Tim obrien whose rela name is william timothy, is an american novelist, best known for his book the things they carried, published in 1990, which constitutes a collection of linked semiautobiographical stories inspired by obriens experiences in the vietnam war. The final book on your list of books about the vietnam war is 365 days. Based on classified documents and firstperson interviews, a startling history of the american war on vietnamese civiliansamericans have long been taught that events such as the notorious my lai massacre were isolated incidents in the vietnam war, carried out by a few bad apples. This work offers an introduction to the bestknown antiwar movement in united states history, written by veterans of the vietnam war and participants in the movement. In this work, anthony campagna focuses on one aspect of the war s consequences. But what he did was he interviewed the people he was treating and it was one of the great examples of breaking through the statistics. In keeping with the tradition established by past collaborations between the publishing arms of these two entitites, dorling kindersley limited and the smithsonian institution have compiled a history of vietnam that is remarkably thorough and accessible. Richard pena served in vietnam and is now a practicing attorney in austin, texas. The vietnam war the definitive illustrated history by danielramirez.
From the awardwinning historian and filmmakers of the civil war, baseball, the war, the roosevelts, and others. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign relations. It is difficult to commit to one without dwelling on what the others could have offered. One of the most definitive works on the vietnam war, the th valley follows a company of paratroopers as they fight against the north vietnamese. Filled with more than 500 photographs, the vietnam war tells the story of vietnam through powerful images. Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. Vann retired from the army in 1963 after failing to. These are just the names of all the service members killed in the vietnam war or died later from wounds suffered. This is a fantastic anthology of fiction, poems, and stories of the vietnam war.
The vietnam war created in association with the smithsonian institution, this authoritative guide chronicles americas fight against communism in southeast asia during the 1960s and 1970s, and comprehensively explores the people, politics, events, and lasting effects of the vietnam war. He left on the last day of american military involvement in vietnam in march 1973. These include winners of national book awards and pulitzer prizes, both fiction and nonfiction. Honoring those who served in the war at home or abroad, the inside covers of this book feature images of. While overseas, richard served as an or tech in the operating room of vietnam s largest military hospital during the final year of the war. A powerful gift for the military enthusiast, the vietnam war is a stirring visual record of the suffering, sacrifice, and heroism in americas longest and bloodiest conflict of the 20th century. This book was written by a vietnam combat veteran with d1st502nd infantry, 101st aibrone division, mike m60 kelley, who is also an accomplished artist, producing exquisite images of the vietnam war. Compiling insightful maps, ataglance timelines, and incredible archive photography, the vietnam war is an allencompassing showcase of the story of the conflict, and a reflection on modern issues of battle such as prisoners of war and civil rights. More than forty years after it ended, the vietnam war continues to haunt our country.
Rather than taking sides, the book seeks to understand why the war played out the way it did and to clarify its complicated legacy. The wall picture book about a visit to vietnam war memorial. Philip caputo was a marine who later became a very wellknown journalist. How naval intelligence shaped the vietnam war during the vietnam war, u. Almost 40 years after the april 1975 fall of saigon the debate continues. Philip jones griffiths classic account of the war was the outcome of three years reporting, and is one of the most detailed surveys of any conflict.
Another revolutionary telling of the vietnam war, bao ninh s the sorrow of war is reported to have been written against the communist partys wishes. This childrens picture book is about a father and his young sons visit to the vietnam veterans memorial. Vietnam war, 19611975 engineering and construction base development in south vietnam, 19651970 1991, by carroll h. Ken burnss acclaimed and powerful documentary the vietnam war, codirected by lynn novick, is currently airing in 10 parts on pbs, making it perhaps the most definitive. The 696page book covers 2,000 years of vietnamese government, culture and life, from the qin empire in 221 b. The definitive illustrated history collective created in association with the smithsonian institution, this authoritative guide chronicles americas fight against communism in southeast asia during the 1960s and 1970s, and comprehensively explores the people, politics, events, and lasting effects of the vietnam war. Highlights issues of nationalism, culture, gender, and race. Publication date 20171112 usage public domain mark 1. Created in association with the smithsonian institution, this authoritative guide chronicles americas fight against communism in southeast asia during the 1960s and 1970s, and comprehensively. C ompiling insightful maps, ataglance timelines, and incredible archive photography, the vietnam war is an allencompassing showcase of the story of the conflict, and a reflection on modern issues of battle such as prisoners of war and civil rights. The vietnam reader, edited by stewart onan and also out in october, from holt, is a wideranging anthology of fiction and nonfiction, songs, photography and poetry about the war, little of which overlaps with the above two volumes. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. First published in 1971, philip jones griffiths account of the vietnamesear was the outcome of three years reporting and is a detailed survey of theonflict. The vietnam war is an essential historic reference to help humanity learn the lessons of suffering and sacrifice from one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century.
