James Walker

solid, comprehensive, infprmstive

Revisado: 09-01-24

narrators voice doesn't convey much emotion, narrative structure rather repetitive and formulaic, otherwise a first rate resource on this campaign

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So profound in every sense of the word.

Revisado: 08-28-22

This might be one of the most important works ever to come out on the marine experience of the vietnam war. Just incredible. It’s read so well too, all the way down to the drunken slurs and intonations. I was just riveted by the end. It takes you deep into the jungle and doesn’t let you out. My heart goes out to marlantes and every other marine with a similar experience in this theater, and my heart bleeds for the infighting and unnecessary deaths Americans caused one another in this war. Well done, marlantes. 30 years of work well spent.

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A pretty dry technical read that doesn’t give much for the imagination

Revisado: 02-15-22

This might have been my toughest military history audiobook yet. Just didn’t grab me at any point. There was a chapter on theory and doctrine in the middle of the book that was surprisingly enthralling, otherwise the book was repetitive, extremely dry, and meandering.

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One of the most powerful stories I have ever heard

Revisado: 03-28-21

There is a reason this is one of the top audiobooks out there. Since starting audiobooks I have restrained myself almost exclusively to military history books. When I didn’t know what other period I could possibly learn more about, I decided to try out a memoir. This book has inspired me to listen to the more intimate and personal side of literature as it can be so much more fulfilling. Amazingly captivating book from start to finish.

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Like his book on vietnam, a truly gratifying, educational, introspective, and all encompassing experience

Revisado: 03-23-21

While the book is a bit dated at this point, it provides the most essential account of the Korean War. It bears some resemblances in narrative structure to Tradegy, such as focusing on the experiences of pows and the airmen by about the 2/3 or 3/4 point, which isn’t bad just something I noticed. Also like Tragedy, the last chapter is an almost awe-inspiring exercise in reflection, summary, introspection and making you feel like you understand the conflict as well as most historians. Has made me think twice about my views on Communism, and the best use of limited warfare.

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Quite possibly my favorite military history book yet

Revisado: 02-25-21

Max Hastings does such a good job bringing everything together and describing the conflict in such coherent, comprehensive terms with incredible attention to moral justice, hindsight, and personal experiences from all three core perspectives of the conflict. I really have rarely felt like such a book taught me so much about a war I knew a little about, but not a lot. Every American, whether they’re a Socialist or far right conservative, should read this. There is a lot to learn from it, and as Hastings says in the final lines, if we had learned from this experience, us foreign policy and the world we live in today would be much much different.

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A wide sweeping tale of history’s most megolomaniacal and greatest murderer

Revisado: 01-15-21

The book seemed well resesrch and very thorough. Really opened my eyes to the state of China throughout much of the 20th century. I do wish there was a chapter that elaborated on what happened after he passed, but I suppose it made sense for the book to end when he did.

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About to relisten to this book

Revisado: 12-22-20

About to relisten to this book to prep for a book on mao after a pretty weak last choice. I remember loving this book, and wishing I could endlessly listen to books like this that tell large swathes of history with beauty, ease, elegance, and heart.

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A hard to follow account of Stalin with some periods of enthralling storytelling

Revisado: 12-22-20

This is honestly my least favorite history audiobook I have listened to yet. Most of the book is mired in Russian politics, which is fine, but with little to no illustration of most figures. Names blend together, and there are countless Russian words inserted that if you don’t know Russian or Stalinist history by heart are lost upon you. I was hoping for an enthralling and truly engaging introduction to the understanding of Stalinist Russia, and instead I got something rather dry and without much focused narrative.

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Wonderful, in depth, comprehensive telling of the pacific war

Revisado: 12-13-20

The beginning is a little slow and it’s hard to keep track of some of the internal politics in this part, but most of the book brims with majesty, imagery, and wonderful narration. Very comprehensive, concerning more specifically the war with America. He does skim some of the peripheral theaters of the war, like Singapore and Burma.

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