The Elephant and the Tiger: The Full Story of the Vietnam War [Hardcover]

Wilbur H. Morrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1990

In this account into the events of the Vietnam War, the author contends that the skill and bravery of the US armed forces was undermined by duplicitous and wrong-headed leadership from Washington. The failure of the political and military commands to appreciate the lasting effects of the geopolitical history of this troubled region led to fatal misunderstandings.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This history might be read as a conservative counterpart to Stanley Karnow's Vietnam (LJ 10/1/83). Morrison argues that U.S. defeat in Vietnam was the product of an unrealistic fear of China and the Soviet Union, resulting in a strategy of reaction and attrition. Civilian authorities, especially MacNamara, insisted on "micromanaging" the war. Military commanders were unwilling to back their doubts by resigning. Ill-advised U.S. attempts at nation-building kept South Vietnam from developing its own identity. Morrison is better at articulating positions than supporting them. He never proves his key point that China and Russia were bluffing. His critique of the war's conduct too often depends for support on descriptions of battlefield heroism or sacrifice. Pathos, however, is no substitute for analysis.
- Dennis E. Showalter, Colorado Coll., Colorado Springs
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Morrison

Product Details

• Hardcover: 755 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (June 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870526235
• ISBN-13: 978-0870526237
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,864,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stark, comprehensive, straightforward evaluation, January 13, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elephant and the Tiger: The Full Story of the Vietnam War (Paperback)

The Elephant And The Tiger: The Full Story Of The Vietnam War by Wilber Morrison is a stark, comprehensive, straightforward evaluation of the Vietnam War, its military battles and its aftermath. Meticulous and sparing no details, it covers the beginnings of the war with a brief overview of ancient Vietnamese history to the treatment America's Vietnam veterans received upon their return home. The Elephant And The Tiger is a very highly recommended reference about a grave conflict that forever changed nations and a welcome addition to the growing library of American military history in general, and American involvement in the Vietnam conflict in particular.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared!! Not for the casual reader!, November 21, 2002

By 

M. Fonseca "carmarthen" (Thunder) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Elephant and the Tiger: The Full Story of the Vietnam War (Paperback)

Altough the book does not use a complex language, you must bear in mind, when going for it, that it's really a HUGE book. It's about 638 pages with SMALL type lyrics, believe me!!

Of course Morrison does his costumary excellent job. If you have only one shot at figuring out what Vietnam was all about, this is the book to get. But remember: be patient while reading it! I can take a long time...

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really complete. Overwhelmingly detailed, November 21, 2002

By 

PATHERSON - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elephant and the Tiger: The Full Story of the Vietnam War (Paperback)

Oh boy, this is heavy reading. The book deals about everything in the Vitnam War. The funny thing is that Morrison is consiedered to be a great military AVIATION writer, but this book delaing with a much more complex subject is very entertaining, objective and complete.

Great read, albeit a hard one.