Editorial Review

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Reviews (133)

Fiasco Is Very Misleading
As a Vietnam veteran, this book is worth reading. That is if one takes it with a grain of salt. I always have problems with a book when the author's historical data is inaccurate. For instance, the number of Israeli casualties he lists during the Yom Kippur War and the final outcome of the conflict was not at all consistent with the known data. Secondly, the number of reporters killed during the Vietnam War were much larger than he stated. Also, Rick's failed to connect the suspicious and untimely death of Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minn. in 2002 and the mailing of anthrax, which was later traced to a US Army facility, to the top media and Democratic figures as a way of coercing them to support Bush's invasion of Iraq. Ricks also failed to mention the fact that the overwhelming majority of the military establishment supports our occupation of Iraq, even though the reasons for being there are bogus to the extreme. Moreover, his odd conclusion to all this is that we should stay there to the bloody end, no matter the outcome, which is nuts to say the least. And finally, Ricks just doesn't understand the real purpose behind our involvement in wars like Vietnam and in Iraq. The Pentagon nor our government could care less about winning the war. Our involvement was never about winning, that's why the military never seriously learned the hard lessons in Vietnam. The whole purpose behind these wars is to prolong the conflicts for as long as possible using the most trumped up reasons, in order that corporations such as Haliburton and Brown and Root, just to name a few, can make billions of profits from the American taxpayer. Win or lose, the real benefactors of Iraq is corporate America. In a very real sense, these corporations not only run the Pentagon but our government as well. Sadly, all the generals and colonels can retire in protest, there will always be others ready to eagerly replace them. War is good business, it always has been and it will always be. Have a nice day.

Missing the bigger picture
As a critical analysis of military operations in the Iraq war and the ongoing troubles that the military faces there, this book is wonderfully deep and rich. Ricks writes in a very straightforward manner and uses rough language in parts, but the book is a easy to read and digest.
The title says it all...
This book is a thoroughly sourced examination of how we went to war in Iraq, how the war is being conducted, and the consequences that the war may have for the US.As a bonus, it is also a gripping, fast-paced narrative,
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Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History, Military    5. Iraq War, 2003    6. Military    7. Military - Iraq War    8. Military - United States    9. Military History - 1990-    10. Military Policy    11. Military history    12. United States    13. United States - 21st Century    14. History / Military / United States   

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook

Reviews (81)

Solid, mostly objective reporting
I have read several of Woodward's previous works, and found this to be a solid piece of reporting, wrapped and shaped to provide believeable characterizations of the players.I was not particularly surprised by much in the book, since a lot of it was clearly in the public domain press and television.But, Woodward has managed to fill in additional details to provide a soild context for the 10-second sound bites we get from the White House, and others.
I'm a Republican and I liked it
I have read all of Bob Woodward's books going back to the early-80's, The Brethren - which was not very good. I have consistently found him to be fact-based and fair in his reporting and analysis. I read this one twice.
What are we going to do about it?
While reading this book, which is about the fifth one I have read that basically says the same things about Bush and this war, and which I agree with and appreciate having authors tell me about, but when is someone going to write a book with advice about what we can do about it? All this talk just frustrates me. The points made in this book cannot fail to upset any reasonable taxpaying US citizen. I love the way they are presented but to be honest, I couldn't finish the book.It was just making me feel sick and helpless to do anything. What can we do besides read books about it? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audiobooks    3. Foreign Policy Formulation    4. Government - Executive Branch    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. History    7. Iraq War, 2003    8. Military    9. Military - General    10. National security    11. Public Affairs & Administration    12. U.S. President    13. United States    14. United States - 21st Century    15. Current Events / General   

Reviews (6)

