Rating: 
Summary: Ambrose -- The Premier WWII Historian of Our Generation
Review: Amrose has written a remarkable book of war by writing about where war is fought -- at the Company level. Much more than the story of this one excellent warfighting team, Ambrose shows us the limitations and achievements of a single rifle company, this one paratroopers. He is able to communicate the pride, the terror and the technical aspects of battle. A must read for history lovers and a crossover book for any non-fiction reader.
Rating:
Summary: Ambrose a Cheerleader?
Review: A handful of reviewers have criticized this book claiming that Ambrose allows his personal closeness with the men of E Company, 506 Regiment, 101st to cloud his judgement. This account, B of B, follows E Company from training through the end at Berchtesgaden. Does Ambrose make his subjects and their exploits larger than life? Not to this reviewer. These men and Ambrose's telling of their story is staggering simply because these were fighting men of extraordinary ability. Nor do I have to take Ambrose's word for their skills as the Germans themselves have written of their concern when facing US paratroopers, particularly men of the 101st. (Witness the significance of the 82nd and 101st during the Bulge as reported by the opposing Generals in "The German Generals Talk", B.H. Hart.) Indeed some of these very men have told the story themselves. Donald Burgett of A Company, 506th, has written 3 volumes and David Webster, also of E Company, has written his own "Parachute Infantry". Ambrose a cheerleader? These men need none. They were that good. As for Ambrose's telling of their tale? None better except perhaps Burgett's work on the 101st at Bastogne, "Seven Roads To Hell".
Rating:
Summary: Great, because of the men who went through it.
Review: This is a very readable account of men-at-war, although with the usual Ambrose flaws.
Rating:
Summary: A Great World War II account
Review: Ambrose does a wonderful job of personallizing the great war. Band of Brothers is an excellent account of individual struggles, losses, and triumphs throughout the 1940s. The story begins with E company's training in the US and follows them throughout the Normandy invasion, into Belgium and Germany. I highly recommend this book, for leisurely reading or historical study.
Rating:
Summary: A Marvelous, well-written account of a fine unit
Review: This book is about Company E, 506th PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment), 101st Airborne Division. Although I have read many books which were essentially unit histories, I have read none better than this one by the always excellent Stephen Ambrose. What really sets this book apart is that Ambrose relies heavily on first-hand accounts, not relying too much on official battle accounts, second-hand information, or the second-hand recollections of family members, which many inferior historians are wont to do. Ambrose writes a magnificent prose about the struggles of Easy Company, from their formation in the States as an entirely brand-new unit, without any history whatsoever, to their first severe test in the form of their sadistic martinet commander, 1LT Herbert Sobel, to their first taste of combat, the Normandy landings. This book is every bit as entertaining as any fictional war novel, but the fact that it is a true, historically accurate account of WW2 make it a great classic in its own right.
Rating:
Summary: These guys were GOOD!
Review: I picked this book up after getting hooked by Donald Burgett in his books Currahee and Seven roads to Hell and because Ambrose is a name to trust when buying WWII books, and was not disappointed what-so-ever! This book discusses one specific company of Screaming Eagles and their 3 main campaigns in Normandy, Holland, and Bastogne. It vividly portrays the terror and tears of what it was like to be there. It covers training in the states before Normandy, the battles, and finally the celebration when the war is over and the eagles find themselves in Hitler's nest surrounded with Nazi wine. But by following only one company you grow to really like this group...Great book, pick it up!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Incredible
Review: Ambrose uses massive amounts of research to tell the story of E Company, 506th Regiment, of the 101st Airborne. I found myself compelled to read page after page, absolutely glued to the words. I wanted to learn about what was happening to these brave men who I was starting to identify with and cheer for, individually and collectively. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the "elite" units of WWII or anyone who just wants to read a good book. I hope you buy this book and enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Train together, make it together
Review: Well, what can I say that has not already been said... Stephen Ambrose has been tremendously successful in capturing the trials, the accomplishments, and travail of a group of men that started the war together, and of those who completed the war together. As a current member of the Army, I would suggest this novel for the professional development of any soldier, regardless of rank. For my generation, I encourage the reading of this book so that we can fully appreciate the sacrifices and celebrations that our grandparents provided for us. I highly recommend this book to all persons interested in WWII history. God Bless all Veterans!
Rating: 
Summary: Very good account, but propagandist
Review: "The Band of Brothers" is another example of Stephen Ambrose's talent in capturing the feel of the front lines and experiences of E company. The book truly captures the essence of soldiers at war. But the problem with Mr. Ambrose's writing is that it is very biased and lacks critical objectivity. Like his other books, the author puts too much of own personal feelings and opinions into the works when as a historian he should have been more objective. At times in BOB, he seems more like a cheerleader for Easy Company. This may have been a result of Ambrose's personal closeness to the veterens in which his strong admiration of them may have clouded his sense of objectivity. This is examplified by such comments as the 101st Airborne winning battles because the American system is better the German system or that E company and the Army was getting at the Nazis, which I found unnecessary and more fitting for a comic book as well as being questionably accurate. It is doubtful that a good judgement can be made of the superiority of one nation's armed forces and system to another based on the actions of a company-level unit. E company was a fine outfit as was the rest of the 101st. Perhaps the best in the Army durng the war. They were the exception. But that wasn't always reflective with much of the rest of the Army. There were more than a few occasions where the American soldier and their leadership system failed to measure up against their often superior German counterparts, which was also acknowledged by Mr. Ambrose in his other works. The accounts of Easy company and the 506th PIR were enjoyable to read and very gripping but the personal takes made by the author made BOB much less than perfect as a historical take on WW II.
Rating:
Summary: For your information
Review: The uncle of a friend of mine was one of the men featured in Band of Brothers. We loved the book because of its readibility and realism. For those interested - Steven Spielberg is producing a mini-series for HBO, based on this book, that is scheduled to air later this year. It will be called Band of Brothers.
| 
