The Korean War: Library Edition

Rating:
Summary: A good overview
Review: British Historian Max Hasting's gives the "forgotten war" the kind of good overall one volume treatment that it deserves. For some reason, Korea has just never registered with Americans the way World War Two or Vietnam has. But the stakes were high as America rushed its untrained Pacific army from Japan to the Korean peninsula in a desperate attempt to forestall a communist takeover of the South in 1950. The heroism of those first soldiers cannot be understated. Hastings captures the whole saga of the war as a horrible tragedy and as the first test of the West's determination to literally fight the spread of communism. Ultimately, as Hastings points out, the sacrifice of the allied troops was not in vain. That democracy exists today in South Korea is a testement to those who fought and died to preserve the country's freedom.

Rating:
Summary: A good overview
Review: British Historian Max Hasting's gives the "forgotten war" the kind of good overall one volume treatment that it deserves. For some reason, Korea has just never registered with Americans the way World War Two or Vietnam has. But the stakes were high as America rushed its untrained Pacific army from Japan to the Korean peninsula in a desperate attempt to forestall a communist takeover of the South in 1950. The heroism of those first soldiers cannot be understated. Hastings captures the whole saga of the war as a horrible tragedy and as the first test of the West's determination to literally fight the spread of communism. Ultimately, as Hastings points out, the sacrifice of the allied troops was not in vain. That democracy exists today in South Korea is a testement to those who fought and died to preserve the country's freedom.

Rating:
Summary: A good overview
Review: British Historian Max Hasting's gives the "forgotten war" the kind of good overall one volume treatment that it deserves. For some reason, Korea has just never registered with Americans the way World War Two or Vietnam has. But the stakes were high as America rushed its untrained Pacific army from Japan to the Korean peninsula in a desperate attempt to forestall a communist takeover of the South in 1950. The heroism of those first soldiers cannot be understated. Hastings captures the whole saga of the war as a horrible tragedy and as the first test of the West's determination to literally fight the spread of communism. Ultimately, as Hastings points out, the sacrifice of the allied troops was not in vain. That democracy exists today in South Korea is a testement to those who fought and died to preserve the country's freedom.

Rating:
Summary: Solid book
Review: Good book for those of us who know nothing or little about the Korean War. Hastings gives us a good overview of all of the different aspects of the war from a fairly unbiased view. Not too little info or to much. Solid Overview.

Rating:
Summary: In-depth view of a seldom discussed war
Review: Hastings does an excellent job presenting the story of the Korean War in a readable manner. He tells many of the personal stories while keeping a big picture view. He also briefly describes Korea's place in the Cold War. Overall it was an interesting and entertaining historical work.

Rating:
Summary: In-depth view of a seldom discussed war
Review: Hastings does an excellent job presenting the story of the Korean War in a readable manner. He tells many of the personal stories while keeping a big picture view. He also briefly describes Korea's place in the Cold War. Overall it was an interesting and entertaining historical work.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling human element
Review: Hastings stands out among the few Korean War authors as an historian with panache and a compelling style. His book tends to focus heavily on the British troops, but he still delivers an exciting overview of the war with surprising gems of information that other, more exhaustive texts left out. It is this human element - as well as a thrilling tone and delivery - that makes Hastings' book more than another history text. It delivers all the energy and immediacy of real men and women who endured this conflict while honoring the broader picture with relevant and detailed material. Rely on Hastings for a broad overview told in a thrilling style with that all-important human element. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."

Rating:
Summary: Compelling human element
Review: Hastings stands out among the few Korean War authors as an historian with panache and a compelling style. His book tends to focus heavily on the British troops, but he still delivers an exciting overview of the war with surprising gems of information that other, more exhaustive texts left out. It is this human element - as well as a thrilling tone and delivery - that makes Hastings' book more than another history text. It delivers all the energy and immediacy of real men and women who endured this conflict while honoring the broader picture with relevant and detailed material. Rely on Hastings for a broad overview told in a thrilling style with that all-important human element. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."

Rating:
Summary: Not so impressed
Review: Having read this book after several others on the subject I found it a little disappointing. It's obvious that the author is British because a larger portion of the book is devoted to the British units than is probably justified considering they comprised only a small fraction of the UN forces. For a more insightful and comprehensive rendition of the events of the Korean War, I recommend "Korea: The Untold Story of the War" by Joseph C Goulden.

Rating:
Summary: A decent one volume history of the war
Review: I read this book when it was first published in hardback and I found it to be well written and easy to read. It offers a complete overview of the war including the contributions of all nations involved. An enjoyable book from this British historian which covers all aspects of this forgotten war. Well worth reading.