A Century of Unprecedented Bloodshed
In both relative and absolute terms, the bodycount of the last century was the highest in recorded history. There were 16 conflicts that left more than a million dead, another 6 that claimed from a half million to a million lives, and 14 more that claimed from a quarter to a half million lives; all told, about 167 to 188 million people lost their lives as a result of armed conflict. Harvard historian Niall Fergusson has written a monumental tour-de-force attempting to answer the question: why?
An ambitious work comes up a bit short
Niall Ferguson's The War of the World has received a fair amount of "buzz."And, indeed, as one reads it, the scholarship, the knowledge of historical nuances, and the command of the sweep of the 20th century are all readily apparent.However, in the end, the book is somewhat unsatisfying.
"The horror, the horror"
Niall Ferguson is a godsend. Having read his biography of the Rothchilds, and being a Jewish reader, I delved into The War of the World expecting a good treatment, but not necessarily that much new about these twentieth century conflicts. As the reader from Jerusalem points out, I feel that Niall gives a sentsitive and harrowing portrayal of the Jewish aspect of the Second World War even while covering the whole scope of both World Wars and beyond with abundant detail. Towards the end of this book I felt myself covering my face and even weeping at the sheer horror of the totalitarian regimes - Niall exposes the sheer brutality of both Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia, all the while illustrating all of the other myriad perpetrators of the bloody centuries war as he depicts it, the ordinary citizens across Erurope and Asia, as well as Ally brutality (though he, I think, points out adequately that Alllied brutality mostly had at least a modicum of salubrious intent - that is to simply win the war). Again, I must repeat that Niall really makes the point at the sheer horror of the Nazi genocide against the Jews - the animal barbarity to it - was the culmination of all this violent pull into the modern world. I cannot help but think we, as humanity, have not and will not get past this incident for a long time. I think the years since the Nazi Holocaust, because of the distraction of the Cold War, and current technological post-modernism capitalistic nihilism have masked what still remains an unanswered, unended, scar on all accomplishment and evolution of human culture and civilization. I can also thank Niall for this book, I deeply appreciate its insight, and for pointing out how we still need more answers, more questions, and more education of this period of history. I think this is, perhaps, only the end of the beginning of this search. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Causes    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Military - General    7. Military History - Modern    8. Military Sociology    9. Modern - 20th Century    10. War    11. World - General    12. World politics    13. History / Modern / 20th Century   

Reviews (7)

Good highlights of American Military History
I found this book to provide a good "cliff notes" type of review of American Military history. While of course you could argue for more depth, the author does a very good job of probing earlier American conflicts from the settling of North American by the Europeans up to the Revolutionary war.Sometimes with a book of this style some substance is lost and that is certainly the case.It would be wonderful to hear more about World War I and it seems as though the Bannana Wars of the 1920's draw as much attention as Vietnam did.But a good start to anyone who wants to quickly learn about American Military History.

A great read, despite retired rants:
I presume H.W. Crocker III wrote his crackerjack book for many reasons, one of which must be to set the record -- and the ranters and ravers -- straight.While one is tempted to ignore the shocking errors of some off-the-mark critics, here are the facts, as Crocker lays out in detail:
Too many factual inaccuracies
If you don't mind factual innacuracies, then this book is for you. It reads well; Crocker has a fine writing style, but if you don't mind such things as Desert Storm being called Desert Saber and naming General Miles, not Howard as having bested Chief Joseph, then fine. If a history book has one or two errors that you quickly catch, then you wonder how many more are scattered through the tome that you didn't catch. Who was his editor? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. History, Military    4. Military    5. Military - United States    6. Military History (General)    7. Military history    8. United States    9. United States History (Specific Aspects)    10. History / Military / United States   

Editorial Review

The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought in the winter of 1945 on a rocky island south of Japan, brought a ferocious slice of hell to earth: in a month's time, more than 22,000 Japanese soldiers would die defending a patch of ground a third the size of Manhattan, while nearly 26,000 Americans fell taking it from them. The battle was a turning point in the war in the Pacific, and it produced one of World War II's enduring images: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point.Read more

Reviews (454)

