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Title: The Story of World War II by Donald L. Miller, Henry Steele Commager ISBN: 0-7432-1198-7 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 November, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.46 (13 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Great for a general overview of America's role in WWII
Comment: I really enjoyed this book. For a long time I wanted to read a general history of the entire second world war, and the nice thing about this particular one is its use of some more contemporary perspectives. The book is split almost evenly between Miller and Commager's informative text and first person accounts by the soldiers and reporters who were actually in these battles. As such it paints a vivid portrait of the asolute hell that the world was so relentlessly plunged headfirst into in the first half of the 20th Century. There is emotion as well as research here, and a nice tribute paid to the black and Asian soldiers who fought on behalf of their country - a country which had, paradoxically, treated them with such disdain. This really is not a comprehensive history, per se, but at about 650 pages for the entire war, it never could be. It is an engaging, enlightening, and disturbing book, though, which is all one could ask from a general history. Lots of pictures and about 25 maps round it out - there could stand to be some more maps, but I used the Cassell Atlas of the Second World War to supplement this with. Another good point is that this is really a high quality book. It is oversized and a bit heavy, and the paper is a thick stock with very easy typeface. The book also lies flat, which might be an important consideration. This was obviously the pet project of someone at Simon & Shuster, because in packaging and presentation this book is a cut above most new history books. A fine volume, and a welcome addition to anyone's library, be it a supplement to other history texts or not. I know that I will refer back to it when I continue my ongoing studies on the Pacific War, and that says quite about about its importance right there.
Rating: 4
Summary: America at War
Comment: This 'revised and updated' version of the original written by Henry Commager is a prime example of why it is important to understand the origins and biases of the author behind the work. To quote Miller from his preface, "Commager was, understandably, too emotionally involved in the war to write an unsparing acount of it.", and of himself he writes "...I am an American interested in the character and conduct of my countrymen."
This is not meant to detract from the quality of the work. The book is well written, with a consistent style. It is hard to tell where Commager leaves off and Miller picks up. The narrative is heavily supported by relevant passages and quotes from the soldiers and journalists involved in the action. It provides a feel for the actual events (at least as far as print can do that).
In order to fully understand historical events it is necessary to understand the various viewpoints. This book, written by Americans, primarily for Americans, presents a valuable view of one facet of the jewel that is history.
Rating: 5
Summary: The best one-volume history of the war
Comment: One-volume histories of World War II are about a dime a dozen. Most of them seem to have the words "Cambridge" or "Oxford" in their titles, ignore the Pacific war, and are deadly dull.
For an American, Miller and Commager's book is the best one-volume history I have found. I say "for an American" because the focus is on battles in which Americans were the participants. The brutal Eastern front and the war between Germany and the Soviet Union get short shrift; the spectacular air, land and sea battles of the war between the U.S. and Japan get equal attention with the Western Front battles in Europe. Miller doesn't spend a whole lot of time on the events leading up to the war. On page 19 Germany invades Poland and the same breakneck speed in moving from one major battle to another continues. The analysis of the strategy and politics behind the war is succinct but adequate to enable the reader to understand the big picture.
What makes this history better than others is the reliance of the authors on the words of the participants in the combat. One half or more of the narrative consists of quotes from eyewitnesses -- mostly soldiers and journalists -- and this gives a worms-eye view of events that seems more valid, and certainly more interesting, that the detached analysis of many writers. This book gives you a good picture and what life was likein the front lines. The text is supplemented by many good photos and maps.
If you are an American and you can only afford to buy one book on World War II, this is the one you want.
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Title: The Second World War: A Complete History by Martin Gilbert ISBN: 0805017887 Publisher: Owl Books (NY) Pub. Date: 01 November, 1991 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: Before Their Time: A Memoir by Robert Kotlowitz ISBN: 0385496036 Publisher: Anchor Books/Doubleday Pub. Date: 15 June, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: No End Save Victory: Perspectives on World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose, Robert Cowley ISBN: 0425183386 Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group Pub. Date: 01 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The Second World War by John Keegan ISBN: 014011341X Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 1990 List Price(USD): $20.95 |
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Title: With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene B. Sledge ISBN: 0195067142 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: 01 September, 1990 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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