Lectures by Derek Penslar, the scholar of the emotional history of all things Jewish, are always packed with deep historical insights and exemplary center-left thought, but this book makes one realize that a biography of even such a short-lived protagonist under 300 pages is simply not enough.

While Penslar’s introduction to this work is as good as his other writings and speeches, the rest of the book is somewhat rushed and runs out of steam towards the end, without structurally answering the key question: why Herzl was and still is so magnetic.

Just like in the case of Halkin’s Jabotinsky biography, one could blame Yale’s series for it.

Penslar’s main innovation is dissecting Herzl’s mental instability, with the center of his structure dedicated to Herzl’s fit in 1895 leading to the creation of his cornerstone writings and energy for Zionist activities right up to his deathbed.

It is, though, probably the best alternative to any other Herzl biography, which would be waxed and sterilized—and for this critical approach, we owe Penslar a big hug.