Warrior: The Autobiography of Ariel Sharon

Arguably Israel's most colorful and controversial public figure of the past decade, Sharon is known for his brilliant generalship in several wars, as well as his accomplishments as minister of defense and agriculture. In this engrossing autobiography written wth freelancer Chanoff, he reveals his private self: his upbringing on a farm in Palestine; his rise in army ranks amid alleged intrigue; his enjoyment of physical labor on his farm (and pride in the cooperative efforts of his Arab and Israeli employees); and personal tragedies, including the accidental death of his son. Sharon is bluntly outspoken about the most provocative phase of his varied career; the 1982 invasion of Lebanon (``Israel's war against the PLO's kingdom of terror'') and the question of his responsibility for the Sabra-Shatilla massacre. He presents evidence to refute the charge that he was ``indirectly responsible'' for the tragedy. This major work reveals much about high-level policymaking in Israel, the Israeli Defense Force and the responsibilities of its general officers. (Sept.)