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fin_tfe's review against another edition
5.0
A comprehensive coverage of the Vietnam War, Hastings does a thorough job of covering the conflict in a manner which rightfully exposes the failures, atrocities, and some rightful actions committed by both sides.
At 650 pages it is fairy long, but no content felt irrelevant. An important book to read for anyone thinking about the failures of Western intervention, be it past or present.
At 650 pages it is fairy long, but no content felt irrelevant. An important book to read for anyone thinking about the failures of Western intervention, be it past or present.
johnlambrechts's review against another edition
4.0
Good coverage but I haven't read any other Epic about Vietnam. Enjoyable learning experience.
natepohana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
4.75
I wanted a single book that covered the entirety of the conflict in Vietnam and this did just that, in sometimes excruciating detail. The writing style takes a little time to get used to but it did click with me eventually. This was a challenge to get through but one I’m glad I did. Not for the faint of heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
jimbowen0306's review
4.0
Thorough, but... has a point of view.
At the title might suggest, this book explains the history of Vietnam from 1945, when France tried to reclaim control after WWII, and 1975, 2 years after the Americans beat a retreat, with their tail between their legs. Prior to this, there's a breezy run through of the history of Vietnam, to set the scene.
The book is thorough, and talks you through the history of Vietnam in the 1940s to 1970s in some detail. If you wanted a one book chronology of what happened there, this would be it. Hastings suggests this isn't your typical history book (it's more... journalistic), but it is a complete read on the issue.
The first of two grumbles would be that Hastings has an opinion, and isn't scared to state it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it did make me wonder if Hastings was wrong on certain things. As an example, Ho Chi Minh famously called the American government "stupid" for assassinating Diem (the South Vietnamese President). This isn't mentioned, or addressed, in the book (because Hastings was... less than convinced by Diem himself), and made me wonder what else was left out, because it didn't fit his narrative.
The other thing is that Hastings doesn't go into as much detail about why the Americans didn't invade North Vietnam, as I would have liked. He's clear it wouldn't have worked, but doesn't state why, as clearly as I would have liked.
At the title might suggest, this book explains the history of Vietnam from 1945, when France tried to reclaim control after WWII, and 1975, 2 years after the Americans beat a retreat, with their tail between their legs. Prior to this, there's a breezy run through of the history of Vietnam, to set the scene.
The book is thorough, and talks you through the history of Vietnam in the 1940s to 1970s in some detail. If you wanted a one book chronology of what happened there, this would be it. Hastings suggests this isn't your typical history book (it's more... journalistic), but it is a complete read on the issue.
The first of two grumbles would be that Hastings has an opinion, and isn't scared to state it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it did make me wonder if Hastings was wrong on certain things. As an example, Ho Chi Minh famously called the American government "stupid" for assassinating Diem (the South Vietnamese President). This isn't mentioned, or addressed, in the book (because Hastings was... less than convinced by Diem himself), and made me wonder what else was left out, because it didn't fit his narrative.
The other thing is that Hastings doesn't go into as much detail about why the Americans didn't invade North Vietnam, as I would have liked. He's clear it wouldn't have worked, but doesn't state why, as clearly as I would have liked.