"Flags of Our Fathers" - A Timely Look at a Bloody Battle in Our History
Quite a while ago, Nick Olmsted, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, recommended that I read "Flags of Our Fathers." I am glad that I finally got around to taking his advice. This story struck me on many levels at once, and this seems to be an opportune time to share some of my thoughts about this remarkable book, written by James Bradley, the son of one of the six Marines whose iconic picture of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima riveted a war-weary nation.
A hard book to read.
World War II seems such a long time ago for so many of us. Most Americans today weren't yet born when it took place. For this reason, I believe everyone old enough to comprehend its stories should read this book. James Bradley and Ron Powers have written a heart-pounding record of the thirty-five bloody days it took to wrest Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island) from the Japanese. The photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi (1/400th of a second's space in time) is recognized around the world. The men who raised it: John "Doc" Bradley (the author's father);Harlon Block; Rene Gagnon; Ira Hayes; Franklin Sousley; and Mike Strank became instant heroes (though Block, Sousley and Strank died not long after). Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon lived to tell the tale, though both Hayes and Gagnon would die with the pain of their experiences on Iwo Jima seared into their psyches to the point they could not live with it successfully.
1/400th of a second in time
"It's funny what a picture can do":1/400th of a second in time.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 19    7. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945    8. Marines    9. Military    10. Military - Pictorial    11. Military - United States    12. Military - World War II    13. Military History - World War II    14. Photographs    15. Pictorial works    16. United States    17. World War II    18. History / Military / World War II    19. Photographs: collections    20. Second World War, 1939-1945    21. World history: Second World War   

Subjects:  1. Crusades    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Medieval    6. Middle East - General    7. Military - General    8. History / Medieval   

Features

• Unabridged

Reviews (52)

the art of war
The book itself is not the problem.If I had known it was only two inches square I never would have bought it.I was expecting a regular sized book, regardless of the amount of it's contents

The Art of War
The book is, of course, a great classic and a historicly significant treatise, which requires no review. One could just as soon "review" Clausewitz or Thucydides.
book or matchbox
this book is ridiculously small. although it an interesting bit of information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern - General    2. Military Science    3. Philosophy    4. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (5)

A Fabulous Historical Page Turner!
I am having a hard time putting down Ian Toll's "Six Frigates" to write a female's point of view...this is truly a page turner, an enlightening and very refreshing review of our early naval history which reads like a novel, pulling one into the action and times on each page - even if you are not a naval/history buff.I await with great impatience Mr. Toll's next venture.

A Much-Needed History
Ever since reading Patrick O'Brian's depiction of the battle between the USS Constitution and the HMS Java in "The Fortune of War," I've wanted to learn more about the United States's own naval history from that period.Surprisingly, though, I was unable to find many published works on the subject.Finally, Toll's "Six Frigates" has arrived, and it's exactly the sort of book I was looking for.
Don't read this book at sea!
I read "Six Frigates" sailing south down the coast of Australia from Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday group.
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Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. 19th century    3. Frigates    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Military    7. Military - Naval    8. Military - United States    9. Naval operations    10. Tripolitan War, 1801-1805    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. History / Military / United States    14. Maritime history    15. Naval forces & warfare    16. USA   

Reviews (14)

When's the next book?
This is material I normally would only be half interested in, but I was completely engaged and couldn't put the book down.

Old rememberances
I always liked those comics that took place around the turn of the century or even earlier, and inevitably always ended up showing machines like the one in this book. Wacky guns, ungodly huge everything; completely unresonable in the real world, especially thirty years before their supposed invention, but fantastic on the page. Now I have a book full of these and a stack of comics that I'm suddenly interested in again. Zack might be a regular 'ol crazy fiction writer, but he sure supplied some great material to the artist types out there.

Zack Book Good!
Zack Parsons has done a great job with this book.As a mechanical engineer, I've always been fascinated with WWII era "wonder weapons" and have read a number of books on the subject.Of all of those books, this on is perhaps the only one I would recommend to someone who had only a passing interest in the subject.Zack keeps it light and entertaining throughout - this isn't just good WWII geekery, it's good reading, too.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War II    5. Military Science (Specific Aspects)    6. World War II - Europe    7. Europe    8. Humor / General    9. Inventions & inventors    10. Second World War, 1939-1945    11. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (12)

