011 he emigrated to Israel, and now lives in a small town to the south of Jerusalem.

News

On publication day, February 10, the following 4 reviews appeared in Goodreads, all headed with a 5-star rating:

Pauline Roque

February 10, 2026

Neville Teller has achieved something remarkable with this collection: he hasn't just reviewed books; he has charted an intellectual and emotional map of modern Israel. As a long-time reader of Middle Eastern literature, I found the alphabetical, genre-blind organization to be a stroke of genius. One moment you're contemplating the moral weight of a historical biography, and the next, you're smiling at the whimsy in a children's story. This format does more than inform; it immerses you in the incredible diversity of thought and creativity that defines the region. This volume isn't just a guide; it's an essential companion for any thoughtful journey through Israeli letters.

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Leon Acosta

Too often, Israel is viewed through a single, political lens. Teller's "bookshelf" masterfully shatters that limitation. By reviewing works on psychology, poetry, religion, and graphic novels alongside histories and memoirs, he constructs a vibrant, living portrait of a society. Each review is a small gem of context, explaining not just what a book is about, but why it matters within the broader cultural conversation. Reading this feels like gaining a wise, well-read friend who can connect the dots between Amos Oz's fiction, a soldier's personal testimony, and a theologian's treatise. It provides the depth and nuance that headlines never can.

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Marion Brink

The promise of a "pleasurable guide" is delivered in full. The delightful uncertainty of not knowing if the next page will bring a political thriller or a volume of poetry makes this book a joy to read cover-to-cover. This serendipitous structure mirrors the experience of browsing a beloved, eclectic bookstore. Teller's prose is accessible and insightful, making even complex subjects approachable. I've discovered authors and topics I would have never sought out on my own, and my personal reading list has grown immensely thanks to his thoughtful recommendations. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

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Ruby Thrift

For anyone who has ever stood before the vast "Israel/Middle East" section of a library or boo

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