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Rating: 
Summary: Captivating yet Frightening
Review: Beware, this picture book of World war 2 is unsanitized. If you can stand to look at frightening pictures, this book may be for you. It reproduces pictures such as a full color photo of a German soldier being comforted by his comrades after his arm was shot off, showing his arm laying on the ground next to him and showing the dazed expression on his face. If you are not too squeamish to look at that, then you may have the stomach for this book. Many pictures of Nazi atrocities are included as well as pictures of amputee refugee children. There are many other types of photos too, such as typical battle scene shots and pictures of the homefront. However, for the most part, this book is unvarnished.We have seen many war pictures showing battle scenes. We have also seen pictures of the wounded in a somewhat unrevealing manner. This book does not hold back. If you want to see the horrors of war, buy this book but be prepared to be troubled after looking through it and if you have nightmares afterwards, don't say you were not forwarned.
Rating:
Summary: A BREATHTAKING TRIBUTE TO A HORRIFIC TIME
Review: Images of World War II are portrayed here with all the intense emotion that the memories evoke. The book was of particular interest to me since both my parents, now deceased, served in the armed forces overseas in various countries during this period of time. In addition, any publication by Life Magazine is worth its weight in gold and of extreme quality, clarity and vivid photography. This book is no exception. I recall quite clearly my mother's descriptions of the German "blitzkrieg" and the book does an excellent job of portraying that. As one turns the pages, stories unfold of a time which many of us do not fully understand or remember because we were so young at the time; however, the dramatic stories passed on to us from a previous generation come to life through the vivid pages of this book. This work is a beautiful tribute to those remaining individuals who fought for our freedom and those who gave their lives. It is a highly recommended book and most deserving of far more than five stars.
Rating:
Summary: A BREATHTAKING TRIBUTE TO A HORRIFIC TIME
Review: Images of World War II are portrayed here with all the intense emotion that the memories evoke. The book was of particular interest to me since both my parents, now deceased, served in the armed forces overseas in various countries during this period of time. In addition, any publication by Life Magazine is worth its weight in gold and of extreme quality, clarity and vivid photography. This book is no exception. I recall quite clearly my mother's descriptions of the German "blitzkrieg" and the book does an excellent job of portraying that. As one turns the pages, stories unfold of a time which many of us do not fully understand or remember because we were so young at the time; however, the dramatic stories passed on to us from a previous generation come to life through the vivid pages of this book. This work is a beautiful tribute to those remaining individuals who fought for our freedom and those who gave their lives. It is a highly recommended book and most deserving of far more than five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Pictures that Speak Volumes
Review: In Lenigrad under siege, a couple pulls a sled bearing a tiny coffin. In Coventry, a priest leads his congregation in prayer, surrounded by the ruins of their cathedral. In the field, a bleeding German soldier is comforted by his comrades, his right arm lying in the foreground. In Kent, schoolchildren watch a dogfight with expressions ranging from horror to delight. In Rotterdam, the city is leveled as far as the eye can see, except for a lone church. In an internment camp in Wyoming, two Japanese-American soldiers, visiting their families, stand honor guard beside the casket of a Japanese-American World War I veteran. Every picture in this remarkable book reminds us that the story of World War II is much more than a collection of battles and troop movements; each reminds us that the war produced a multitude of heartbreaking stories played out all over the world. The book surveys the entire war, year by year. Each year is introduced with an essay by a well-known person (e.g., writer John Keegan introduces 1944) and includes photo-biographies of distinguished and infamous people, such as FDR and Churchill, Hitler and Mussolini. Each year also includes a section called "Then/Now," which seeks to relate some aspect of the war (e.g., war criminals) to subsequent history up to present day. A minor criticism of the book is that these attempts to make the war "relevant" seems a bit of an intrusion in the telling of the larger story.
This collection of outstanding photographs is as moving as it is comprehensive. If you have a deep interest in World War II; if you are looking for an easy-to-digest survey of the entire war; if you enjoy photography as an art form; or if you are moved by depictions of the human condition, to you I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Pictures that Speak Volumes
Review: In Lenigrad under siege, a couple pulls a sled bearing a tiny coffin. In Coventry, a priest leads his congregation in prayer, surrounded by the ruins of their cathedral. In the field, a bleeding German soldier is comforted by his comrades, his right arm lying in the foreground. In Kent, schoolchildren watch a dogfight with expressions ranging from horror to delight. In Rotterdam, the city is leveled as far as the eye can see, except for a lone church. In an internment camp in Wyoming, two Japanese-American soldiers, visiting their families, stand honor guard beside the casket of a Japanese-American World War I veteran. Every picture in this remarkable book reminds us that the story of World War II is much more than a collection of battles and troop movements; each reminds us that the war produced a multitude of heartbreaking stories played out all over the world. The book surveys the entire war, year by year. Each year is introduced with an essay by a well-known person (e.g., writer John Keegan introduces 1944) and includes photo-biographies of distinguished and infamous people, such as FDR and Churchill, Hitler and Mussolini. Each year also includes a section called "Then/Now," which seeks to relate some aspect of the war (e.g., war criminals) to subsequent history up to present day. A minor criticism of the book is that these attempts to make the war "relevant" seems a bit of an intrusion in the telling of the larger story.
This collection of outstanding photographs is as moving as it is comprehensive. If you have a deep interest in World War II; if you are looking for an easy-to-digest survey of the entire war; if you enjoy photography as an art form; or if you are moved by depictions of the human condition, to you I recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for any WW2 enthusiast
Review: This book is a great collectors item for all WW2 enthusiasts and also for anyone else. It contains pictures from war torn places all over the world during that era. From spain to the beaches of Normandy and from China to North Africa, I found pictures of almost everything here.
Rating:
Summary: Contains some stunning photographs...
Review: This coffee table sized book contains some stunning and horrific photographs of World War II. Many of the photographs are in color, and many of the pictures are previously unpublished in other works. Accompanying the photos are text captions explaining the event depicted. I gave this book four stars instead of five simply because I believe two of the most significant events of the war are barely mentioned: the Holocaust, and the dropping of the Atomic bombs. In a book of this size and scope, I felt that more space should have been given to these seminal events. Regardless, this book is captivating and would make a great gift for any history buff.
Rating:
Summary: Contains some stunning photographs...
Review: This coffee table sized book contains some stunning and horrific photographs of World War II. Many of the photographs are in color, and many of the pictures are previously unpublished in other works. Accompanying the photos are text captions explaining the event depicted. I gave this book four stars instead of five simply because I believe two of the most significant events of the war are barely mentioned: the Holocaust, and the dropping of the Atomic bombs. In a book of this size and scope, I felt that more space should have been given to these seminal events. Regardless, this book is captivating and would make a great gift for any history buff.
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