America's Longest War : The United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975 with Poster Paperback – Import, 16 December 2001

This is a good study of how we got tangled in going to war in Vietnam

Originally coming out in 1979, this, by my reckoning, is the fourth print of a definitive work which tracks successive American administrations between 1950 - 1975 in thier attempts near and failures in dealing with the issue of the civil war between North and South Vietnam.George C Herring concentrates his book on the plans and reaction of the various administrations; this approach makes for absorbing reading. Although he covers the events talking place in Vietnam, he swiftly takes the reader back to the Whitehouse to record the response. So although there are no heroes and Herring does not make excuses for anyone, American policy does become clearer; in fact in the broad sweep of history it would seem one facet Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon had in common; a wish not to become involved in Vietnam while at the same time endeavouring to impose American policy upon that land; a common historical tragedy, the only difference being the sheer scale.The style is clear, the facts easy to follow, and the writer's conclusion straight to the point.Recommended to anyone with an interest in the Vietnam Wars, and also those studying the history of American foreign policy

Excellent book about the Vietnam war. Highly recommended.

I lived through the Vietnam War. I was not a soldier, though I did serve in the Navy during that time. But was a student, an undergrad 63-67, and a grad 67-70. I lived through the Tonkin Gulf episode, the Tet Offensive, the invasion of Cambodia. I was part of the demonstrations and discussions. Herring's book brings it all back in vivid detail. Yes, he talks a lot about what was going on in government. Most of which was secret to we citizens. But he also talks about the frustration of the soldiers, the politicians, the citizens. The book brought back to me the emotions of those years. Those of you who lived through it may not want to remember. Then don't read it. But I found a kind of reconciliation to relive those times, to re-experience those emotions, to remember the anger and disbelief about what our country was doing. No American President, from Truman on, was innocent. We were constantly deceived about what was going on, what our goals were. Herring makes it all clear. I've read quite a bit about this period, but this was the clearest narrative I've yet encountered.

The map of Vietnam and surrounding areas was not included.