https://archive.org/details/vietnamhistory00karn_0
Paperback $47.20
Stanley Karnow
Vietnam: A History Paperback – 1 June 1997
by Stanley Karnow (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (417)
Edition: 2nd Revised ed.
"A landmark work...The most complete account to date of the Vietnam tragedy." -The Washington Post Book World
This monumental narrative clarifies, analyzes, and demystifies the tragic ordeal of the Vietnam war. Free of ideological bias, profound in its undertsanding, and compassionate in its human portrayls, it is filled with fresh revelations drawn from secret documents and from exclusive interviews with participants-French, American, Vietnamese, Chinese: diplomats, military commanders, high government officials, journalists, nurses, workers, and soldiers. Originally published a companion to the Emmy-winning PBS series, Karnow's defining book is a precursor to Ken Burns's ten-part forthcoming documentary series, The Vietnam War. Vietnam: A History puts events and decisions into such sharp focus that we come to understand - and make peace with - a convulsive epoch of our recent history.
"This is history writing at its best." -Chicago Sun-Times
"Even those of us who think we know something about it will read with fascination." -The New York Times
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The Vietnam War
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Review
"The most comprehensive, up-to-date, and balanced account we have." -Boston Globe
"This is history writing at its best." -Chicago Sun-Times
"Even those of us who think we know something about it will read with fascination." -The New York Times
"A landmark work...The most complete account to date of the Vietnam tragedy." -The Washington Post Book World
About the Author
Stanley Karnow (1925-2013) is the author of, among other books,
the bestselling Vietnam: A History and
the Pulitzer Prize-winning In Our Image: America and the Philippines.
Product details
Publisher : Penguin Books
Publication date : 1 June 1997
Edition : 2nd Revised ed.
Language : English
Print length : 784 pages
==
120 in History of Vietnam
171 in History of Southeast Asia
Customer Reviews:
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (417)
===
K V ramesh
5.0 out of 5 stars EssentialReviewed in India on 23 December 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
An essential history of Vietnam . Released around mid 1980s , the book takes a historical view starting from early 8th or 9th century till the modern era , ending in the 1980 border clashes with China . In the process it is clear to the reader that the Vietnamese have a long history of fighting against any kind of foreign invaders, The two wars - against the French and the Americans - was but the last chapter in a long and complex history .
Highly recommended
Report
C. Overgaard
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding BookReviewed in the United States on 8 November 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This outstanding book deservedly won a Pulitzer Prize. It benefitted from the fact that Karnow was a journalist in Vietnam for several years and, in addition to being able to interview many of the key United States figures, was able to interview important Vietnamese military and political people some years after the war ended. An example of this is that a Vietnam military person admitted that the Tet Offensive, although very significant from a political standpoint, was a failure militarily and a mistake. Karnow describes in great detail the process by which the United States became embroiled in Vietnam during the Kennedy administration and became increasingly embroiled during the Johnson and Nixon administrations to their great consternation. We learn that some people, including McNamara and Clark Clifford, enthusiastically supported the War but became disenchanted as time went by to the point that Clifford worked behind the scenes to reduce our involvement.
Karnow relates how U.S. military leaders consistently favored more soldiers on the ground and more bombing while Presidents Johnson and later Nixon vastly overstated our military success. We learned some key things that are still not fully appreciated:
1. We need to better understand the history of any country with which we become involved militarily, including the nature of its people and their aspirations. If we had fully appreciated that, we would never have become militarily involved in Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted more than anything to have an independent nation after centuries of domination by China and decades of domination by France. Ironically, Ho Chi Minh comes across as a somewhat sympathetic person.
2. Just as we learned in World War II, bombing does not win wars. More bombs were dropped by the United States in Vietnam than during the entire Second World War yet the bombing was largely unsuccessful.
3. Motivation means everything. The South Vietnamese soldiers we trained were no match for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese because the latter were much more motivated.
4. Our support of local governments can be counterproductive. The South Vietnam government was largely corrupt and much of the money and weapons we supplied to it was wasted.
5 As great as our military is in fighting conventional wars, it is much more of a struggle when the enemy soldiers do not wear uniforms and blend with the local population. This was a constant problem in Vietnam that led to many U.S. casualties and also to the killing of innocent civilians.
Krakow's narrative, as great as it, does not quite do justice to what happened in Laos. The U.S. was forbidden to send military forces into Laos but the CIA conducted a massive secret war there that included enlisting the help of Hmongs who were courageous fighters against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese as they sent supplies down the Ho Chi Minh trail.
I did find the last chapter was somewhat disorganized and somewhat confusing chronologically. But that s a minor criticism. I highly recommend the book and for me, the paperback edition was preferable to the Kindle edition partly because of the many photographs.
Read more
Report
Thomé Madeira
5.0 out of 5 stars The Ordeal of NationsReviewed in Brazil on 2 September 2021
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A precise and excellent narrative of a two-way ordeal; in one side , a nation struggling for its independence from colonial powers, and seekin its own ways to succeed; in other , an overwhelming power and its fight for influence in worldwide scale ; in the middle , peasants and poor people that have no way but escape , trying to find a better living overseas; the fall of a creed that guided America for centuries and had the debacle in a war wrongly fought....Must Read !
