Nnlogevall the origins of the vietnam war books

Why did the us make a commitment to an independent south vietnam. The united states and vietnam, 19501975 george herring widely recognized as a major contribution to the study of american involvement in vietnam, this comprehensive and balanced account analyzes the ultimate failure of the war, and the impact of the war on us foreign policy. November, french bombard haiphong harbor, killing 6,000 vietnamese civilians. Fredrik logevall provides a concise, comprehensive and accessible introduction to the origins of the vietnam war from the end of the indochina war in 1954 to the eruption of fullscale war in 1965, and places events against their full international background. Im looking for any recommendations on books about the vietnam war. Enough books novels and nonfiction have been published about the vietnam war and its aftermath to fill a modestsized library. Complete organized chaos for the new guys would begin as we landed in vietnam. A political, social, and military history adds an entire additional volume of entries to the already exhaustive first edition, making it the most comprehensive reference available about one of the most controversial events in u. The origins of the vietnam war 1945 mayjune, ho chi minh in france for further negotiations.

His stream of conscious descriptions are chaotic, choppy, dark, and intense, giving the reader an honest sense of war from the perspective of a soldier. Im glad the book was written as eventually the vietnam war will, like others, fade from living memory and this book gives insight into the motives and mindsets of people involved which might otherwise be lost. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, i often heard the expression rich mans war, poor mans fight in the context of the vietnam war but gave little thought to the expressions origins. He chooses the best books on the vietnam war, exploring its moral ambiguities, the warrior mentality, the humanity of the enemy, and more. The vietnam war was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of north vietnam against south vietnam and its principal ally, the. This book provides a short, accessible introduction to the origins of the vietnam war. Mar 02, 2015 the best histories of the vietnam war. His streamofconscious descriptions are chaotic, choppy, dark, and intense, giving the reader an honest sense. The vietnam war has scarred, transformed and inspired countless writers and art practitioners. I stopped reading books on the war i fought in about 30 years ago when i decided most of them were based on political bullshit written by people who were out to make a buck and give america a black eye in the process.

This volume provides an authoritative and accessible introduction to the origins of the war. Origins of the vietnam war from 19451954 thoughtco. Buy the vietnam war abridged edition by burns, ken, ward, geoffrey c. I am yet to read a better general history of the war than michael maclears vietnam. Seeing the pilot is having a hard time keeping up, one of the chinese mercenaries called nungs, says to the team leader, lets kill the dai uy. Literature and the vietnam war literature and the vietnam war judith b. Beyond that, on the fiction front, we quickly traipse into forgettable territory. While the list of books about this conflict includes hundreds of enlightening works, we pick ten of the best texts offering illuminating perspectives on the war, its context and the effects it had on vietnam.

The vietnam war stands as one of the pivotal moments in recent u. The best vietnam war books five books expert recommendations. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign relations. The origins of the vietnam war warren hills regional. A communist, ho chi minh waged a guerrilla war against the. He who knows himself, and knows his enemy, wins without danger. Anyone interested in the war should also read martin windrows the last valley. The origins of the vietnam war seminar studies in history. Three are novels, two of which were written by vietnam war veterans. Webb, as you probably know, went on to write a few other books and still find the time to become a u. Buy the origins of the vietnam war seminar studies in history 1 by logevall, fredrik isbn.

Best books on vietnam the best books about vietnam as a country, not just the vietnam war. The war in vietnam was a seminal event in post1945 world affairs. Although he was a conscientious objector, gary kulik came from a military family and loved being a medic in a war zone. The conflict had a profound and lasting impact on the politics and society of vietnam and the united states, but also shaped the larger international system in critical ways. Herr commands one of the great voices in american literature, and is so overwhelming, so powerful, that he can, like hemingway, wreak havoc on the style of wouldbe writers who would fall. Fredrik logevall is associate professor of history, university of california, santa barbara.

After we posted this article, times readers weighed in with their favorite books on the vietnam war. Choose from used and new textbooks or get instant access with etextbooks and digital materials. From the awardwinning historian and filmmakers of the civil war, baseball, the war, the roosevelts, and others. The lessons learned from this tragic conflict continue to have great relevance in todays world. Fredrik logevall provides a concise, comprehensive and accessible introduction to the origins of the vietnam war from the end of the indochina war in 1954 to the eruption of fullscale war in 1965. Containing a guide to characters, chronology and detailed bibliography, the origins of the vietnam war provides an indispensable introduction to one of the most important events in recent history. Nov 08, 2012 enough books novels and nonfiction have been published about the vietnam war and its aftermath to fill a modestsized library. The th valley by john del vecchio there have been a number of excellent books about vietnam. The war had a profound and lasting impact on the politics and society of vietnam and the united states, and it also had a major impact on international relations.

