The Greatest Generation

Rating:
Summary: A must for Generation "X"
Review: As a member of generation, I found this book moving. It is a chilling reminder of the sacrafices the previous generations gave to ensure our more than comfortable way of life. I recommend this book highly to everyone, and especially to folks of generation "X".

Rating:
Summary: Trite; just capitalizing on "Saving Private Ryan"
Review: For gripping stories of WWII, read "D-Day," by Stephen Ambrose. These "up close and personal" stories grew monotonous. Most significantly, Brokaw gave short shrift to the sins of this "greatest" of generations. While I appreciated the discussion of our nation's treatment of Japanese-Americans during the war, full treatment of this generation's rampant racism, sexism and post-WWII national arrogance was missing.

Rating:
Summary: Tom Brokaw wrote a book of a time when America was united
Review: Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" is not a book of war and bad times as some might say, but it is a book I feel to portray that during the slaughter of D-day, and even though other countries were stuggling, our country stood united under a cause. Major progress was made. Women entered the workforce more fully, people were dying in loyalty to their country. What other generation or counry can you think of that was like this? I feel this book was an excellent one for future generations to read.

Rating:
Summary: Self promoting and falsely exaggerated American "morals"
Review: Tom Brokaw knows better than his "admiring" comments about U.S veterans. he is giving too much credit to American WWII veterans. Other than raising his "good old american image", I see no point in praising a nation that only profitted from WWII. Brokaw should spend his time on other journalistic adventures, and stop being a hedonist.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Look at a Special Generation
Review: I never really knew much about the generation that came of age in the Great Depression and WWII but now I have a clear understanding of a self-sacrificing and a special generation that is almost unequaled in human history. Their stories were captivating and inspiring. They made me appreciate the turmoil and chaos that they went through to protect this world from two of the most bloodthirsty governments to ever exist. I would have given the book five stars but I felt that it maybe "put-down" the current generation too much by making it seem insignificant next to the WWII generation. I feel that this generation owes a lot to the WWII generation but to compare them is wrong. However, I felt that this was a great book and a very worthwhile read. Hey, you might even learn a thing or two about your grandparents.

Rating:
Summary: Dad's Saturday AM stories, come to life again - thanks Tom
Review: Tom Brokaw and I are about 5 years apart - he remembers the war times, I don't. What I do remember is the commitment and dedication to church, family and work that set the example by which I live today. Brokaw doesn't write like a journalist in this book, he writes as an observer and a participant, as well as the gatherer of the stories, some of which are familiar, some are new and surprising; all are welcome.

Rating:
Summary: Good idea, but shallow text and a distorted picture
Review: Brokaw writes not like a veteran newsman, but like an awestruck, hero-worshipping kid. That's not a crime, but one expects more from a man with Brokaw's experience and training. I felt the text was very shallow -- especially in the final section when he interviews celebrities. One doesn't learn a lot in this section. Nor does one get any meaningful insights. I also felt there was a tremendous "sameness" about the interviews. Surely, there were people who had bitter memories or less than passionately patriotic views. Brokaw could have presented a more accurate picture of the generation by including a dissenting opinion or two. Regrettably, one has to wonder about the accuracy of his reporting on NBC News.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother.
Review: This book is appallingly written, brazenly self-promoting and transparently biased to the left. It is full of cloying rhetorical questions ("They never shared their lunch with a starving Japanese child," supposedly characterizing younger Congressional Republicans -- how would Brokaw know who they'd shared lunch with, anyway?) and laughable self-contradictions (in a book that purportedly applauds the old-fashioned values, he criticizes Dole for being out of touch with the younger generation's self-absorption in his presidential campaign). Whenever he can work it in, he slings it to the Republicans, those meanies who care about no one but themselves. Critical thinkers will find this book superficial and opportunistic.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for all generations.
Review: This is a truly captivating book. I came away with a better understanding of my parents generation. They had a purpose and integrity that has not been matched in the generations that have followed.

Rating:
Summary: A great disapointment
Review: Rather than letting his subjects tell their stories Brokaw interjects his politics and philosophy. I donated my copy to the city library. Instead, read Studs Terkel's "The Good War." It "is" what Brokaw could have "had", if he would have imitated the master oral biographer.