The Greatest Generation

Rating:
Summary: Mason High School: Best Seller - Cong Wang
Review: Not many books will change my perspective of the society. When I first pick up The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw, I was skeptical. However, I am proven wrong. I would definitely recommend this book to almost anyone (from age 0-99+) because of two reasons; one reason is one will learn a lot more about World War II from a perspective other than the textbook, and secondly is because one will have a lot more respect for the elder generation after reading this book. Tom Brokaw did a great job of keeping his readers' interest. But be warned, there is a few section in the book where the reading does seem very long. Overall I believe this book is well worth the time and effort.
As I mentioned above, The Greatest Generation change my view on the war in two ways. Prior to reading this book, I look at all the soldiers from World War II as a whole instead of individuals. This book made me realized that every one of the soldiers have their own unique stories and personalities. After reading these stories, I feel like I know them more personally. I was deeply touched by the accomplishments of Daniel Inouye and the 442nd regimental Combat Team. I was deeply saddened by the treatment of others to minorities such as Colonel Mary Hallaren, Martha Settle Putney, and Nao Takasugi. I was again proud when Martha, Daniel, and Mary Hallaren prove their society wrong by conquering numerous obstacles while combating discrimination. By knowing their stories make me respect these people much more than I originally do. No longer with their moments pass because of time, their legacies, as Brokaw puts it, will "live in our heart forever." These stories certainly are not something that I would find in a textbook.
Despite its size, The Greatest Generation was a very fast read because it is fill with wonderful pictures and a smooth writing style. Tom Brokaw grabbed my attention during the first few stories because the stories are fresh and straightforward. I especially enjoy the surprises, and the strong human spirit in Charles O. Van Gorder's story with the human POW and Wesley Ko's story of determination to pay off his huge debt, these spirits are something that I no longer sense exist in today's society. However, The Greatest Generation does have its flaws. After reading so many chapters, I felt Brokaw follow the same format in ever story over and over again, making his writing style very tedious after a while. The chapter, Love Marriage and Commitment, was especially painful for me because I did not care a lot for the lovers, but it was still interesting. The last few stories was slow, however in the last section, The Arena, Brokaw picked up his pace again and weave together and present to me different sides of the politicians I knew, Bob Dole and Mark Hatfields. The Greatest Generation overall left a very good impression on me.
The Greatest Generation is not the typical book I would read on my leisure since I am not a fan of non-fiction novels. I do not regret not reading it because it is very interesting. However, The Greatest Generation did leave a sour taste in my mouth because I wanted to know more about the characters and some of the stories are too short. Overall, I believe the The Greatest Generation is a book every student who is studying American History or American Government should read because it will help one understand the situation more. Reading this book is the closest one can get living in during World War II. I will give it an A-.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the stories, 3 stars for the writing
Review: I read this book shortly before the first anniversary of 9/11. I was truly inspired by the stories of how ordinary people rose to the occassion at a time of great need for our country and our world and prayed that our current generation would have the courage and fortitude to do the same. However, the writing style of Brokaw left much to be desired. His passages too often read like the overly earnest writings of a young English Lit major. However whenever the book returns to the actual words and recollections of the veterans, my spirits soared. Definitely worth reading for the example this generation put forth for all of us to follow.

Rating:
Summary: A Story Already Told
Review: I had heard good things about this book, but was disappointed. This story had already been told in this format, and been told better, by Studs Terkel in his book The Good War. Terkel interviewed more persons, let them tell their own story, and interviewed persons who had been successful as well as those that had not. Brokaw focuses only on those that had gone on to become successful, while Terkel includes those from all walks of life. If you are interested in reading a history in this format, I would recommend The Good War over The Greatest Generation.

Rating:
Summary: Good, Easy Read
Review: What I Liked best about this book is how it is all personal accounts. The book is not just about the people who were doing the fighting, but also about the Woman on the homefront who built our bombers, Fighters, Tanks and more. About one of the men who was a designer of the b-29.

He also talks about some of the people who fought in the war to later become famous. People like George McGovern, a B-24 pilot in the 15th who later became a polition. George Bush who flew an evenger over the pacific, and how he was shot down and survived over the pacific. Andy Rooney, who became a popular journalist after the war. There are many more. If anyone is intrested in learning, almost by a storytelling aspect, than this book is for you.

Some might compare the way he writes to Ambrose because of the interviews. This book is a lightyear away in the way he writes it. Ambrose books follow one battle. This follows just one person in a chapter through some of the important parts of their wartime expierience. ( each chapter is about 2-3 pages long.) So i would suggest this book to anyone intrested in World War Two, it is a great testament to all the people who were involved in the winning of World War Two.