The vietnam war pitted communist north vietnam and the viet cong against south vietnam and the united states. Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. False atrocity tales, swift boaters, and winter soldierswhat really happened in vietnam. Discussionquestion suggestions for vietnam war nonfiction books.

Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. I will be marking the fiftieth anniversary of those marines going ashore at da nang by posting my favorite vietnam war books, memoirs, novels, movies. Mar 15, 2015 vietnamerica is one of the best books about the vietnam war. There is catch22, and slaughterhouse five, and these are classics to be sure. These 10 books, in addition to the ones below, were recommended multiple times. List of books and articles about vietnam war online. We would be organized militarily, but we would have to break the bad habit, of trying to fight a conventional war in a guerrilla warfare environment. This was one of the most important books i ever read in high school. Not only one of the best books about the vietnam war, but one of the best nonfiction books written by an american. The origins of the vietnam war edition 1 by fredrik. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign.

Michael herrs frontline reporting of the vietnam war is collected in dispatches, one of the first books to capture the unique feel of life on the vietnam battlefront. More than forty years after it ended, the vietnam war continues to haunt our country. Organized chaos, seemed like a contradiction in terms, but after a few weeks in vietnam, it seemed plausible. Logevall won the pulitzer prize for history with his magisterial telling of the backstory to americas war in vietnam. The best books about vietnam as a country, not just the vietnam war. It escalated from a vietnamese civil war into a limited international conflict in which the united states was deeply involved, and did not end. Vietnam war, conflict in southeast asia, primarily fought in south vietnam between government forces aided by the united states and guerrilla forces aided by north vietnam. Usa today s bob minzesheimer recommends books by 10 authors.

Pages in category vietnam war books the following 42 pages are in this category, out of 42 total. Feb 05, 2008 books blog publishing catch of the day. Oct 08, 2015 perhaps the only decent thing to emerge from the vietnam war is a body of literature unsurpassed by the writing thats come out of any other war. Discover book depositorys huge selection of vietnam war books online. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Vietnam war summaryoverview of the conflict history. Wehrle page images at hathitrust personalities of the liberation movement of south vietnam 1965, by u. Vietnamerica is one of the best books about the vietnam war. Discover the best vietnam war history in best sellers. Ten vietnam war novels to read council on foreign relations.

Fredrik logevall born 1963 is a swedishamerican historian and educator at harvard university, where he is the laurence d. The united states and the vietnam war introduction bibliographies, indexes, and other reference aids background and the decision to intervene the congressional role. Committee to aid the national liberation front of south vietnam multiple formats at. The war began soon after the geneva conference provisionally divided 1954 vietnam at 17 n lat. A french colony, indochina vietnam, laos, and cambodia had been occupied by the japanese during the war. France reneges on the agreement in march and declares cochin i. The causes of the vietnam war trace their roots back to the end of world war ii. Jean kemble the eccles centre for american studies. Herring, a former university of kentucky history professor, covers virtually every important event in the conflict, presenting the war objectively and assessing its legacy. In 1941, a vietnamese nationalist movement, the viet minh, was formed by their leader ho chi minh 18901969 to resist the occupiers. Belfer professor of international affairs at the john f. The conflict inspired an avalanche of volumes and they all claim to be the last word. Heres an admittedly subjective list, posted on the military history now website, put together by mark masse, a ball state university literary journalism professor.

May 20, 2011 now in its second edition, the encyclopedia of the vietnam war. I will be marking the fiftieth anniversary of those marines going ashore at da nang by posting my favorite vietnam war. The vietnam war lasted more than a decade, was the longest war in u. An oral history of the vietnam war by black veterans by wallace terry vietnam declassified by thomas l. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The sentiment was given voice in numerous protest songs, perhaps most poignantly by credence clearwater revival in. Kennedy school of government and professor of history in the harvard faculty of arts and sciences. In 1941, a vietnamese nationalist movement, the viet minh, was formed by ho chi minh to resist the occupiers. Readers interested in the history of southeast asia, or the vietnam war. Its one of the best stories ive ever experienced through any medium in. The origins of the vietnam war by fredrik logevall, 20. This book is widely viewed as the best concise history of the vietnam war. A french colony, indochina made up of vietnam, laos, and cambodia had been occupied by the japanese during the war. The sentiment was given voice in numerous protest songs, perhaps most poignantly by credence clearwater revival in fortunate son.

Now in its second edition, the encyclopedia of the vietnam war. The conflict inspired an avalanche of volumes and they all claim to be. All our physical stores and our online store are temporarily closed. Vietnam war bibliography by richard jensen jensen is a scholar with many books and articles. Fredrik logevalls book focuses on the french conflict in vietnam at the end of world war ii and the beginning of the american one in 1959. The origins of the vietnam war by anthony short, paperback. This is a hilarious tale of an air force combat fighter pilot in vietnam who goes out on patrol with a special forces team he has supported many times from the air. Harry summers is perhaps the expert on the military history of the war from a western perspective.