Tenenbom - The lies they tell: a journey through America

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A Journey through America

Copyright Tuvia Tenenbom

Jerusalem 2017/5777

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without express written permission from the publishers.

C OVER D RAWING : Shay Charka

C OVER L AYOUT : Leah Ben Avraham/Noonim Graphics

T YPESETTING : Benjie Herskowitz, Studio Etc.

Organization, Advice and Photos by Isi Tenenbom

ISBN: 978-965-229-911-6

1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2

To Isi, my Woman of Valor

For gracing every moment along the
journey with your loving voice

For capturing every image with your shiny lens

For chasing the unknown with fervor

For being who you are

The New Israeli Bestseller

(Print and digital bestseller lists )

Savage, disturbing, comical Tenenbom has again written a book that is unputdownable.

The Jerusalem Post

The Lies They Tell exposes the real America, the one where racism and anti-Semitism lurk just beneath the surface. Not to worry, Tenenbom knows how to serve his dishes in an easy, palatable manner, which wont allow you to put the book down until its finished.

Israel Hayom

Sharp in its observations, pointedly direct, highly humorous and a very readable bookthat will make you laugh out loud at the same time that it paints for you Americas saddest stories.

Makor Rishon

A Spiegel Bestseller

A New Yorker travels through Trumpland gives a voice to people of all social classes, from the homeless to the oil tycoons; all faiths and minorities his description of Americas ghettos and homeless colonies is impressive

Spiegel Online

A great, sharp book with deep insight, never sugarcoated, into the reality of a country torn apart. Skillfully, Tenenbom interweaves the dialogues into the text and the result is an entertaining and authentic book. Detailed and shocking, this is the best of Tenenboms books.

Deutschlandradio

After reading this book, it is no surprise that Donald Trump has won the election.

Stuttgarter Zeitung

Packed with Jewish humor. Reading this book is a delight. Tenenbom is honest, free of political correctness and he doesnt shy away from recounting embarrassing experiences.

Titel-Kulturmagazin

Tenenbom is not interested in what is on the surface but in what is underneath it, and he digs ever deeper. In what at first seem like harmless chats, he uncovers an America that you wont find in the news: the shadowy side of the American Dream. He does not judge people who share with him the darker corners of their hearts, but he quotes them mercilessly.

Mitteldeutsche Zeitung

Entertaining and frightening.

Fantasia 637e

Incredibly funny, entertaining, revealing and, at times, nasty.

Hamburger Abendblatt

A terribly funny journey of discovery through a shallow America Tenenboms book is entertaining and shocking at the same time.

Die Welt

International Praise for
Tuvia Tenenboms Previous Work

Highly engaging and emotional, eminently readable, brutally honest.

Publishers Weekly

Irresistibly fascinatingseductive and engaging.

New York Times

Illuminating and alarming.

Wall Street Journal

Read what Tenenbom has to tell us, without bias. We dont have the privilege not to know.

Haaretz (Israel)

Tenenboms laughter touches our soul in places where mere intellect could never reach.

Die Zeit (Germany)

One of the most iconoclastic and innovative of contemporary dramatists.

Corriere Della Sera (Italy)

Tuvia Tenenbom is Michael Moore and Borat in one.

Die Welt (Germany)

A force of natureprovocative, satirical, intellectual.

La Repubblica (Italy)

A free artist who fights for truth and tolerance.

Le Vif/LExpress (Belgium)

A mystical provocateur.

Le Monde (France)

Brilliant.

Deutschlandradio (Germany)

Tuvia is curious as a cat, sly as a fox, friendly as a Labrador, and is also a man with seismographic sensitivities.

Mida (Israel)

Tenenbom rides the razors edgeand goes all the way off.

Amsterdam News

Hugely entertaining, terribly funny, sarcastic, engaging, powerful, accusatory, judgmental, good!

National Review

Tenenbom dares.

La Razon (Spain)

He sees and he hears. Exactly as it is.

Frankfurter Rundschau (Germany)

Tenenboms hodgepodge of politics, zealotry and literary genres is fresh and audacious.

Village Voice

A New Jew.

Maariv (Israel)

An anarchist.

Stern (Germany)

MY WARMEST THANKS TO EVERY AMERICAN WHO GAVE OF HIS OR HER precious time to satisfy my curiosity into the depths of their souls. My thanks also go to those who revealed the inner reaches of their hearts provided I wouldnt quote them by their full names.

I am grateful to the following professional organizations that were there to help when needed: Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Destination Gettysburg, Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Visit Pittsburgh, Destination Cleveland, Circle Michigan, Visit Milwaukee, Circle Wisconsin, Meet Minneapolis, Visit North Idaho, Rusts Flying Service in Alaska, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Visit Denver Convention & Visitors Bureau, Colorado Tourism Office, Kansas/Oklahoma Travel & Tourism, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

I am indebted to Lori Lowenthal Marcus and David Mills for going over the manuscript and graciously sharing with me their comments, remarks and corrections.

To my spiritual brothers, Dr. Jonathan Landgrebe, head of Suhrkamp, and Winfried Hrning, my editor: I will forever cherish your trust.

To my dearest friend, Rotem Sella, for enlightening my eyes with his most endearing personality and for being there for me whenever I needed it.

Lastly, to my mother-in-law, Isa Lowy, who treats me like her only son: I love you, Mama.

I LANDED IN THE USA THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO WITH $400 TO MY NAME, AND America has been good to me ever since. From the start I believed in the American Dream, and Ive lived to see it come true for me. I owe this country a debt, the debt of gratitude.