Asher Ginsberg (1856-1927), also known as Ahad Ha-am, was a prominent pre-state Zionist thinker and considered the founder of Cultural Zionism, fi ghting for what he described as "a Jewish state and not merely a state of Jews." This 1912 collection of essays, translated by Leon Simon, expresses his philosophy and beliefs on Zionism and other Jewish topics, helping the reader build an understanding of Ahad Ha-am and his era. Sir Leon Simon was among the original members of the Zionist Commision to Palestine, and was particularly interested in the cultural aspect of Jewish nationalism and the Hebrew revival. He published several translations of Ahad Ha-am's work and wrote Studies in Jewish Nationalism (1920) and Essays on Ancient Greek Literature (1951; in Hebrew).