Citizen Soldiers : The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany -- June 7, 1944-May 7, 1945

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Summary: My Introduction to World War II
Review: As a budding World War II scholar, I found this book to be one of the best I've ever read. Stephen Ambrose captures the imagination with cold, hard facts. He makes you feel what it was really like in the cold trenches of the Bulge, the frustration of the Hedgerows in Normandy, and the exuberance of rolling past the Siegfried Line and into the heart of Germany. A must read and a true companion to 'D-Day'.

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Summary: an excellent books
Review: Citizen Soldiers is a wonderful book and, for a work of such erudition, a remarkably swift read. Mr. Ambrose succeeds admirably in depicting both the horrors that faced American front-line soldiers in Normandy, and that peculiarly American blend of integrity, good humor and cynicism that saw (most) of them through the proverbial Valley. This is one historian who writes with the sort of immediacy and clarity that would've done Ernie Pyle proud.

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Summary: My Introduction to World War II
Review: I happened upon this book at work over seven years ago and started it for lack of reading material. This book started my education into the world of the World War II. Ambrose not only tells you what happened in a time line that is easy to follow, he tells you about life for the average infantryman in the war. It is a must read for anyone studying the war, or a soldiers life in any war, for a hobby or for education. I have given this book as a gift to friends and family members who show an interest in World War II, and I consider it the best World War II book I have read to date after now reading over a hundred other books on this war and soldier's lives in battle. This book and Band of Brothers are by far my favorite two books on the subject.

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Summary: Very awesome book
Review: I have always loved war novels and movies, however, I failed to ever learn about the facts of what really happened. All I ever learned was fiction. When I started reading this book, I found myself shocked, proud, disturbed, but moved. It takes you from the foxholes of the Bulge to the doctors in the field hospitals. Filled with first person accounts and photographs, Citizen Soldiers portrays life for the average soldier. It is also filled with intersting tidbits. Although it is a history book, it doesn't read like a textbook as Ambrose is a brilliant writer and historian. Even if you do not like history or war, I think you will find yourself intrigued. Thank you for reading my review. :-)

Rating:
Summary: Very awesome book
Review: I have always loved war novels and movies, however, I failed to ever learn about the facts of what really happened. All I ever learned was fiction. When I started reading this book, I found myself shocked, proud, disturbed, but moved. It takes you from the foxholes of the Bulge to the doctors in the field hospitals. Filled with first person accounts and photographs, Citizen Soldiers portrays life for the average soldier. It is also filled with intersting tidbits. Although it is a history book, it doesn't read like a textbook as Ambrose is a brilliant writer and historian. Even if you do not like history or war, I think you will find yourself intrigued. Thank you for reading my review. :-)

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Summary: Ambrose phones in another one
Review: The scandal regarding Ambroses's plagiarism come home to roost in this mediocre effort. The "book" is actually a collection of thinly related anecdotes, many less than a paragraph in length, haphazardly pasted together between the bindings. In fact, Ambrose in places plagiarized himself, cutting and pasting passages from his other publications. Moreover, it is apparent from the uneven editing and shifting writing styles that several authors were at work here, at least two of whom lack basic english skills. Themeless, incoherent, cursory, and on occasion simply wrong historically, this publication hardly merits the effort to turn the pages. In essence, while many of the little stories are interesting, the book fails on all levels. It is too cursory to be regarded as a serious history, yet lacks the coherence necessary to stand as a survey of the last ten months of the war. The writing style is too sophomoric to qualify as a "young adult" work, much less as "adult." Both the writing style and the depth of analysis are appropriate for preteens, but many of the anecdotes are too graphic and much of the language too salty for its inadvertently intended audience. It must be regarded a shame that those who purportedly heaped praise upon the work couldn't be bothered to read it first. Apart from several alleged quotations, there is nothing here that a college freshman couldn't accumulate by spending a few days in any decent university library.

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Summary: An honest account of the ground war in Europe
Review: This book is capable of changing the way you look at yourself. The way in which the hellish reality of front line war was brought to life through accounts from veterans depicting the fear, cold and fatigue, coupled with the underlying tone that most of the soldiers who endured this were very young men from ordinary backgrounds, was profound. The accounts of medics and nurses, logistics, tank units etc were equally fascinating. The book had the strange effect of making me think that I have been living most of my life in a void by not knowing any of this. This is a must read for anyone looking for an honest account of the ground war in Europe and is truly a masterpiece.

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Summary: Should be required reading for all military Officers
Review: This book should be on the required reading lists for all Military Officers and for infantrymen of all ages and ranks. I am a serving Infantry Officer and Citizen Soldiers has had a huge impact on my view of the Infantryman's role in World War II. Ambrose has brought his signature style of first-hand oral histories to the plight of the common front-line grunt - and it has resulted in a masterpiece. The book is truly gripping, and will reveal new facets of the ground war in Europe, even to someone who is well read in World War II hisory. I highly recommend this book.

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Summary: one of the best history books I have read.
Review: This book will make you appreciate what all the men who fought in WWII went through. It should be read by every student to see the sacrifices so many have made.

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Summary: A nice balance of the big picture and the nitty gritty
Review: This is a series of anecdotes about soldiers' lives. The author keeps his narrative moving and provides a nice mix of the big picture and vivid snippets. He generally lets the facts speak for themselves. It's a story of regular guys accomplishing something spectacular in a horrible situation. As a baby boomer, it is hard to imagine what WWII was like. This book helps me begin to appreciate the "greatest generation." The narration is excellent. The maps that come with the CDs are much too small. You will want to access to a good WWII atlas.