Report
MROSE
5.0 out of 5 stars Turned up promptly and a very interesting read. Bought ...Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Turned up promptly and a very interesting read. Bought following the recent series on BBC4 for an insight into what happened.
Report
Felipe Vargas
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!!!Reviewed in Mexico on 14 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A must to have about Vietnam war, superb and exhaustive description of a tragedy, fundamental text for anyone serious knowing Vietnam history and Vietnam war
Report
Translate review to English
See more reviews
Product details
Publisher : Penguin Books
Publication date : 1 June 1997
Edition : 2nd Revised ed.
Language : English
Print length : 784 pages
==
120 in History of Vietnam
171 in History of Southeast Asia
Customer Reviews:
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (417)
===
K V ramesh
5.0 out of 5 stars EssentialReviewed in India on 23 December 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
An essential history of Vietnam . Released around mid 1980s , the book takes a historical view starting from early 8th or 9th century till the modern era , ending in the 1980 border clashes with China . In the process it is clear to the reader that the Vietnamese have a long history of fighting against any kind of foreign invaders, The two wars - against the French and the Americans - was but the last chapter in a long and complex history .
Highly recommended
Report
C. Overgaard
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding BookReviewed in the United States on 8 November 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This outstanding book deservedly won a Pulitzer Prize. It benefitted from the fact that Karnow was a journalist in Vietnam for several years and, in addition to being able to interview many of the key United States figures, was able to interview important Vietnamese military and political people some years after the war ended. An example of this is that a Vietnam military person admitted that the Tet Offensive, although very significant from a political standpoint, was a failure militarily and a mistake. Karnow describes in great detail the process by which the United States became embroiled in Vietnam during the Kennedy administration and became increasingly embroiled during the Johnson and Nixon administrations to their great consternation. We learn that some people, including McNamara and Clark Clifford, enthusiastically supported the War but became disenchanted as time went by to the point that Clifford worked behind the scenes to reduce our involvement.
Karnow relates how U.S. military leaders consistently favored more soldiers on the ground and more bombing while Presidents Johnson and later Nixon vastly overstated our military success. We learned some key things that are still not fully appreciated:
1. We need to better understand the history of any country with which we become involved militarily, including the nature of its people and their aspirations. If we had fully appreciated that, we would never have become militarily involved in Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted more than anything to have an independent nation after centuries of domination by China and decades of domination by France. Ironically, Ho Chi Minh comes across as a somewhat sympathetic person.
2. Just as we learned in World War II, bombing does not win wars. More bombs were dropped by the United States in Vietnam than during the entire Second World War yet the bombing was largely unsuccessful.
3. Motivation means everything. The South Vietnamese soldiers we trained were no match for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese because the latter were much more motivated.
4. Our support of local governments can be counterproductive. The South Vietnam government was largely corrupt and much of the money and weapons we supplied to it was wasted.
5 As great as our military is in fighting conventional wars, it is much more of a struggle when the enemy soldiers do not wear uniforms and blend with the local population. This was a constant problem in Vietnam that led to many U.S. casualties and also to the killing of innocent civilians.
Krakow's narrative, as great as it, does not quite do justice to what happened in Laos. The U.S. was forbidden to send military forces into Laos but the CIA conducted a massive secret war there that included enlisting the help of Hmongs who were courageous fighters against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese as they sent supplies down the Ho Chi Minh trail.
I did find the last chapter was somewhat disorganized and somewhat confusing chronologically. But that s a minor criticism. I highly recommend the book and for me, the paperback edition was preferable to the Kindle edition partly because of the many photographs.
Read more
Report
Thomé Madeira
5.0 out of 5 stars The Ordeal of NationsReviewed in Brazil on 2 September 2021
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A precise and excellent narrative of a two-way ordeal; in one side , a nation struggling for its independence from colonial powers, and seekin its own ways to succeed; in other , an overwhelming power and its fight for influence in worldwide scale ; in the middle , peasants and poor people that have no way but escape , trying to find a better living overseas; the fall of a creed that guided America for centuries and had the debacle in a war wrongly fought....Must Read !
Report
MROSE
5.0 out of 5 stars Turned up promptly and a very interesting read. Bought ...Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Turned up promptly and a very interesting read. Bought following the recent series on BBC4 for an insight into what happened.
Report
Felipe Vargas
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!!!Reviewed in Mexico on 14 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A must to have about Vietnam war, superb and exhaustive description of a tragedy, fundamental text for anyone serious knowing Vietnam history and Vietnam war
Report
Translate review to English
See more reviews
===
From Australia
Mary J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book
Reviewed in Australia on 14 February 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Very well written book
Helpful
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From other countries
K V ramesh
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential
Reviewed in India on 23 December 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
An essential history of Vietnam . Released around mid 1980s , the book takes a historical view starting from early 8th or 9th century till the modern era , ending in the 1980 border clashes with China . In the process it is clear to the reader that the Vietnamese have a long history of fighting against any kind of foreign invaders, The two wars - against the French and the Americans - was but the last chapter in a long and complex history .
