I think this story touches on the basics of the women of the century-Golda Mier was definitely an outstanding woman and this author has touched on the finer points regarding her character. I've already read her biography and another non-fiction book written about her times and travels...beginning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Being a Wisconsin native myself-This woman definitely inspires me. True to form, Golda is portrayed as a strong, determined woman on a mission..somewhat along the lines of Eleonor Roosevelt.

This book about one of the great political leaders of the 20th century is one of the very few documented stories of Gold Meir that are currently in print - which is a great shame.

However, thanks to Deborah Hitzeroth, the life and times of Golda Meir are available for young and old alike to read for themselves the remarkable stories about a person whom, in my view at least, has been one of the great influences on peoples perception of world politics...

It was a true delight to read this biography of Golda Meir. I've lived in Milwaukee for all but four of my 31 years of life, and I've never known much about this stellar woman. I was amazed to learn that she even fasted at age 5 as part of a protest!

It was especially fun to read the Milwaukee references, including her family's arrival. When I read about her school experiences, I pictured her at her elementary school (now called Golda Meir School) just north of downtown Milwaukee. No wonder it's now a school for gifted and talented children!

The drama of Golda Meir's life makes for a powerful story, which Deborah Hitzeroth nicely captures and complements with photos, background info and Golda's own words. As cliche as it might sound, Golda's story is an example of the power of the human spirit to overcome obstacles and accompish amazing feats.

Golda Meir was a remarkable woman, but you would never be able to tell by this book. If you want to learn more about her, read a better book than this (almost any book is), like one by her son, or one by her friend, or one by herself. This book is very unsubjective and is based on superficial rumors. It is basically a collection of gossip in disguise as a book.

The previous "reviewer" contradicts him/herself when claiming that the book was very "unsubjective" and based on rumors. Did s/he mean subjective? What's wrong with quoting those around her anyway? Why would an immediate relative have to write the book, as that reviewer argues? Ralph Martin is a professional and does a fine job here.

Golda's purpose for writing "My Life" is perhaps that those who read it will learn and understand a little more about Israel, Zionism, and the Jewish People. She had told of some of the men and women whom she had known such as Richard Nixon, Levi Eshkol, Moshe Sharett, and David Ben-Gurion, some of the places she had seen such as Tei Aviv, Africa, and Merhavya, and above all, some of the incredible events in which she has participated in like her administration of the Yom Kippur War, and of Israeli's War of Independence. It is a very positive book, which informatively describes her success story from being a poor girl with little of hope of her future, to becoming one of Israel's greatest Prime Ministers of all time. The pictures in this biography immensely capture the many hats that Golda once did possess. This shows she has many personalities. The pictures show her as a prime minister, out for a stroll with one of her grandchildren, her reaction after hearing she was nominated as Israel's prime minister, and Golda addressing the Council of Europe a few days before the Yom Kippur War. They also show her with President Nixon, and helping out women in Africa. The pictures help support the text in the book. There is also one map that shows the 1949 armistice lines and the territories administered by Israel after the Six-Day War. This map provides intense learning because it helps explain and clarify the armistice lines in detail. Any reader would find the pictures and the map helpful, and filled with great knowledge. The book is 480 pages long, and at times, the reader may find Golda's monotonous babble putting them into a very languid mood. However, it sufficiently captures the highlights of Golda's life, and very specifically in detail- her career. It tells of her determination, diligence, and dedication at achieving her goals in life. Any reader would find this book extremely valuable and worthwhile because it is very inspirational in telling Golda's story. It will further help the reader understand what it was like for Golda when she was growing up. The book "My Life" also shows how different times have changed over the years, and would help elucidate the early 1900's. "My Life" by Golda Meir is a great piece of non-fiction, and unquestionably should be read by all. Golda Meir was one of the greatest women of this century. She lived a life filled with extraordinary events, towering achievement, hope, courage, and conviction. In March 1969, Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel. As the democratically elected leader of the most dynamic nation in the Middle East, she is rightly regarded as one of the most important women in the world today. Her decisions are not only significant for Israel, but they are factors in the course of present-day international affairs. Golda Meir was born in Kiev, Russia on May 3, 1898. Extreme poverty caused Golda's family to emigrate to the United States in 1906 and settle in Milwaukee. There, she graduated from teachers' college and taught in the public schools. Throughout her life she was a leading socialist Zionist. Early childhood memories of Russian pogroms influenced her in becoming a Zionist. That was her inspiration. Golda joined the Poalei Zion (Labor Zionist Organization) in 1915 and emigrated to Palestine with her husband, Morris Myerson, in 1921. He died in 1951. She was elected to the woman's labor council of Histadrut in 1928 and was chosen secretary of Histadrut's executive committee in 1934. In the 1930's she was also an international Zionist representative, and as such spent a year in the United States in 1932. In the 1940's, Gold Meir was a major figure during the struggle and difficult negations with the British mandatory government. She took Moshe Sharett's place in 1946 as head of the political department of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem until the establishment of the State in 1948. After that she was appointed minister to Moscow (a post she held until April 1949.) After being elected in 1949 to the Knesset as a Mapai party member, Golda Meir was appointed minister of labor. She began large scale housing and road building programs, and supported a policy of unrestricted immigration. In 1956, she became foreign minister of Israel until 1965. That same year she adopted the Hebrew name Meir ("to burn brightly.'') As one of the few women to hold so high an office, Golda Meir became a famous international figure. Among her main achievements in foreign relations was extension of Israel aid to African nations. On her retirement from the foreign ministry, she became secretary-general of Mapai when Mapai became part of the Israel Labor Party. After the death of Levi Eshkol on February 26, 1969, Golda Meir became the fourth prime minister of Israel. As prime minister she encouraged the emigration of thousands of Soviet Jews to Israel, and strengthened relations with the United States. However, in 1973 and 1974 disputes over the blame for Israel's unpreparedness for the Yom Kippur War led to demands for new leadership and increased the divisions in the Labor Party. Following bitter recriminations, Mrs. Meir submitted her resignation and that of her government on April 11, 1974. She continued as head of the caretaker government which successfully negotiated a disengagement of forces agreement with Syria (following an earlier one with Egypt), until the appointment of a new government under Yizhak Rabin on June 3. She then resigned her seat in the Knesset and retired into private life. Her autobiography, My Life, was published in 1975; just three years before she would die. She died in Jerusalem on Dec. 8, 1978. Upon her death, it was revealed that she had leukemia for twelve years.