The Vietnam War For Dummies [Paperback]

Ronald B. Frankum Jr. (Author), Stephen F. Maxner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0764554808 | ISBN-13: 978-0764554803 | Edition: 1

The Vietnam War was unlike any war the United States ever fought. Unlike the previous wars of the twentieth century, the Vietnam War left the United States divided, and it continues to influence U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Without question, the Vietnam Syndrome that emerged after the war's end altered the policies of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and the lessons learned from the war were applied to later conflicts in the Persian Gulf.

The Vietnam War story is one that has never been fully understood and probably never will be explained to the satisfaction of those who experienced it – and it will continue to spark debate and controversy for each new generation. The Vietnam War For Dummies attempts to tell that complicated story in a way that is easily accessible to everyone. If you've never read much about the Vietnam War, this book provides a general overview that covers all the major players and significant turning points and events of the war. If you're a history buff, this book can serve as a compact reference guide to the major subjects of the war.

The Vietnam War For Dummies covers the following topics and more:

• The events that led up to the war, from the beginning of the Cold War to when U.S. troops moved into Vietnam
• A detailed examination of the conflict between North and South Vietnam
• How U.S. presidents handled Vietnam, from Eisenhower to Nixon
• Analyses of the major battles of the war, including the Tet Offensives and the Fall of Saigon
• The effect of the war on American life and culture, including an exploration of the protest movement
• Thorough analyses of U.S. and Vietnamese battle tactics
• Top Ten lists debunking myths surrounding the war and highlighting issues and concerns that have arisen from the war

Remember that having an understanding of the Vietnam War means knowing that its history is based on perspectives. For any one book that argues a point a specific way, at least two other books will interpret that point another way. You can use The Vietnam War For Dummies as a guide for beginning your examination of one of the most important events in U.S. history.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Examine the controversies surrounding the war

Follow the conflict as it was fought from the ground, air, and sea

This easy-to-follow guide provides a clear overview of the significant events and a Who’s Who of the key figures. You’ll focus on the crucial moments – from the arrival of the first U.S. military advisor to the Tet Offensive to the fall of Saigon – and see how the war played out in U.S. culture, including its movies, music, and media.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

About the Author

Ronald B. Frankum, Jr. is the author of Silent Partners: The United States and Australia in Vietnam, 1954--1968. Stephen F. Maxner served in the U.S. Army as a mechanized infantry platoon leader.

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764554808
• ISBN-13: 978-0764554803
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #913,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AUTHORITATIVE,WELL ORGANIZED,SURPRINSINGLY SCHOLARLY, January 19, 2004

By 

Antonio De La Cruz (Bayamon, PR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vietnam War For Dummies (Paperback)

Maybe the publishers of these series should take the "dummies" title from this and other books in this series.This is anything but a "dumb" book.

THE VIETNAM WAR FOR DUMMIES...It may be for "dummies" but everyone from lay persons to the very informed and familiarized with the subject matter will benefit from owning a copy.Also,it's ideal for school and college both for student and educator.

This book certainly has far more serious and important contributions to make to further understanding of the Vietnam War than the rather humorous title may suggest.Reading the book I couldnt find the bias alleged by he other reviewer.The book even gives you different interpretations of certain issues that are still open to debate.

In fact there is the warning to the reader that it is advised to do research,ample esearch because ofr the many axes that are still being grinded you may find totally contradictory historical interpretations.further research sources are offered too.

But opinion is one thing and hard facts are another.And you can have your own set of opinions but you are not entitled to your own set of facts.There is a part regarding myths and they shoot them down using historical documents and recent investigation rather than hysterical proselityzing so common every time Vietnam is dealed with.And believe me:right,middle of the road,left or just plainly "dummy",you will see many pre conceptions crashing in flames.Oh!And be mature and accept it.Period.

If you believe US soldiers were dope smoking,murdering criminals or that South Vietnam only fell because of the press or the protesters you will see those challenged.Even there is a double myth dissected in some chapters and the top ten myths:that the Vietnam War was not lost/the Vietnam War was lost! That's a good one,see for yourself.

Ronald B Frankum and Stephen F Maxner are authoritative,scholarly,detailed but manage to use plain English and organize the material in such a way that what it comes is an indipensable book which could be used as reference,introduction for further study and a very complete historical account by itself.

They should be able to produce this little jewel:both are very involved with the Texas based Vietnam War experience project that collects documents of all types regarding the war to create a national archive.I think THE VIETNAM WAR FOR DUMMIES is the best source for up to date scholarship available now.
Buy it with confidence.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, July 31, 2009

By 

Anne (MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vietnam War For Dummies (Paperback)

This book was recommended to me as excellent preparation for an exam on the subject. Not knowing a great deal about the Vietnam War when I began the book, I found the text poorly organized, weakly written, and dotted with typos and editor's comments--a departure from the standard set by many Dummies books. When I delved deeper into my studies by reading other histories of the war, I noticed that the Dummies book leaves out many relevant facts in such a way that American actions are presented as more honestly presented and reasonable than the record demonstrates them to have been, the NVA and the NLF (the book uses Diem's epithet "VC") are conflated, the genesis of the NLF in the Viet Minh and Diem's abuses are either ignored or glossed over, and the North Vietnamese are presented as evil communists manipulating the U.S. A more balanced, thorough, and honest treatment of this complex subject is called for.

Incidentally, near the end of the book there is a list of 10 "myths" that the authors intend to puncture, but at least one of those so-called myths (higher rates of drug/alcohol abuse among Vietnam veterans than among their peers) appears to be a documented fact. All in all, I wish I could get a refund.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passed the DANTES exam with this book!, August 16, 2008

By 

Adam Bourque - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Vietnam War For Dummies (Paperback)

I used this book exclusively to study for the DSST Vietnam War exam. I scored a 59. The passing score is 48. I highly recommend this book as a reference to help study for passing the Vietnam War DANTES exam! The book was easy to read and very well organized.