Rating: 
Summary: America's strength
Review: One of America's greatest strengths has been, and is, its citizen soldiers - the ones called upon in time of military crisis to defend and defeat, who do the job, and then return to their private lives. BAND OF BROTHERS is a tribute to these individuals in general and, in particular, to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.The book begins with Company E's formation in July 1942, and ends with its inactivation on November 30, 1945. It's a narrative history based on letters, diaries, news clippings and personal interviews. It spans the company's training in the United States and England, its combat roles in the D-Day invasion, the subsequent Operation Market Garden, and the defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and ends with the capture of Hitler's Alpine retreat, Berchtesgaden, and the last months as an occupying force in Austria. There's a stark contrast between Company E's sojourn in the Hell of battle and its occupation duty, the latter characterized by author Stephen Ambrose as a "soldier's dream life" of "mountain weather, unlimited sports, women and booze, easy duty, (and) good hunting". Company E's full complement was 140 men - 8 officers and 132 enlisted. But, as casualties mounted, original members were replaced with new, and the cast of characters is large. At times, BAND OF BROTHERS is more a series of vividly drawn vignettes featuring named individuals in the context of a particular combat operation. The reader never really gets to "know" any one soldier, with the exception of perhaps Dick Winters, who provides a continuity of sorts. Winters began as a 2nd Lieutenant commanding a platoon, and ended the war as a Major commanding the 2nd Battalion. To the degree that the author allows, Winters is the foremost hero of a group of heroes, i.e. all of E Company. The reader is thus forced to identify with the unit as a whole throughout its travails and final triumph. This was the author's intent, and is the book's ultimate strength. In the paperback edition, there are only eight pages of photographs and two of maps. One wishes for more. The last chapter on post-war careers is a nice, and logically necessary, touch. Most war-centered works of non-fiction focus on the "great commanders" - Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Nelson, Washington, Lee, Grant, Rommel, Montgomery, Eisenhower, Patton, MacArthur, etc. BAND OF BROTHERS is the best book I can recall on the experiences of the common soldier - the guy in the front trench whose only reward at the end of hostilities, if he lives, is a wound or two, a souvenir enemy pistol or flag, and the greatest of all, a feeling of comradeship with his fellows that lasts for life. This last almost makes war seem worth it. Currahee!
Rating: 
Summary: Too easy, short and not enough detail, but great story
Review: Mr. Ambrose is a great writer, and has a very good knowledge of WWII. I saw the minseries for this on TV and it is the greatest war program you will ever watch. This book just sounds like a 8th grader wrote it.
He has to talk in a third person view because he wasn't a solider, but it's boring. When he's talking about being engaged in combat, it's just dull.
The book also moves quick quick quick. I suggest you read this book and watch the minseries along with it. The story of Easy Company in World War II is a brave, heartbreaking story. The men that gave up their life for World War II is greatly honored in having a story written after them. The author could have done better, but the story is aboustly amazing. You have to tell yourself "this really happened" every once in a while. From the struggle of the training, to the suspense and a look at true war in the cold forest of Bastonge, these men did it all. This is truely a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you feel like you were there...
Review: After seeing the HBO series, I picked up the book, wanting to see what was missed/changed in the transition to television. I was very pleased to see that except for a few details, and some dramatization, the series was a very faithful retelling of the book. It fills in a lot of behind the scenes stuff you didn't see on TV. The book really helps make you feel like you were there. You get to know all the guys, you feel happy when they triumph, you feel sad when they get hurt or die. In that respect the book is great. Ambrose's narrative is good, and full of quotes from the soldiers. The only part that got annoying was Ambrose's frequent opinions about how wonderful and amazing the American soldier was and how second rate everyone else was. The Airborne was an elite unit, but probably no better or worse than other elite units in the war. Having read some German accounts of the Normandy campaign, and taken in light of the enormous blunders made by the German high command in planning and carrying out its response to the invasion, Ambrose's "professional" analysis is dead wrong. If the German field commanders had their way, E company would have never gotten to the Eagle's Nest, most of them would have been buried in France by the Germans. As a personal account of the soldiers journey from training to war, this is one of the best books I read, just take Ambrose's comments with a grain of salt. A good historian is supposed to be objective and take all points of view into account before making a conclusion, Ambrose does neither.
