The Family: Three Journeys into the Heart of the Twentieth Century

The Family traces three branches of author David Laskin's Jewish ancestry as they move through major events of the 20th century. Starting in the late 1800s in the Russian Empire, the narrative follows relatives who took drastically different paths: immigration to America, settlement in Palestine, and remaining in Eastern Europe. One strand chronicles the story of the Maidenform Bra company founders and their path to becoming successful American entrepreneurs. The parallel stories track Jewish pioneers who helped establish early settlements in what would become Israel, and family members who stayed behind in their ancestral towns. Through letters, documents, and interviews, Laskin reconstructs how his relatives navigated the massive historical forces that shaped the Jewish experience in the 20th century. The book intertwines personal family history with broader events including immigration waves, the rise of American capitalism, the formation of Israel, and the Holocaust. The narrative explores universal themes about identity, assimilation, and the role of choice versus circumstance in determining human fate. By following one family's divergent paths, the book presents an intimate perspective on some of the century's most consequential developments.

Readers appreciate how Laskin weaves together three branches of his family tree to illuminate major 20th century events through personal stories. Many note the book reads like a novel while delivering historical insights. What readers liked: - Clear organization and pacing that keeps the narratives distinct - Integration of historical documents and photos - Balance between factual research and emotional resonance - Shows both triumphs and tragedies without sensationalism What readers disliked: - First third moves slower than later sections - Some found the large cast of characters hard to track - A few readers wanted more details about certain family members - Occasional repetition of facts Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ ratings) Representative review: "The way Laskin connects his ancestors' personal choices to the forces shaping the century makes history immediate and real. The family tree diagrams helped me follow the three branches." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔹 The book follows three branches of the author's own family tree: one that founded the Maidenform bra company, another that pioneered Jewish settlements in Palestine, and a third that perished in the Holocaust. 🔹 David Laskin discovered that his great-aunt Itel, who died in the Holocaust, had written letters to American relatives begging for help to escape Europe—letters that went unanswered and were found decades later. 🔹 The Maidenform bra company, started by the author's relatives Ida and William Rosenthal, began when Ida noticed that the "flapper" style of the 1920s didn't suit all women's bodies and created a new type of supportive undergarment. 🔹 One branch of the family helped establish Mishmar HaEmek, a kibbutz in Israel that survived a major Arab assault during the 1948 War of Independence and still exists today. 🔹 The author spent seven years researching the book, traveling to Belarus, Israel, and various locations in Europe and America to piece together his family's story through archives, letters, and interviews with surviving relatives.