Filled with information that has not been previously revealed about the vietnam war, this novel is a fastpaced page turner that will keep the reader captivated from beginning to end. The definitive illustrated history, smithsonian and dk publishing 2017 959. In my mind its one of the first really wellwritten books that describe the moral ambiguities and difficulties faced by a young marine officer in this particular war. The definitive illustrated history dk, smithsonian institution on. Maya lin revisits the wall she designed before ceremonies to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the vietnam veterans memorial. Rather than taking sides, the book seeks to understand why the war happened the way it did, and to clarify its complicated legacy. Created in association with the smithsonian institution, this authoritative guide chronicles americas fight against communism in southeast asia during the 1960s and 1970s, and comprehensively explores the people, politics, events, and lasting effects of the vietnam war. One of the most profound and devastating novels ever to come out of vietnam or any war sebastian junger, new york times thirty years in. But as awardwinning journalist and historian nick turse demonstrates in this groundbreaking investigation. A great, big colourful book in the dorling kindersley tradition. Discover the best vietnam war history in best sellers. Taking a global perspective, the vietnam war remembers the people who served and features full spreads about prisoners of war, anti war protest movements, and the significance of.
Tell me about the first book on your list, a rumor of war 1977. This is simply a fantastic look at the vietnam war through a vets eyes. It is only now, fifteen years after its end, that the full impact of the vietnam war on the united states can begin to be measured. The vietnam war the definitive illustrated history.
Booktopia buy vietnam war books online from australias leading online bookstore. Sheehan, who covered the vietnam war for the new york times, won the pulitzer prize for chronicling the unusual story of john paul vann. A slew of war memoirs stand with the best writing of that genre. The testimony in this book, sometimes detached and reflective, often raw and. The vietnam war has scarred, transformed and inspired countless writers and art practitioners. This war followed the first indochina war 194654 and was fought between north vietnam supported by the soviet union, china and other communist alliesand the government of south vietnam. Lavishly illustrated, it acts as a release valve from all of those grim firstperson narratives on the subject of the vietnam war.
During the four years following passage of the tonkin gulf resolution aug. War story by jim morris is the definitive special forces. Well printed on fine paper, with a multitextured cover, it will look grand on any coffee table. All this week, i will be marking the fiftieth anniversary of those marines going ashore at da nang by posting my favorite vietnam war books. Layers of political organization, military strategy, offensive tactics, and logistical operations shaded the struggle to win in south vietnam. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to. The best vietnam war books five books expert recommendations. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. The economic consequences of the vietnam war anthony s. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign. Oct 31, 2017 the things they carried, by tim obrien, was the first book about the vietnam war that i read.
A rumor of war, philip caputo to call it the best book about vietnam is to trivialise it. Feel how this story takes you back in time during carsons experiences. The things they carried was rhw influential work about vietnam war written by tim obrien. Jan 14, 2016 without reconciliation, wars truth will be impossible to remember, and wars trauma impossible to forget. Author wiknik was a sharp, intelligent 19year old draftee, who came across an honorable, if a shortterm way of avoiding service in vietnam. The novel explores the war from the perspective of a former north vietnamese soldier, kien, and is a nonlinear telling of how the conflict transformed himself, his country and those around him. On one side the prevailing argument says the struggle in southeast asia was a lost cause right from the start. The brownwater navy in the mekong delta, vietnam in 1970. This one is a great book in a good series as i was in the vietnam war, however, someone in the proofreading department screwed up big time. Filled with more than 500 photographs, the vietnam war tells the story of vietnam through powerful.
These 10 books, in addition to the ones below, were recommended multiple times. The necessary war, michael lind if you only read one book on the vietnam war, this is it. The book below is one of the best books i have read about the vietnam war although this title is mainly about the australian invlovement in this conflict which not many people are aware of. In memoriam a crowd gathers at the dedication of the vietnam veterans memorial in november 1982. Among the most positive is an abundance of topnotch books, many written by veterans of the conflict. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Refreshingly, he barely mentions american presidents, politicians, generals, and war policy makers.
The war in vietnam that was never reported, published by austin macauley, was released on february 28, 2018. A companion to the vietnam war contains twentyfour definitive essays on americas longest and most divisive foreign conflict. Opinion your favorite books on vietnam the new york times. The definitive illustrated history publishing april 4, 2017 chronicles americas fight against communism in southeast asia during the 1960s and 1970s, and comprehensively explores the people, politics, events, and lasting effects of the vietnam war. Henry kissinger has written a new book, ending the vietnamwar. How naval intelligence shaped the vietnam war government.
