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Summary
From the award-winning historian and filmmakers of The Civil War, Baseball, The War, The Roosevelts, and others: a vivid, uniquely powerful history of the conflict that tore America apart--the companion volume to the major, multipart PBS film to be aired in September 2017.
This audiobook is an incredible display of extensive research and empathy. Keep your tissues close by, as it will surely evoke deep emotions and profound contemplation.
This audiobook offers a wealth of intricate information and provides valuable perspectives. Although the TV series was informative, it would have enhanced the experience to incorporate authentic recordings of presidents and witnesses instead of relying solely on the narrator's voice. The main narrator did a commendable job, but the secondary narrator who read the "essays" had an unsettling vibe.
I was seeking insights into the impact of the Vietnam War on the world and the evolution of strategies and tactics. This audiobook fulfilled my expectations in that regard.
The authors aimed to provide a comprehensive timeline, which meant they had to cover the actions of various individuals. They divided the narrative into ten chronological sections. If I hadn't been familiar with the major events that followed, I would have never anticipated them.
The narrator's performance was so engaging that I found myself fully immersed in the larger story. It was fascinating to learn about the numerous heroic individuals from decades ago. However, what truly stood out was the rarity of leaders who possess a clear perception of reality and make wise decisions.
If you're into this topic, you gotta check out the original epic masterpiece, "Vietnam, a History" by Stanley Karnow, before diving into this one. And don't forget to watch the PBS 13 part documentary, "Vietnam, a Television History," that Karnow made to go with the book. Both were done back in the 80s and really laid the groundwork for this series. They've been used in classrooms and assigned as reading for students for ages.
After finishing this book, I really appreciated the updated perspective and new interviews. Bảo Ninh, Nguyễn Thanh Việt, and some other guys really brought something useful to the table. I just wish they could've interviewed Robert Garwood, an American POW who's still alive and stayed in Vietnam until 1979. But it seems like he wasn't interested in participating with Burns on this project.
It's crazy how we seem to have forgotten all the lessons we learned from the Cold War. We're never gonna find our way out of the Middle East. History doesn't repeat itself, but man, it sure does rhyme sometimes!
I gained a wealth of knowledge about Vietnam, a war that I had limited understanding of before. It seems that the book may have a slight bias towards the communists, but despite that, I found it to be an enjoyable read. I would certainly recommend it to anyone intrigued by delving into America's least favored war.
I didn't find many parts of 'The Vietnam War: An Intimate History' to be engaging, and it gave me the impression that it was biased towards a liberal viewpoint. I stopped listening after a couple of hours and later realized that it was a PBS production, which explains the liberal perspective. It was quite underwhelming.
This book on the Vietnam War is the top-notch one I've come across in my extensive reading of 30+ books on the subject. It's skillfully written and the narration is on point. I highly recommend giving it a go.
This audiobook is absolutely amazing when it comes to recounting the Vietnam War. It contains numerous heartbreaking stories and anecdotes that anyone studying American History should definitely explore.
However, if you've already watched the Ken Burns documentary, you'll find that this audiobook is essentially a companion piece to it, providing a detailed manuscript without the emotionally impactful firsthand interviews and visuals.
If you don't have access to the documentary series or prefer to avoid the war imagery, then I highly recommend getting this audiobook. However, if you have the means and the emotional resilience, I suggest watching the documentary series instead, as it seems to be the intended medium for this content. Either way, you won't be disappointed. Personally, I returned the audiobook because I already own the documentary series and can't afford to invest in both as much as I would like to.
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