America's War in Vietnam: A Short Narrative History (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Vietnam has been likened to two rice bowls at the opposite ends of a carrying pole..." (more)
Key Phrases: communist offensive, communist side, South Vietnam, United States, Southeast Asia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"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.

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; First Edition. 1 in number line edition (April 1, 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: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #765,242 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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 (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Response, April 16, 2004

By	Christopher R. Brundage - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first word in this book is "Vietnam," and the last two words are "folly there." That sums up the author's view of American involvement in Vietnam.

I appreciated the brevity of the book; I finished it in only two evenings. The author explains clearly the military problems the US faced there, how they found themselves caught up in a war they couldn't win, at least in a way acceptable to world opinion, but also a war they couldn't disengage from without endangering the South Vietnamese they'd vowed to help. The book could have used more maps and at least some photos.

The author portrays the North Vietnamese in a favorable light, with Ho Chi Minh coming off as almost a hero; the chief culprits are America's policy makers and presidents, particularly Johnson, who were driven by anti-communist paranoia. This is the part that left me puzzled. The US government is certainly a flawed instrument, but I find it hard to believe the North Vietnamese communists were as benign as this book makes them out to be. There was a reason why America was so opposed to communism then, but this book doesn't address it.

So this book was useful for a quick read on the military operations in Vietnam, but less so in addressing (even in brief) the larger issues of US involvement there.

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 (Evans City, PA US) - See all my reviews

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!