America's War in Vietnam: A Short Narrative History [Paperback]

Larry H. Addington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0253213606 | ISBN-13: 978-0253213600

"This book has been long needed: a concise, complete and dispassionate survey of the Vietnam War.... Best of all, the no-nonsense approach answers questions as soon as they arise in the reader's mind." —Kliatt

"If there is such a thing as an objective account [of the Vietnam War], this is it.... If you want to read one book about Vietnam, read this one." —New York Review of Books

A short, narrative history of the origins, course, and outcome of America's military involvement in Vietnam by an experienced guide to the causes and conduct of war, Larry H. Addington. He begins with a history of Vietnam before and after French occupation, the Cold War origins of American involvement, the domestic impact of American policies on public support, and the reasons for the ultimate failure of U.S. policy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Larry H. Addington is Professor Emeritus of History at The Citadel. He has been a guest lecturer at the Naval War College, the Marine Command and Staff College, and at various Army schools. He is author of The Blitzkrieg Era, The Patterns of War Through the Eighteenth Century, and The Patterns of War Since the Eighteenth Century.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (April 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253213606
• ISBN-13: 978-0253213600
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Summary, July 3, 2000

By 

Michael Esnard - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's War in Vietnam: A Short Narrative History (Paperback)

It is a rare book that can effectively summarize a long war and a longer historical process in a short space, yet this book does so with gem-like clarity. It is also extraordinarily evenhanded--a great accomplishment given the depth of feeling surrounding the war. The text weaves various perspectives into the narrative so well that I always felt unimpeded by bias and appreciative of its broad objectivity. The author keeps the larger focus on the main political and military issues which shaped the war yet always includes enough detail to give a strong sense of what was taking place both in policy circles and on the ground. The author has cleary mastered a great deal of material and keeps to the facts, yet through it I was deeply moved. I think there is a subtle tone to the book of compassion for human tragedy that makes it not just highly readable but important to all of us who struggle to understand human events, and particularly this war.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Whole Story--Complete and Concise, June 27, 2000

By 

Amy Mulzet - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's War in Vietnam: A Short Narrative History (Paperback)

I was young while the vietnam war was taking place. I've always wanted to learn more about it. This book tells precisely everything that went on very concisely. It also tells what went on in America during that time and you're able to get the whole picture. I wish that I would have read this a long time ago and I now know what other areas to look into for future reference. My family and I went to view "The Moving Wall" (Vietnam Memorial Duplicate) and I was fortunate and very honored to be able to discuss some situations with Vietnam Vets that were there. It was a great experience and those that I spoke with were impressed with what I knew!

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly what I was looking for, August 3, 2001

By 

Michael (Elmhurst, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's War in Vietnam: A Short Narrative History (Paperback)

The book provides are very thorough accout aobut the tactics employed during the war and the battles that resulted. The level of detail is tremendous and the book is well written. However, I was hoping for a more thorough examination of the sociological effects of the war, particularly here in the US. Maybe there is another book that I can read for this.