David Trindle

Not good history

Revisado: 03-07-25

I didn’t know whether to give this three or four stars, but I think it’s sufficiently flawed to give it three stars.

I didn’t like the author’s gratuitous trashing of another author, and some politicians, without supporting facts.

This led me to think that there were other biases buried in the text that I might not catch.

Another problem which virtually ruined this book for me was that the author seemed to feel that he was obliged to give “both sides “of every issue even when one of the sides might be Quite weak and not really supported by the American people. This harks to the “Whataboutism” we have in journalism today. And it doesn’t sufficiently acknowledge that for the years 1953–60, Eisenhower was the most respected and popular man in the United States and much of the world.

The author promoted (without providing any analysis) the old myth that FDR “ gave away” eastern Europe to the Soviets at the Yalta conference at the end of the war. This strays from consensus among modern historians that there was absolutely nothing that FDR could do to save Eastern in Europe. We barely had a big enough army in Europe to defeat the Nazis and Italians. It’s doubtful that the American people, already anxious to get the boys home, would be enthusiastic about extending the war into eastern Europe, attempting to displace and push back the Soviet armies, which were already in possession of the land! At that point, the red army was the largest army in the world. And the US was facing the probable invasion of Japan at that time, requiring additional troops, and vast numbers of American casualties. It’s simply ridiculous to try to argue that FDR had the resources and the support of the American people needed to extend the war, perhaps for years, to rescue eastern Europe. Enslavement of eastern Europe was already a fate accomplished by the time of the Ulta conference.

The book is easy to read, and there are some good chapters, but I do not recommend it because there are Other, better, less biased, more complete books on the subject.

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Realistic, excellent reader, great story.

Revisado: 11-30-24

This was a beautifully written and red story that took my imagination to the actual conditions, events,, emotions, battles, and the relationships among the fighting marines. This is the second time I’ve listened to this story, and I am enjoying it as much the second time as the first.

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Wonderful overview

Revisado: 08-03-24

I’ve spent a lifetime studying history of all kinds through all periods of human recorded history, yet I learned a tremendous additional amount from this wonderful book.

The problem is studying history in school, etc. is that you can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s all about this and that emperor or this and that king and this war and that war, but it’s never seen in any sense of wholeness.

this book solves that problem beautifully it brings together all the different things. I’ve learned over the years in a cogent narrative that makes sense and is consistent.

I will read this book again and probably a third time.

The reader is top notch.

A small complaint: the last two chapters seem to get very negative and heavy and not very helpful. So after listening to a little bit from each, I just skip them.

Overall, this is one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of reading (or listening to)) in my life.

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Classic Bruce Catton

Revisado: 07-24-24

Hundreds of authors, have written wonderful books about all aspects of the Civil War. But so far, no one has risen to the level of Bruce Cotton, let alone surpassed. It is a pure joy to experience the writing of this great author.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

The voice of my grandparents’ generation.

Revisado: 07-10-24

Steinbeck is so easy to listen to. This particular nonfiction work is rare taste of his nonfiction work.

Reading this, give me the idea of going back and rereading Tannery Row or the grapes of wrath.

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Terrible narration

Revisado: 06-26-24

Narrator has very unpleasant voice that is harsh and grating. The beautiful writing cannot overcome the awful narration.

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Very detailed

Revisado: 05-17-24

Excellent storytelling about braver in Vietnam I had not known about, it often kept me on the edge of my seat. Many parts were very emotional

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One of the greatest or the greatest Vietnam War I have ever read

Revisado: 01-30-24

This is a beautifully written, almost lyrical, memoir of a marines experience on long range, reconnaissance missions into the vast Highlands of Vietnam. It captures the terror of battle, the bravery of the men who volunteered for these missions. It captures the sights sounds, and smells of Vietnam at war, I will plan to save this and listen to it again in a few months.

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Disappointing

Revisado: 01-20-24

This is all done in a thick, upper-class British accent, which I found difficult to follow as an American. The stories were not that compelling, and about half of them. I just did not follow at all.

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Excellent book, well written

Revisado: 11-01-23

An unusual angle on WWII from the axis point of view. Also, a number of myths about the German-Italian cooperation are debunked.

The reader is excellent. I am looking up any other books he read.

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