Ho [Paperback]

David Halberstam (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1986 | ISBN-10: 0075542234 | ISBN-13: 978-0075542230 | Edition: 2nd

Offering a rare Vietnamese perspective, this brief biography focuses on Ho's political development and the power of his personality in enlisting the support of his countrymen. -- (Softcover)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Much has happened to our understanding of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's Communist Party, and the war in the thirty-six years that elapsed between the first publication and this new edition. This is an interesting read to catch the flavor of the 1960s. (Historian )

A fine and vividly-drawn sketch of Ho Chi Minh's life-long struggle for Vietnamese independence through political mobilization, diplomacy, and warfare. Anyone who wonders why the French and the American armed forces with their overwhelming military superiority could not defeat the Vietnamese resistance should read this book. (Frances FitzGerald ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

David Halberstam (1934D2007) was the author of 20 books, the last 14 of which have been national best-sellers. His most recent book, The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War, is about the Chinese entry into the Korean War. He was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting in Vietnam and was a member of the elective Society of American Historians. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 125 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2nd edition (October 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0075542234
• ISBN-13: 978-0075542230
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,863,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, has chronicled the social, political, and athletic life of America in such bestselling books as The Fifties, The Best and the Brightest, and The Amateurs. He lives in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Know thy enemy, July 13, 2005

By 

Newton Ooi (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ho (Paperback)

Nations at war like to demonize the leader of their enemy as part of propaganda. This is fine as long as the nation's leaders themselves do not believe in their own propaganda, but instead do their homework and get to truly understand their enemy. This crucial step was missing from America's policy makers during the Vietnam War. Every president involved; JFK, LBJ, to Nixon, did not bother to fully understand Ho Chin Minh, the leader of the Vietnamese Communists. This is why books like this one are so important; written by private individuals, they offer unbiased, insightful glimpses at the other's leader.

This book by David Halberstam is one of his less read books, but being so short in length, it is probably the most focused of his books. This book describes the life of Ho, both private and public, his role in the Vietnam War, and his relations with other world leaders and governments, both before, during, and after the Vietnam War. The treatment of his private life is shorted at the expense of covering more of his public life.

The book does a good job of describing his personal traits that made him a leader: patience, self-sacrifice, humility, and foresight. The book also does a good job of contrasting his personality with others he encountered in battle; Western generals, Western soldiers, and Western politicians. The book is also worth reading because it offers a viewpoint of the Vietnam War as seen by Vietnamese, specifically Ho and his leadership.

I highly recommend reading this book; it is short and easy to read. It is also impartial and straight-to-the-point history, as expected from an author like David Halberstam.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENLIGHTENING!, December 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ho (Paperback)

Fast paced reading and enlightening history of "Ho" the person. Builds up to his relationship with the U.S. and our envolvement in his destiny. Excellant reading for opened mined vets.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An insightful biography, December 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ho (Paperback)

Ho Chi Minh was, in many ways, a mysterious figure. This book reveals some of those mysteries. But also, his stalinist tendencies which caused the death of many of his fellow countrymen and women. Although a revolutionary, he was a stalinist in many ways. Halberstam is such a brilliant writer though, its worth a read.