Vietnam: A History

Excellent book on Vietnam. Karnow was one of many 'rockstar' reporters who were there and reported during the war. Neil Sheehan and David Halberstam being two note-able others. Meticulously rehearsed, Karnow both gives an excellent historical narrative, along with clear reasons why the US were dragged into the conflict and why they were unable to achieve their objectives. He also sets the historical context, describing the French involvement from the late 18th century. Won the Pulitzer prize and it is easy to see why!

Turned up promptly and a very interesting read. Bought following the recent series on BBC4 for an insight into what happened.

Cool.

The one stop shop for astute analysis of the harsh lessons learnt by France and America who both underestimated the Vietnamese and overestimated themselves. I also thought the exposure of the vulnerability of both sides, the Vietcong and North Vietnamese and the US presidents and generals was interesting. The war was never a done deal but Kennedy, Johnson or Nixon don't come out well. The real dregs though were the South Vietnamese regimes and in part this is a synopsis of the collapse of a decadent regime ( notwithstanding the disaster that was Communist rule after the war, covered here in the introduction)The access Karnow had as a respected journalist was unique. The book is dated in some respects but is a full history of the country without the usual histrionics

I bought this book back in the 80's when it was published but after several house moves I lost it. The copy I bought looks to me like a photocopy of the original! So I am disappointed in the product itself. However if you want to know about the origins of the Vietnam War and how America used the opportunity for a proxy war against the perceived threat of Communism this is the one for you.

The book was supposed to be in very good condition. True, it was hardly used. But the copy was almost useless - the print so faded and the letters so small that the text was hardly readable and the pictures barely recognizable.

I lived through the Vietnam War, watched the news, protested against it, knew people who went and never came back, and a few that did. I thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know but this book had a few more revelations for me. Very well-written book. Captivating.

A precise and excellent narrative of a two-way ordeal; in one side , a nation struggling for its independence from colonial powers, and seekin its own ways to succeed; in other , an overwhelming power and its fight for influence in worldwide scale ; in the middle , peasants and poor people that have no way but escape , trying to find a better living overseas; the fall of a creed that guided America for centuries and had the debacle in a war wrongly fought....Must Read !

An essential history of Vietnam . Released around mid 1980s , the book takes a historical view starting from early 8th or 9th century till the modern era , ending in the 1980 border clashes with China . In the process it is clear to the reader that the Vietnamese have a long history of fighting against any kind of foreign invaders, The two wars - against the French and the Americans - was but the last chapter in a long and complex history .Highly recommended

I AM WRITING A BOOK ON INSURGENCY AND COUNTERONSRGENCY in Argentina usine Vietnam comparstvely

A must to have about Vietnam war, superb and exhaustive description of a tragedy, fundamental text for anyone serious knowing Vietnam history and Vietnam war