"Flags of Our Fathers" - A Timely Look at a Bloody Battle in Our History
Quite a while ago, Nick Olmsted, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, recommended that I read "Flags of Our Fathers." I am glad that I finally got around to taking his advice. This story struck me on many levels at once, and this seems to be an opportune time to share some of my thoughts about this remarkable book, written by James Bradley, the son of one of the six Marines whose iconic picture of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima riveted a war-weary nation.
A hard book to read.
World War II seems such a long time ago for so many of us. Most Americans today weren't yet born when it took place. For this reason, I believe everyone old enough to comprehend its stories should read this book. James Bradley and Ron Powers have written a heart-pounding record of the thirty-five bloody days it took to wrest Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island) from the Japanese. The photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi (1/400th of a second's space in time) is recognized around the world. The men who raised it: John "Doc" Bradley (the author's father);Harlon Block; Rene Gagnon; Ira Hayes; Franklin Sousley; and Mike Strank became instant heroes (though Block, Sousley and Strank died not long after). Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon lived to tell the tale, though both Hayes and Gagnon would die with the pain of their experiences on Iwo Jima seared into their psyches to the point they could not live with it successfully.
A full 5 stars !!
It is kind of funny how I came up with this book. I was looking to buy some books on WWII and after deciding on 2 books, I was short 25 cents to recieve the free shipping. So, I looked for another book that was cheep in price and picked this one. Out of the three books I purchased, Flags Of Our Fathers was the first one I read thinking I will get through this before I get to the good ones. Boy was I wrong. This book was just so good! I could not put it down! I would find myself up and still reading at 1am in the morning. I would strongly reccomend this book to anyone! Now I am going to purchase the newest version (bigger with nice cover) to have as a keepsake. Take my word for it, buy the book and you will not regret it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945    5. Military    6. Military - United States    7. Military - World War II    8. Photographs    9. Photography    10. Pictorial works    11. World War II - East Asia    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. History / Military / World War II   

Reviews (10)

JIm Sosnicky
I recently had the chance to hear one of the contributors to this anthology read his stories at an event.Jim Sosnicky was born in 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland.He grew up in Virginia, California, and Colorado.Upon graduation from West Point in 1993, Jim Served as a tank platoon leader in the 1st Infantry Division. His stories are beautiful creations of insight,warmth and brutal honesty.Pick this book up if only for his stories.

An Author's Opinion
Although a biased author, having met, worked with the editor, Andrew Carroll (who accepted no compensation for his efforts), and after having met the Director and others from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as with some of the accomplished authors who assisted in the project, and with fellow military and civilian authors, I can unequivically say this is a work of passion, not profit (all proceeds will go to programs for military families).If you are looking for a reason to buy this book, that should be enough, but the stories herein are a true taste of all aspects of war, from the beginnings, to the battles to the loneliness to the humor to the heartbreak to the comfort of coming home alive.It is a "you are there" book unequalled in it's raw courage and uncensored intimate approach to storytelling, which includes for the first time in this type of book stories from loved ones of those who fight.We don't tell our stories to just anyone.We don't share our emotional privacy freely.But here, for some reason, perhaps simply the catharsis of writing about our experiences, we have shared ourselves for public consumption.These are important stories for every American to read.It presents for the first time with an all volunteer Army in a major war, what we go through.We are you, and you are us.We fight and die freely for us all, and we want you to understand we are just like you in many ways, yet, for reasons as diverse as our personalities, we have chosen to participate directly in defending our nation.Know us; love us or hate us for our choices, but know us who would be your champions.Although I have only read a half dozen of the stories, as they are raw and perhaps too soon drag up dangerous memories, I have also attended a reading of some of the stories in Manhattan with the dramatic expertise of Stephen Lang, Joan Allen, and Matthew Modine, bringing to life the poetry, grace, humor and poigniancy between the covers of this amazing piece of literature.Don't miss it.Share it freely.Read it again and again.Ask questions.Seek true answers, and get to know your soldier/citizens.
Bringing us closer to the experience of the troops
I want to thank Amazon for the opportunity to share my thoughts after finishing this book at 4 am this morning. I have been reading 5-10 entries in this book each night for the last week. I purchased it in an effort to draw closer to and to better understand the experience of my youngest brother, SGT Jason Boesen, Army combat medic currently deployed to Iraq until July 2007, and my brother-in-law, Major Chris Hanna, recently returned from his deployment to Iraq in May 2006. During the course of reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I clenched my fingers around the pages at intervals, afraid to turn the pages for fear of what I might read next. I was enveloped in waves of pride, fear, dismay, grief, love, longing, frustration, and at times, guilt.