Rating:
Summary: Reviews from America¿s Worst Generation
Review: It's funny reading the sour grapes reviews written by what I am sure is America's worst generation yet. Ironically the worst generation blames Brokaw for seeing through rose colored glasses while they (the worst) see through diarrhea covered glasses of their own. I guess that's not surprising from a group that has no degree of introspection. Take some of the following - "the WWII generation was the generation of segregation and racism." In fact the WWII generation was the generation that rose above racism. The civil rights bill (passed in 1964) was a reflection of the time that most Americans wanted institutional racism and segregation to end. This generation has stained its memory by changing civil rights into a gentler kinder racism that makes excuses for minorities when they fail, and expects less from minorities then they do from themselves. It's white supremacy without the hate.

Certainly some of the complaints about Eastern Europe and deficit spending have validity. However, I see little improvement from this generation. Plenty of my contemporaries see the huge burden of taxes necessary to continue this safety net with growing holes. It's not like there are too many people saying - we will shift for ourselves and the government should go back to its more limited roles.

There are reviewers who blame the WWII generation for being isolationist and leaving Eastern Europe in the lurch after the war. Meanwhile some generation X-ers and baby boomers today blame the US for recent terrorist attacks (in true spirit of blaming the victim). "We arrogantly impose ourselves and our ways on others" - they say. O.K. but joining WWII earlier or pushing the Russians out of Eastern Europe certainly would have been imposing. Seems your damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The Greatest Generation is a title conveying reverence and humility for an older generation who gave us relatively comfortable and secure lives. Not surprising the worst generation seems to miss this - they have no humility.

Rating:
Summary: A time for appreciation
Review: I was born in 1957, only 12 years after WW2 ended. My father and all three of his brothers fought in the war. And fortunately, all four of them made it home alive. My father-in-law also fought as a front-line machine gunner in Europe.

My father never wanted to talk about the war. Although he was an officer on Gen. George Patton's staff, he was mum on what he experienced. I realize now what he experienced was too painful. With that, I am grateful for the stories in this book. I think anyone born after WW2 should read this book simply to appreciate what the American people and troops had to go through. My heart goes out to those parents who lost their sons and the girlfriends who lost their loves. So many lives were profoundly changed.

This book should be manditory reading for high school students in any American History class. And they should also show Steven Spielberg's movie, "Saving Private Ryan" to make young people appreciate the freedoms that were fought for in Europe and the Pacific. If Nazi's and Japanese Empire had defeated the Allies, I guarantee you this would have been a different world. Had we lost there's a very good chance many of us walking the Earth would not be here right now.

Bravo to you Tom Brokaw! Thank you for sharing so much of your hard work in the research of this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Real Life Book
Review: I have spent a lot of time over the past years reading about different aspects of World War Two, from the different battles to the equipment used, but this was the first time that I had a full book of individual stories about the average GI and the story he had to tell. There are many reviews here that detail the book; I just wanted to add that at first I thought this would be a dull book. Sure I had heard all the buzz about the book, but I thought that was more to do with the author then the actual book. I even had doubts that a newsreader could become an author. I am happy to report that I was wrong, first off Brokaw did not try to muddle around with the stories to get any glory for his writing style, he just told them like they were told to him. I think this is the reason the book is so powerful, it is like you are sitting at your Grandparents home and they are telling you stories. The stories are wonderful (as much as you can say that about war stories) and they really convey not just the battle, but all the emotion (good and bad) that the GI felt. This is a great book and a must for any WW 2 collection.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!!
Review: A set of wonderful stories about REAL people that rose to the challange of Nazi Germany and with our allies eventually defeated that threat.

I do have one small observation. All my life people of my grandparents generation "The Greatest Generation" have been telling that if there was ever another crisis like World War 2 we couldn't handle it. Well we did a preety good job after September 11th didn't we?

Rating:
Summary: attitude of this book is why I don't get along with my folks
Review: My generation is more moral, harder working, braver, more disiplined, in every way better than yours, that's what I was told as a child, and this book continues it. They won a war, we stopped an unjust one. They lynched black people, we died with them to help win them the right to vote. Yes winning WWII was great, what have you done for me lately?

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: I am tremendously inspired by the stories contained in this book. The American spirit during WWII is unequalled especially compared to the sick societies of Japan and Germany. Whether this generation is the "greatest" or not, there is no doubt in my mind that the cooperative effort that was required to defend freedom and defeat the fascists is without a doubt the greatest effort in history.