Rating:
Summary: Best WWII book I've read
Review: In Band of Brothers, Stephen Ambrose shows a remarkable ability to suck the reader right into the story. He does a wonderful job of letting the reader get to know the soldiers on a personal level.....to the point that if the reader were to actually meet one of these soldiers, he would instantly feel like he has known him for years. The best thing about this book is the fact that it presents war from a personal view, rather than the typical cold, sterile, narrative format of most other history books. Reading this book will bring back memories for many people, and for others, make them wish they had such memories and bonds.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling
Review: Band of Brothers turned out to be one of the best things to appear on television. It also did justice to the book and the men the book was about. The book is better. Reading Band of Brothers is immersive. I read it in 2 sessions in a hotel room while stuck in St. Louis on a business trip. RAre that I had the downtime, but rarer that I could spend that much time doing nothing but pouring through the book. The truth is far more compelling than fiction and this is one of the best small scale WWII non-fiction books to be published. Band of Brothers stands well as a companion to the TV mini-series as both have slightly different perspectives. If you have read or watched one and not the other...get off your duff and correct that!
Rating:
Summary: A good war book but...
Review: This is a great book no doubt and it's not a boring war history type book like your thinking either. The author does a great job of showing how gruesome the training was and how horrible battle is without being too gruesome for younger readers while there are a few swear words a majority is like [stars] as a substitue.
The only problem I could say is this a True Life war book. Meaning people die, and it's hard to keep track of all the new people coming in and out. You don't get much background on people because they all die so quickly, I won't say too much more as to not ruin the book.
I gave it 4 out of 5. If you don't mind reading very slowly and carefully and you want a good war book that chapters the horrors of war but doesn't disgust you this is one to pick up!
Rating:
Summary: One Awesome Book
Review: This book is one super great read! This book covers the never ending training and never ending fighting of Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division in Europe from D-Day to the final capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. It was very hard to put down. The action is non-stop. I forewarn you that you will be "glued" to this book. I would most definitely buy this book again!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book about WWII heroes
Review: Excellent story about the brave men who fought for our freedoms. All Americans who appreciate freedom, need to read this book to understand the cost of freedom.
The book is written in a style, which is easy to read. Ambrose goess into great depth to understand the nature of these men and their willingness to deny self for the war effort. I haven't seen the HBO miniseries, but this has inspired me to do such. I especiaaly liked the last chapter, when he gave updates on the men post-war
Rating:
Summary: The Swankster
Review: The Band of Brothers was an enthralling tale of heroism and comradery, warfare and combat. It combines all your senses into one tantelizing story, done by the perfect author, Stephen Ambrose. He brings you right beside of the soldiers of the 101st. You are able to become friends with the characters, with Ambrose's unique style of writing. If you are interested in World War II this is the perfect book for you, highlighting every aspect of the American soldier during the 1940's
Rating:
Summary: Their Bonds will never be broken
Review: " From this day to the ending of the world,
...we in it shall be remembered
...we band of brothers." Henry V by William Shakespeare In Band of Brothers, Stephen E. Ambrose pays tribute to the men of Easy Company, a crack rifle company in the US Army. From their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the dangerous parachute landings on D-Day and their triumphant capture of Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest' in Berchtesgarden, Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. Repeatedly sent on the toughest missions, these brave men fought, went hungry, froze and died in the service of their country.
This book gives us an insight into the true bond of friendship that these brave people held. In the words of Mike Ranney to his grandson, when asked, 'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?'
Ranney answered 'No, but I sereved in a company of heroes'.
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