Rating:  Summary: An incredible story, but poorly written. Review: I enjoyed this book, but ultimately felt dissappointed in Ambrose's slack writing style (at one point he describes tanks that sank in the water off Omaha Beach as having gone "glub glub." C'mon.) and the lack of any strong historical analysis. The book is excellent to the extent that reading it feels like you're sitting at a bar with a bunch of vets and they are telling you their stories. It is very focused on the American experience at Normandy, with relatively little on the British and Canadian roles (even though the Brits attacked more beaches than the Yanks). The book also does not put D-Day in any critical context of its role in the war. Was it an important event? Of course, but I would have enjoyed more analysis that compared D-Day to other events in the European theater of the War--like the battles in Russia which arguably were more important to the ultimate defeat of Hitler than D-Day. Was D-Day the "climactic battle of WWII?" I would have liked a stronger argument from Ambrose that indeed it was. Ambrose is a better writer and historian than this book suggests--check out "Undaunted Courage" if you want to read some first-rate history crisply and compelling written. D-Day is good, but not great.
Rating:  Summary: Excellent commentary, a great read! Review: If you have any interest in the D-Day Invasion this is the book to read. Ambrose's compilation of oral historys makes the book come alive. I read it on the way to visit Normandy in '94. Don't miss it.
Rating:  Summary: Saving Private Ryan Review: After seeing "Saving Private Ryan" I was left with a lot of questions about what happened on D-day. This book answered those questions. I think this book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand what it must have been like to live through this time in history.
Rating:  Summary: I found this to be an excellent history of D-Day. Review: As a history teacher I have used this book to make D-Day come alive for my students. It contains many stories of heroism, which students enjoy. It makes history come alive for them. I found the comments of one student most interesting: "I didn't even know what D-Day was until we studied it. I wish I could shake the hand of every soldier who participated and say, Thank You!" This is an excellent book and most enjoyable reading. You can not read it without feeling tremendous appreciation for those who made such a supreme offering for the rest of humanity.
Rating:  Summary: It Will Make You Appreciate The True Cost of Freedom Review: As a hobbyist historian, especially history of this century, I found that D-Day helped put the enormity of the planning, coordination and actual attack into perspective (details that I didn't appreciate). Moreover, Steven Ambrose portrays the feelings and lives of "soldiers" as individuals and how they felt and what they endured. After reading this I toured the Imperial War Museam in London on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. I appreciate what my parents generation did to preserve my freedom.
Rating:  Summary: Compelling & A Must Read Review: At 9 years old, I heard stories from those who served in WWII. Vivid memories. This book, nothwithstanding it's historical significance, was a terrible reminder of the tragedy of war. No one wins in war and the depth of the horror is unimaginable - but this book bridges that gap. I would hope that anyone who wants to rattle their sabre would read this and realize the consequences. There is no way any of us today can thank those who served and died in WWII enough. A wonderful book to the events and courage of those who kept democracy for generations thereafter. Read it and share it with a friend.
Rating:  Summary: Stephen Ambrose is the authority on Operation Overlord Review: From the careful planning to the actual invasion, Stephen Ambrose, the director of the D-Day Museum, has captured the entire campaign of Operation Overlord like never before. You won't want to put this book down!
Rating:  Summary: Compelling book with fresh conclusions Review: I found Ambrose's narrative of the D-Day invasion to be both compelling and accesible, in contrast to other books on the subject. I also welcomed his new conclusions concerning the "German supersoldier" myth which has grown up around the "popular history" of World War II. The desire of so many people to alleviate the German military of tactical responsibility for the war's loss and moral responsibility for its commencement is disturbing, and it is refreshing to hear a contrary voice. I cried many times reading D-Day. It inspired many emotions of horror, patriotism, courage and fear, but ultimately left me with a terrible feeling of waste, as all books on war probably should.
Rating:  Summary: Compelling reading Review: I found the first-person accounts of those Americans who were there both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. Ambrose's depiction of the decimation faced on Omaha Beach brought me to tears. And suddenly, from the near-hopelessness of the battle, the courage to 'adapt and overcome' allowed those who followed on to that beach to press forward. I've read no finer tribute to those brave souls. Perhaps my single complaint is that Ambrose spent so much of his book glorifying the Americans, he seemed to gloss over the accomplishments of the British and Canadians on that day.
Rating:  Summary: One Step Away from Being on the Battlefield Review: I found it hard to put this book down; I read it in a few days. It just happens to be a great book to read for the history of D-Day and info for a battle site tour. I finished the book just before an extensive tour of the entire coast of Normandy. This book brought an entire different outlook on my visit to Normandy-definitely an unforgetable moment!
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