New book explores history of the vietnamese cornell chronicle. The following 42 pages are in this category, out of 42 total. The vivid accounts of 5 men and women span the entire history of the vietnam conflict from its murky origins in the 1940s to the chaotic fall of saigon in 1975. Gripping new novel provides unique perspective on vietnam war. How vietnam was exposed as a dirty war nick turses exhaustive new book on americas war crimes gives short shrift to those who helped uncover themshares. A divisive and destructive event, the vietnam war was the worlds first televised war, and photographs from its front lines powerfully convey war s complex reality.
This book is the best, most accurate portrayal of the life of an infantryman in vietnam. It represents the best current scholarship on this controversial and influential episode in modern american history. Beautifully written with magnificent images, this is a masterful work that is certain to launch a new national conversation. A few years ago when i began teaching the american literature of the vietnam war, i tried to find an anthology my students could usea book that collected all the major work in one place. Created in association with the smithsonian institution, the vietnam war. Because during the war i mostly helped men avoid the draft, i didnt know the ones who came. List of books and articles about vietnam antiwar movement. Enough books novels and nonfiction have been published about the vietnam war and its aftermath to fill a modestsized library. Mar 17, 2017 in 1985 asia society held a conference on the literature of the vietnam war, which it said was the first gathering of major american authors who engaged with the conflict. Taylor is the author of the new book, a history of the vietnamese cambridge concise histories. The bunkers, submarine bases, missile silos, airfields and listening posts from the worlds most secretive conflict 1 nov 2019 by robert grenville. Jan 10, 2018 a new book suggests yes and offers advice for the war in afghanistan. The definitive collection of fiction and nonfiction on the war 1998 by stewart onan.
Even though this book is called rolling thunder, it is not a history lesson of this operation but an entertaining story about a fictional marine captain valentine jordan, a fighter pilot assigned to a f4j phantom ii squadron during the controversial vietnam war. Compiling insightful maps, ataglance timelines, and incredible archive photography, the vietnam war is an allencompassing showcase of the story of the conflict, and a reflection on modern issues of battle such as prisoners of war and civil rights detailed descriptions of every episode, from operation. Diving into a book about the vietnam war can be a daunting task. Aug 19, 2019 author eve bunting has a gift for writing about serious subjects in a way that makes them accessible to young children, and she has done just that in her picture book the wall. Oct 27, 2009 the book below is one of the best books i have read about the vietnam war although this title is mainly about the australian invlovement in this conflict which not many people are aware of. The definitive illustrated history dk 01 by dk isbn. A question posed by a student on memorial day 2010, requesting more information on a particular soldier whose name is on the vietnam veterans memorial, turned into a major project for lisa lark, a dearborn, mich. Opinion the long history of the vietnam novel the new. Erik fleming, strategic book publishing and rights co. Vietnam war cold warera proxy war that occurred in vietnam, laos, and cambodia from 1 november 1955 to the fall of saigon on 30 april 1975. The united states and vietnam, 19501975 by george herring, 1978 this book is widely viewed as the best concise history of the vietnam war. But in 1983, vo nguyen giap and vo bam, north vietnams chief strategists during the war, admitted that the countrys communist party decided in 1959 to begin. Showing us the true horrors of the war as well as offering a studyf vietnamese folk life, the author argues against the dehumanizing power ofechnology and highlights the arrogance and hypocrisy of americanmperialistic attitudes.
Nguyens work is a powerful reflection on how we choose to remember and forget. Herring, a former university of kentucky history professor, covers virtually every important event in the conflict, presenting the war objectively and assessing its legacy. This was a book i read before i went to vietnam and it was written by an army doctor who wasnt even there. Del vecchio writes as vividly of the landscape and jungle warfare as he does of the bonds, racial tensions, and doubts amongst the u. Appy has created a staggering and monumental oral history of the type that is created only once in a generation. If you are doing research on the vietnam war this book is a musthave. First edition in wrappers, preceded only by first hardcover edition, published the same year. The book plunges us into the chaos and intensity of combat, even as it explains the rationale that got us into vietnam and kept us there for so many years.
While the list of books about this conflict includes hundreds of enlightening works, we pick ten of the best texts offering illuminating perspectives on the war, its context and the effects it had on vietnam. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to historical and even dark comedy. Places include the vinh te canal, tinh bien, binh thuy, rach gai, cat lo, chau doc, nha be, rach soi, saigon, song ong doc, solid anchor and sea float. But his experience in the vietnam war made a reasonable choice.