The Greatest Generation

As a baby boomer I have always been interested in the lives of the greatest generation including my own parents. This book filled me with awe at the bravery and loyalty displayed by this generation. Although I shed a few tears , I also laughed aloud and welled up with pride to be an American after hearing the individual heroic stories that unified our country at a time when unity was what was most needed. It was nostalgic while at the same time prophetic in revealing the void that could be left in our country if we don’t heed the examples of faith, of courage and of the determined national optimism of those who belonged to the greatest generation. Thank you Tom Brokaw for this book which could instill hope in our future for this great country if shared with the younger generations. My plan is to share with my children and grandchildren and would like to recommend all who read it to do the same.

Insightful of the varied people who served during WWII. They came from every corner of our great nation. White and people of color, rich, poor, single, married, male and female answering the call to defend freedom and our country.Unfortunately, some of the wounds at that time still persist. Racism, polarization and wrong thinking about the one’s different from us.Walk a mile in their shoes.

This should be required reading in high school or college. Sadly the last couple of generations have an almost complete lack of awareness of the sacrifices made by “The Greatest Generation “.

A really good read. Short chapters make it like a book of short stories about people who had values, discipline, and resilience. Winners, not whiners.

A recent storm in Memphis, TN knocked my power out for 6 days. How fitting that during this period of no air conditioning, Satellite Television or DVDs, one of the books I selected to read was The Greatest Generation. As one generation removed from a family raised on a farm in Missouri, I'm very familiar with the work ethic of my grandparents born around the turn of the century.This book was spectacular! Brokaw weaves his descriptions of what the influences of this generation were, mainly the Depression, with their stories of the war, but also their stories of coming back home and how they lived their lives. Now that they had rescued the world from a tyrant, they came back to America and built a new country filled with conveniences not previously imagined by our rural population.Brokaw does a good job of covering the many different factions of the generation, not just the soldiers. After covering stories of soldiers, he switches gears and covers stories of the women left behind in America and what their lives were like. He also spent a great deal of time covering minorities such as African-American, native Indians, Hispanic, and Japanese Americans. These are fascinating stories and allow the reader to visualize the problems these minorities faced and how they overcame adversity.The most touching chapter for me was the stories of the two girls that married and the husbands immediately were shipped overseas. Both ladies had babies that never met their father. Some of the chapters are just OK but some may bring you to tears as it did me. When I reached one of the final chapters that was titled "Famous People" it felt inappropriate to read this like these "famous people" needed a special chapter when the previous chapters had clearly shown the ultimate sacrifices made by real Americans. I debated stopping right there. After a day, I picked the book back up and read through this section and I'm glad I did even though I didn't find these stories as touching. Some of these people had excellent stories of valor also and the fact they are famous should not be held against them as they sacrificed also. And that is the theme of this book; a generation that made the ultimate sacrifice so that the remainder of us could live excellent lives.The fact that this generation of soldiers felt no need to come back and brag about their exploits is really amazing given the "me" first environment we now find ourselves in. My father-in-law passed away this year and he never mentioned the war although I was aware he was twice wounded in the European effort. So, knowing his days were numbered, I brought the subject up one day in front of his family. He had no problem talking of his exploits but it was really unfulfilling how he described it. It was no longer a big event to him. Just something that happened a long time ago. He was much more interested in the latest football game on television or the four children he raised while working in a blue-collar job.READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! Recognize the responsibility we have to live to this great standard.Addendum: After rereading some of the negative reviews on this book I'm compelled to at least mention them. It seems the negative reviews fall into journalistic complaints, political dislikes for Brokaw, or jealousy that their generation was not honored. I was actually surprised by the venom directed a the book and there are substantial reviews like this. It does not change my opinion although I certainly honor their beliefs. True, he is not the best writer. But I did not let that limit my emotional attachment to the sacrifices made for some of these people. One writer mentioned watching Saving Private Ryan instead. I have watched that movie repeatedly and feel it is an artistic masterpiece of reflecting the brutality of war.I don't think Brokaw was trying to compare generations. He's just saying that what this generation was called on to do, ie, depression followed by a World War, is deserved of an honor. I am a 49 year old boomer. I do not believe that our generation would be as dedicated to the task although there are massive numbers that would are still there. I'm certainly happy to admit that I'm glad I did not have to fight this type war.I respect everyone's opinion but still felt thrilled to read about the sacrifices made for later generations. I hope to visit Normandy soon and maybe in some way honor this great sacrifice.

When you read the book you are thrown back intoHistory by peoples recollections of how life was shaped by morals, hard work, education, seeing life tragedies and building personal, spiritual, financial and educational foundations along with ethics and morals- things have have been lost over time due to comforts and ease of life.If you want to understand the true understanding of that America was built on- women in the military, diversity, this is a great easy read. I bought for my kids so they can read as they get older and build their own understanding of what true values are (outside of Lear ing from parents). HS and college is always tough because people don’t know who they are or where they came from. I feel this can built a great understanding because of peoples willingness to do the right thing, fight the enemy, raise a family and get educated.Oh- and I had a crush on Tom Brokaw since I was a little girl

Haven’t read it. It’s a gift for my grandson

I enjoyed this book. Easy to read and the stories were well worded.

Not as engaging as the companion book on the British experience, and a bit repetative in my opinion. It does make a valuable counterpoint though, as it's the experiences of a nation which went away to war, as compared to a nation where war came to them.

I am thoroughly enjoying this book. Tom Brokaw has interviewed a wide range of fascinating war veterans. As he says they were the 'greatest generation'

What a book! Excellent reading and so true. Large book with black and white photos. Very quick delivery, exceedingly cheap making it excellent value. A keepsake.

My husband always enjoyed Tom Brokaw's reports and asked for this book. He has enjoyed reading about things that he remembers from the past and learning things he did not know before about.

Having survived the rain of bombs in Hamburg , Germany , when I was 12 years old , I found this book exceptional in capturingthe feelings of the times. There are experiences on both sides of the war that one can read about or know about but having been there is quite another thing.