Rating: 
Summary: Band of Brothers
Review: Madder than (...)! I have a iPAQ pocket PC that is less than one year old, bought it when just came out. Now we have Pocket PC 2002, which I haven't even seen in a store yet. I download Band of Brothers, not seeing THE FINE PRINT which says this book ONLY works on Pocket PC 2002!!!!! Now I can't read it on my iPAQ and I can't return it! Buyer Beware!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Made me quite proud (Disregard the good doctor's review)
Review: After watching the HBO miniseries I felt it necessary to read the book in order to get more details. Let me just tell you that I devoured this book in 2 days. I'm a college student, so this book really took me away from most of my school work. In reading this I got a very strange sense. You forget that the men in this book are not supermen or comic book heroes, but just American citizens. Stephen Ambrose is one of the formost WW II scholars. I doubt, as the "doctor" in the Spotlight review section claims, that he exaggerated anything. There would be no reason to do that. These men never claimed to be anything more than they were. When they came home they didn't act like heroes, or demand respect from anyone. Most just returned to their humble lives and lived in relative obscurity. For the "scholar" in the spotlight section to say that their feats were exaggerated is an insult to them, and to the memories of those who have died. It was truly a great honor for me to have read this book. In my opinion it should be part of the curriculum in every high school history class
Rating:
Summary: Oral History at its Best!
Review: Many times, and in many instances, Ph.D.s (doctors) take it upon themselves to slash away at what they see as "popular" history. I am a Ph.D. sociologist who is not convinced of "empirical",
"just the big facts", "Jack Web" history and sociology. I, for one, work in "subjective", "qualitative", "everyday life" sociology and social history. And I say that this book is, from the standpoint of oral history/auto-ethnography, a masterful and majestic work. Dr. Ambrose has done it again! You know when such a work is great by the way it brings you in. From reading the book, and following the series, I really feel a part of these men's lives and find much empathy with their thoughts, fears, joys, and, in the end, their love for life and their country. Let's do right by them. They are a national treasure and they remind us of the costs in social and personal life for democracy's/our sakes. They also teach us much about how social life could be, if we all treated each other as bands of brothers (and sisters)! Read it!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Better Ones
Review: I like Ambrose' books, especially as books on tape. I've listened to quite a few, and I think this is one of the better ones. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Shares rare insight to sacrifices made by soldiers.
Review: WOW, what an incredible account of American soldiers in european combat during WWII. NO WONDER HBO, TOM HANKS AND STEVEN SPEILBERG BROUGHT THIS BOOK TO LIFE! Contrary to verbose criticism of Stephen Ambrose's work, this book was written using the direct recollections of surviving members of Easy Company (see HBO series). If you have an interest in WWII or just want an exciting and true account of combat, this is the book for you. Mr. Ambrose goes into great detail about the members of Easy Company and their experiences, including the WOUNDING OF RICHARD WINTERS RECOUNTED IN THE 7TH PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 97. Whether you watched the HBO series or not, this book is worth reading. I do not have "expert credentials," I simply have a profound respect for anyone who fought in WWII. This book will move you emotionally and intellectually to have a greater respect for the sacrifices of all veterans, but especially those of Easy Company.
Rating:
Summary: One of Ambrose's Finest Works
Review: In true Stephen Ambrose fashion, the story of Easy company is brought to life in this extremely well-written book. Ambrose takes us through the formation of Easy company in the summer of 1942 to the surrender of Germany in 1945. The men of Easy are brought to life by Ambrose's excellent dialogue. In 1942, Easy company was formed. They trained in Georgia and learned the rigors of jumping from an airplane. After becoming seasoned paratroopers, these brave men led the way at Normandy by jumping behind enemy lines before the main assult. Ambrose vividly describes how Easy company destroyed a battery of German artillery while facing overwhelming enemy superiority. Next came the siege of Bastogne. Again Easy was at the forefront of the fighting; valiantly defending the town against vastly superior enemy numbers. After the Normandy campaign, the men of Easy company participated in the largest parachute drop of the war; Operation Market Garden. Although this was considered an allied "defeat", the men of Easy company again distinguished themselves on the field of battle. Finally, Easy company led the assult on Hitler's own "Eagle's Nest" in the last days of the war. Ambrose brings each member of Easy company to life, from Major Winters, who was adored and respected by his men, to Captain Sobel, who was equally disdained. This book is a must read for WWII enthusiasts.
Rating:
Summary: band of brothers
Review: READ IT IN TWO DAYS, COULDN'T STOP READING IT. AFTER SEEING THE MINISERIES ON HBO, THE BOOK IS FAR SUPERIOR AS FAR AS RECOUNTING THE DETAILS AND PAINTING THE TRUE PICTURE OF EASY COMPANY AND THEIR TRIALS THROUGH THE EUROPEAN THEATRE. TRULY INSPIRING AND HUMBLING TO READ THIS TRUE ACCOUNT.
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Summary: An incredibly touching book.....
Review: I'm normally more of a techno war obessed 13 year old than a sensistive loving guy. This book achieves a balance of mushy and detials about war. An incredible account and a gr8 show on HBO!
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed History or Engaging Dramatisation?
Review: Ambrose's account, the basis for the HBO miniseries, certainly makes interesting and often moving reading. I have been reading it bit by bit after watching each TV episode which aids my understanding of elements glossed over in the miniseries. If you've been watching Band of Brothers, reading the book will enhance the experience. Sadly the quality of the writing is poor in places. All to often Ambrose slips in military acronyms for brevity that will leave regular readers without a clue as to what he is talking about. MLR, OP, CP, S2? And for what is supposed to be an historical account, the book is peppered with erroneous detail (see Dr. Forczyk's review). It's a pretty much one sided tale (Think:- How E Company won the war in Europe almost single handed) which has actually lent itself very well to the TV production. It would perhaps have been better if Ambrose had written it as a dramatised "based on a true story" style book, rather than trying to pass it off as a definitive history. As history I'd give it 2 stars, as a fiction I'd give it 4 stars, but since it's both I'll split the difference and give it 3.
Rating: 
Summary: band of brothers
Review: In the book Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose setting, indirect characterization and suspense are greatly illustrated. The book takes place between July of 1942 and right through1945, the end of World War two. Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division were a group of diverse young American men that came together on that summer of 1942 at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. As they trained vigorously for their first mission in England they had many challenges. As they have occupied England and headed to Normandy France for D-Day suspense is shown particularly well at this point. As the Easy Company prepared for their jump on June 6, 1944 all things were going well until their initial drop site was missed and all plans failed. Many men lost much of their important equipment some being theirs guns and knifes. The suspense was tremendous while I had a feeling of great uncertainty of what was going to happen next. Later easy company regrouped along with another company on Utah beach while some Easy Company troops were still lost in Normandy. After Normandy on D-Day, to the liberation of Holland, to holding the lines in the Battle of the Bulge, and in the end capturing Hitler's mountaintop retreat, Eagles Nest, in Bavaria all these men came together like brothers do. Through all the hard ships they faced in war this group of men had difficulties finding who they were. The author showing indirect characterization by letting the soldiers show who they are and let us, the readers find who they are through commitment during training at Camp Toccoa and Courage, strength and fast intelligent thinking during the drop over Normandy on D-Day. Through it all, each veteran of the Easy Company division recalls that his reliance on his brothers-in-arms is the reason any of them made it back alive.
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