Our Vietnam/Nuoc Viet Ta: A History of the War 1954-1975

Here is a sweeping and evenhanded history of the Vietnam War as it waslived by U.S. presidents, Communist leaders, American Marines, Vietcong guerrillas, and South Vietnamese troops. With keen insight, the kaleidoscopic events and personalities of the war are woven into one engrossing, unforgettable narrative.

Customer Reviews:

Power and failure

By E. Grabianowski "zeppelined" - May 27, 2003

This work shows exactly how the United states gradually became involved in Vietnam from the details on up. Other reviews have commented on Langguth's objectivity and accuracy. I will mention the most lasting impression this book left on me:
Most of us have the perception that the great men of power throughout history are made of something different from ourselves. We only see them on the world's stage, made up and prepared; speeches rehearsed; ceremony and station lending gravity to their every word and action. We don't think of them sleepless; with a bit of popcorn stuck in their teeth; complaining to their wives; or any of the other everyday situations that even these men of power experience. And so we assume their minds are always bent to grand designs. We think they hold a certain wisdom that lets them maneuver through politics and war, making decisions based on facts or morality.
Langguth's tale tells a different story. Decisions that cost tens of thousands of lives... read more

Masterful Exploration Of Origins & Progress Of Vietnam War!

By Barron Laycock "Labradorman" - July 14, 2003

One can now add this interesting and informative book to the growing list of recent tomes adding to our understanding of how we can so inextricably drawn into the unfortunate miasma called Vietnam. Certainly, according to able historian A. J. Langguth, there is more than enough culpability in the stream of administrations stretching back as far as the Eisenhower years to add to the coals on the slowly spreading conflagration it eventually became. According to the author, there is little doubt that the Vietnam War wound up being the single most divisive war since the Civil war more than 100 years before. The reasons it split the country into two angry and warring camps were related to its very causes, namely the arrogance and hubris of the WWII generation of those believing in their un power and invulnerability, the so called "best and brightest" that David Halberstam described so beautifully in his book of the same name. Langguth employs a treasure-trove of new material to examine... read more

Revelations

By A Customer - August 22, 2001

I lived through that war and now I see from this book how so many US politicians put their political/election interests above what needed to be done. Langguth clearly spells it out, and I kept reading and reading. The photographs were great. I wish there were a few more maps. And Kissinger!! -- what a terrible manipulative "advisor" repeatedly going after his own glory for the history books; sucking up to the presidents one day and laughing at them behind their backs the next. And then the book shows the military deliberately giving wrong information to the White House. No wonder it was a mess. And the people and soldiers suffered terribly. This book is really valuable. Special thanks to the author. Now I want to read more books about this tragic war.