Rating: 
Summary: Stick to the news, Tom.........
Review: It amazes me that this book remained atop the best seller list for so long. There was absolutely nothing in this book which has not been covered, in a far more descriptive style, by a host of authors. This book did not have another authors help, and by god it needed it!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I was somewhat disappointed with this book. Needless to say the exploits of this generation were outstanding, but most did only what they should have done. I'm inclined to think that the generation that produced Tom's "Greatest Generation" was the greatest generation. I was also disappointed in some of his celebrity selections. His were good stories, but I believe there are better stories out there.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellant study on the generation that saved humanity
Review: As a baby boomer I have greatly bennificated from the sacrifaces of the World War II generation. Coming of age during the Great Depression and going straight into the bloodiest war in history,this generation had every right to turn its back on everything. Instead,after beating Nazi Germany and Japan they built a strong economy,laid the basis for the 40 year victory in the Cold War,and now in retirement,they continue to do public service. I hate to think what would have happened if this would have fallen on my generation. THANKS TO THE WORLD WAR II GENERATION FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE TODAY.
Rating:
Summary: They accomplished. Period.
Review: Readers who want to enumerate each and every fault of a particular generation (and every generation has faults!) must consider, for just a moment, what earth-shattering accomplishments that this particular generation has achieved. Yes, there are some issues for which no one is proud, but one must view them in the larger context of preserving freedom in the world--and, curiously, in bringing about new freedoms to many people who had been deprived of them in the past.
Rating:
Summary: An overwhelming incite into lives of incredible people.
Review: Being sixteen, I should stereotypically not have much respect for anyone. But I am currently enrolled in the AP Language course at my school, and I had to read four nonfiction books. My father, who has also reviewed this book, encouraged me to pick this as one of them. It was the first book I read, so naturally, all the others which came to follow were interminable. I enjoyed reading this book, and my appreciation grew as well as my love for the characters with every turning page.
Rating:
Summary: Brokaw revealed as just another media liberal.
Review: One needs nothing more than to read the chapter "dedicated" to Joe Foss to reveal Tom Brokaw as little more than just another dutiful, liberal, left wing, media wimp. How is it that one would clutter a chapter on a bonafide American hero with the stature of Medal of Honor recipient, Joe Foss, with an absolute out of context, and nonsense reference to Senator George McGovern? Brokaw refers to McGovern's heroic World War II action in which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, and makes no real reference to the Medal of Honor exploits of the chapter's hero, Joe Foss. To characterize McGovern as a war hero and political icon with no discussion of Foss' heroic battlefield achievements, reveals Brokaw as one unfit to even begin to discuss such a man as Joe Foss. He clearly does not understand the difference between a MOH, and a DFC. If he does not understand that difference, he is equally unfit to write a book dedicated to the Greatist Generation. I used to respect the author until I read his book. Brokaw reveals himself in this chapter and others, as just another media liberal who cannot rise above his left wing tradition. He does not even have the integrity to put aside his liberal political agenda in tribute to a generation, that I can see now, he in no way could begin to represent. Brokaw even goes so far as to take a shot a President Nixon in this chapter. What does a swipe at Nixon have to do with Joe Foss? It was disgusting. The worst thing that a military man can say of an individual is that he is in any way "unfit." Brokaw is unfit to speak of a generation of heroes, and certainly not one of the likes of Joe Foss in the same breath as George McGovern.
Rating:
Summary: RACIST BOOK!
Review: MR. BROKAW REPRESENTS AN ELIST POINT OF VIEW, PORTRAYING THE FACT THAT CHICANOS PLAYED ALMOST NO ROLE IN THIS GENERATION. THAT CHICANOS DID NOT DIE IN GREAT NUMBERS DURING WORLD WAR II AND EARNED THE MOST CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONORS, THAT CHICANOS LEADETRS LIKE CEASAR CHAVEZ PLAYED NO ROLE IN LABOR RELATIONS OR THE GREAT UPRAISING OF CHICANO CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION PLAYED NO PART IN THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTHWEST OR THAT CIVIL RIGHT VIOLATION LIKE THE ZOOT SUIT RIOTS OR SLEEPY LAGON CASE WAS INSIGNIFICANT.
Rating:
Summary: Shallow anecdotes show Brokaw's lack of substance
Review: With a catchy title and the author's fame, the book predictably makes most bestseller lists. The author began with an interesting idea - that the generation which grew up during the depression, defeated tyranny as young adults, and then delivered prosperity and freedom from communism as mature adults is a unique generation.Alas, Brokaw chose not to develop the idea or explain why this generation was special apart from the accident of fate. Instead, he simply recounts anecdotes of more or less interesting folks as if their narratives prove anything. I am certain that any marginally competent college journalism student could do the same with any generation - find 30 or so folks from whose stories one could extrapolate a theory of greatness. Brokaw's book typifies the problem of the mass media - lack of any intellectual rigor or depth. Brokaw seems like a nice chap who loved his mom and dad, and decided to write a book to consecrate his love for them. Good son, bad writer.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: Brokaw makes a good point, but it's delivered, in spots, rather tediously. There are better books out there about World War II, by professional historians, and by World War II participants (try BAT BOMB for a TOTALLY unique memoir of World War II. World War II buffs who don't know BAT BOMB, are like biblical scholars who don't know about Noah's Ark. And that is only a slight exaggeration.)
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining, quick read, but the thesis doesn't hold up.
Review: It's true what some critics have said. This book is not the most skillfully or subtly written. It also whitewashes the issues by making the entire generation look like war heroes who later became business and government dynamos. This is not a balanced sociological study however, it's Brokaw's celebration of a generation and a set of values that he admires. Those values are almost exclusively the values of the warrior (warrior in battle and warrior in business). Once that limitation is understood however, the reader can settle back for a fun read. For younger readers who know little of this period in American history, this is a good starting place (but hopefully not an ending place). I congratulate Tom Brokaw for writing it. I only want to tell him that there are other ways to be great, and other generations have explored and will continue to explore those ways.
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