Highly recommended
Report
C. Overgaard
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book
Reviewed in the United States on 8 November 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This outstanding book deservedly won a Pulitzer Prize. It benefitted from the fact that Karnow was a journalist in Vietnam for several years and, in addition to being able to interview many of the key United States figures, was able to interview important Vietnamese military and political people some years after the war ended. An example of this is that a Vietnam military person admitted that the Tet Offensive, although very significant from a political standpoint, was a failure militarily and a mistake. Karnow describes in great detail the process by which the United States became embroiled in Vietnam during the Kennedy administration and became increasingly embroiled during the Johnson and Nixon administrations to their great consternation. We learn that some people, including McNamara and Clark Clifford, enthusiastically supported the War but became disenchanted as time went by to the point that Clifford worked behind the scenes to reduce our involvement.
Karnow relates how U.S. military leaders consistently favored more soldiers on the ground and more bombing while Presidents Johnson and later Nixon vastly overstated our military success. We learned some key things that are still not fully appreciated:
1. We need to better understand the history of any country with which we become involved militarily, including the nature of its people and their aspirations. If we had fully appreciated that, we would never have become militarily involved in Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted more than anything to have an independent nation after centuries of domination by China and decades of domination by France. Ironically, Ho Chi Minh comes across as a somewhat sympathetic person.
2. Just as we learned in World War II, bombing does not win wars. More bombs were dropped by the United States in Vietnam than during the entire Second World War yet the bombing was largely unsuccessful.
3. Motivation means everything. The South Vietnamese soldiers we trained were no match for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese because the latter were much more motivated.
4. Our support of local governments can be counterproductive. The South Vietnam government was largely corrupt and much of the money and weapons we supplied to it was wasted.
5 As great as our military is in fighting conventional wars, it is much more of a struggle when the enemy soldiers do not wear uniforms and blend with the local population. This was a constant problem in Vietnam that led to many U.S. casualties and also to the killing of innocent civilians.
Krakow's narrative, as great as it, does not quite do justice to what happened in Laos. The U.S. was forbidden to send military forces into Laos but the CIA conducted a massive secret war there that included enlisting the help of Hmongs who were courageous fighters against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese as they sent supplies down the Ho Chi Minh trail.
I did find the last chapter was somewhat disorganized and somewhat confusing chronologically. But that s a minor criticism. I highly recommend the book and for me, the paperback edition was preferable to the Kindle edition partly because of the many photographs.
33 people found this helpful
Report
Thomé Madeira
5.0 out of 5 stars The Ordeal of Nations
Reviewed in Brazil on 2 September 2021
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A precise and excellent narrative of a two-way ordeal; in one side , a nation struggling for its independence from colonial powers, and seekin its own ways to succeed; in other , an overwhelming power and its fight for influence in worldwide scale ; in the middle , peasants and poor people that have no way but escape , trying to find a better living overseas; the fall of a creed that guided America for centuries and had the debacle in a war wrongly fought....Must Read !
Report
MROSE
5.0 out of 5 stars Turned up promptly and a very interesting read. Bought ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Turned up promptly and a very interesting read. Bought following the recent series on BBC4 for an insight into what happened.
One person found this helpful
Report
Felipe Vargas
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!!!
Reviewed in Mexico on 14 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A must to have about Vietnam war, superb and exhaustive description of a tragedy, fundamental text for anyone serious knowing Vietnam history and Vietnam war
Report
Translate review to English
Trovan
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in Canada on 7 November 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Long read, good references
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Valerio Pastore
5.0 out of 5 stars Se potessi, di stelle gliene darei SEI
Reviewed in Italy on 4 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Tutto quello che avete visto al cinema, visto in qualche documentario…scoprirete di non avere mai ricevuto un’informazione accurata, super partes, sulle origini di questo conflitto che regalò il marchio dell’infamia al Secolo Americano. Scoprirete da questo libro quali intrighi, quali menzogne, quali errori abbiano trasformato un problema strettamente locale in un conflitto che ha distrutto due presidenze americane e infranto il sogno di una generazione che sognava la pace.
Un'opera completa come poche, narrata senza prendere parti, degna di un vero professionista!
One person found this helpful
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eugenio kvaternik
5.0 out of 5 stars American strategy in Vietnqm
Reviewed in Germany on 5 February 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I AM WRITING A BOOK ON INSURGENCY AND COUNTERONSRGENCY in Argentina usine Vietnam comparstvely
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars indispensable
Reviewed in France on 4 July 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
pour qui veux comprendre la guerre du vietnam dans son ensemble.
des colonisateurs jusqu'a la fin de la guerre en 1975 ce livre retrace avec brio la guerre du vietnam
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