The Vietnam War Paperback – March 24, 2020

With this book Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns have presented a very balanced account of America’s Vietnam War, but it is much more than that. The story begins with the French colonization of Vietnam in the 1850s and ends with the fall of Saigon in April of 1975. It actually ends with an examination of how the war is remembered in both the US and in Vietnam. Very well written, liberally adorned with stunning photographs, this large volume is both a deep sweeping coverage of the First and Second Indochina Wars and a beautifully produced piece of art. And, once the First Indochina War concludes, the story incorporates the personal stories of some of those directly involved. We hear from Americans and Vietnamese, civilians and soldiers, supporters and detractors, those from the winning side and those from the losing side. It really is the product of years of research and interviews, stunning to contemplate and a joy to read.In some respects the book gives a better account of the developing history than the film it is a “companion” to. The reader will get a much better understanding of the changing Vietnamese government as the French desperately attempted to establish some sort of legitimacy within Vietnam and the transition of that government into the Republic of Vietnam under Diem.I think this book will become a standard text on the history of the Vietnam War but I do have a criticism. My quibble is with a relatively small portion of the text and it really has nothing to do with the story. That is my quibble…“Kennedy and What Might Have Been.” Why is this chapter included in this book? I find it interesting that after reviewing the diverse panoply of historiography Burns and Ward could not stay away from one of the counterfactual, what-if, perspectives that seems to be a real favorite among some historians: Kennedy would not have gone full and outright war on Vietnam. He was too smart, he was too good a guy, Camelot and all that. Well Kennedy might have inherited the war from Truman and Eisenhower but he is the one who began to Americanize the war. He is the one who sent something like seventeen thousand American military personal to operate as advisors to the RVNAF. He sent helicopter companies with the necessary pilots and crews. Americans were now directly involved in combat operations. Americans were dying in Vietnam and Kennedy kept all that secret from the American public. That is a big commitment to walk away from. American prestige was on the line and Kennedy had made several eloquent speeches proclaiming that America would “pay any price” to defend against communist aggression. After Truman, many Americans automatically believed that Democrats were reflexively soft on communism; it was in their political DNA. For Kennedy to walk away from Vietnam after ramping up the military commitment and eliminating Diem would have raised a big political ruckus. He would have had some explaining to do. History would also have viewed him harshly after supporting the coup and murder of Diem and his brother only to walk away from the mess that policy created. Diem’s blood is on Kennedy’s hands. I do happen to think Kennedy to have been a good president: the Peace Corps, commitment to land a man on the moon and bring him home alive; but please stop with the Kennedy was too pure, good and foresighted enough to involve America in a shooting war in Asia. This chapter is nothing more than fantasy. It is not history, it is fable. And, my only criticism of Mr Burns work: this is an example of ax-grinding, not the impartial umpire calling balls and strikes (two metaphors Burns frequently used during the speaking tour, in the run-up to release of the film, to characterize his approach). Truman, made a tremendous mistake by supporting French colonialism. Eisenhower supported that same mistake then went all-in with Diem. Johnson sent in the ground troops and ramped up the death and destruction. But we should give ol’ Kennedy a pass because he would have…We don’t know what he would have done! We know what he did and it was an exponential increase over what his predecessors had allowed. He gets no pass from me.Since this is really not part of the story it can be ignored and does not change my rating of this monumental work.The Vietnam War was a tragic mistake of enormous proportions. The death and destruction wrought, ending in failure, allows very little redeeming consequence. We did learn some important lessons but those lessons are easily forgotten. Ken Burns and his partner Lynn Novick would like to start a new conversation about the war. I think that can only be a good thing. I really hope it happens, even if on a small scale. We need to review the lessons to be learned from that awful war.I am glad of one thing. We seem to have thoroughly learned to not blame our valiant warriors for the blunders of our leaders.

This is a quite interesting and depth filled book about the various aspects of the Vietnam War from the very beginning regarding French colonialism and Japanese invasion to the French trying to assert domination and control over its former colony of Vietnam but also the other countries of SE Asia including Laos and Cambodia. Then comes the US assistance to the Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh and then the US decided to support the French colonialists to retaking and retaining their possession from 1946 to 1954. Of course afterwards and the defeat of the French the US entered the conflict to deter communism and advance Free World principles in South Vietnam as well as the other two former French colony.I've read probably 50 books and watched 15 to 20 long documentaries about the Vietnam War and our involvement in the US during the WW II era, with the French and then with South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 and then afterwards with evacuating hundreds of thousands of people from those countries. Its well researched and its generally easy to read if you're decent or better at reading. Its roughly the same information as the TV Series that aired on PBS in the fall of 2017 which had been a few years since I watched that series but it gets to the point and Ken Burns.Its 700 odd pages but a lot of information obviously that I didn't know about or read in books by Karnow and other authors. Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns done exhaustive amount of research on this book and did a lot of yeoman's work to bring it to publication and we are all better for this historical perspective and factual reference to the various aspects of the Vietnam War which has been America's longest war and a war that still reverberates in the halls of Congress, White House and various government agencies including the Department of Defense.I think its a must have book and at the less than 20 dollars less than a meal for 2 at some fast food place and you can actually learn something valuable in regard to your historical knowledge of one of the defining periods of the 20th century US history but also Southeast Asian history. Definitely have to give it 5 stars.

Great insight into a very misunderstood war

Gave this as a gift. They really liked it.

Born in the early 60's, our high school history books didn't cover this war. The story was too fresh...and not yet complete. The author did a magnificent job of covering the aspects of the war, including pre and post. I recently decided to learn more about it. This is the first book I have read on the topic. I recommend it to others like me that were exposed only to a few broad topics concerning it.

15% into the book and I've been enjoying it immensely. The history lesson, especially pre-World War II French colonialism to what happened after World War II is very interesting. I also enjoyed the contrast and comparisons of the North's Ho Chi Minh and the South's Diem and the role they both played in the conflict to come. I was therefore disappointed when the author suddenly abandoned the history lesson and jumped onto the editorial page. I struggled through page after page of the what would Kennedy do if he hasn't been assassinated questions. It basically turns into a comparison of President Kennedy versus President Johnson, one in which Johnson does not fair well. Hopefully my speed reading skills will get me through this difficult chapter. I still have high hopes for this book and if the author will turn back to the history lesson I'll consider my money well spent … UPDATE (albeit a late one). A good read. My apologies if my early review was unappreciated. Just thought I would put a different spin on things. Loved the book and have recommended it.