The Greatest Generation

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Summary: A valuable lesson in patriotism
Review: Wonderful stories about Americans who sacrificed for the good of the country. This book should be mandatory reading for Civics classes from this day forward. The people depicted and the others of our parents generation are the backbone of this country......and they're fading away.

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Summary: Gen X'ers And Beyond Don't Bother
Review: A credible and capable journalist as Brokaw is he should know better than to compare apples to oranges with his declaration that WWII was the 'greatest generation'. NO ONE, even a knowledgeable man like Tom (sic sic), can make a statement like that. Each generation in the world (and not just those individuals in the USA, Tom) has their own positives and negatives. As an X'er that served in the Army during the Gulf War, and now a capable employee working at a major telecommunications company in the private sector, I can assure you that today's armed forces are more than equal to the task of a (God forbid) third world war. This book disappointed me a great deal. I went into it hoping I'd get a window into this incredible period of time and the people involved. What I GOT was a lecture that reminded me of the tired old tales I've heard a million different times from grouchy old men I've met in my life. Building up or promoting one generation doesn't mean you have to tear down another (or ALL the others!). Mr. Brokaw should know this as a journalist and should've edited out the 'sour grapes' comments from the men and women interviewed. The WWII generation was great, no question at all, but the greatest? And the speculation that todays men and women couldn't have done the same in the same time is laughable. It's the same as saying that those men and women couldn't have achieved the technological feats that the our generation has. There's no way they could've built the Internet or the Stealth Bomber from scratch (a common thread/boast in this book), but I not arrogant enough to assume that they couldn't have if the roles were reversed. It's a shame this 'downspeak' runs throughout the memoirs of this book. It taints otherwise heroic, inspiring, and note-worthy accomplishments. X'ers, don't read this book without expecting some bullets shot in your direction. There's enough for all of those to earn are own combat badges.

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Summary: Excellent capturing of my parents' generation..
Review: Tom Brokaw does an excellent job of interviewing and capturing the impact of WWII on the lives of these heroes and heroines. The war experience was the common bond that elevated this generation to strive for greatness not only for their own lives but for the entire nation. Brokaw, drawing from his vast experience and skills as a newscaster, is able to extract stories of great bravery and self responsibility from each of the individuals interviewed. He brings out the sense of loyalty, duty, honor, respect and self worth, not found in today's generation.

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Summary: A wee book
Review: A little bit of fluff. Superficial. Shallow

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Summary: This book has lessons to learn.
Review: My father died on board ship in 1945 and was buried at sea, I was only 2 yrs old. This book makes me sad to think of all the lessons he could have taught me. If you read this book make sure you have a box of tissues close by for the tears you will shed both of sadness and joy. It truly was are greatest generation

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Summary: THE GREATEST OF THE PAST, THE FOCUS OF THE FUTURE
Review: At first, I avoided Tom Brokaw's THE GREATES GENERATION due to the promotional publicity it has received. When I learned that John Caulfield, was one of the people interviewed by Brokaw, I picked up the book and was immediately fascinated by the insight it provides to our parents' (yes I am a baby boomer) generation and world they made for us. THE GREATET GENERATION is one of those books of which you can read any chapter or part in any order. Together the people profiled present a picture of an American with a mission and a generation committed to that mission. They fought the Good War, as Studs Turkels similar work chronicled. Today, we need a focus for the future and I recommend another book THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION by Mitchell, Coles and Metz as a blueprint for how our generation and the next can develop the organizational skills to achieve exponential growth in the 21 Century.

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Summary: Interesting stories of American heroes during WW2
Review: This book was an interesting colaboration of stories by Tom Brokaw. It takes place during World War 2 and touches on every subject for combat heroes overseas to heroes in America making supplies for those overseas. I really enjoyed this book even though some of the stories were a little slow and not action packed. Still they were writen with good insight to give you the feeling you actually know the person. There were many man and women who put their lives on the line for their country and they need to be remembered so that the youth of America will learn the lessons they are telling. Overall this was a good book with good explanations and descriptions even with the occasional story that I think should have been left out.

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Summary: He nailed his main theme pretty well.
Review: Tom's book was a good read. Overall I would rate it as "ok". He nailed his main theme pretty well. The people who fought the war and suffered all of it's horrors came home afterwards and went quietly about their business without fanfare and with no complaining or demands for retributions. That was certainly true to a large extent. However, there actually was a good deal of fanfare and celebration when they arrived home. There was also a huge effort on the part of the government to provide medical assistance and educational opportunites, a point that Brokaw covers but not with the emphasis that it deserves. The G.I. Bill of Rights was probably the finest and one of the most far-reaching government benefits ever conceived. There were also considerable efforts in towns and communities throughout the country. Efforts on the part of private citizens, businesses, churches and other community organizations to welcome home the veterans and to help them get re-established. I know from my own experiences as a youngsterr of 15 that many good deeds were done by many good people. Indeed it was a great generation and those who returrned from the war were magnanimous in their victory. But Brokaw misses a great opportunity to properly credit the millions of ordinary men who were most instrumental in winning the victory and rebuilding their lives and their country in the aftermath. He prefers instead to cite those who became famous and wealthy, those who became well known politicians and those who suffered discrimination on top of their other trevails. Discrimination was a problem during the war but was not the practice of most people, as Brokaw's narrative seems to suggest. In fact the problem was addressed in many ways during the war. A look at today's military will show that the "greatest generation" did not ignore the problem but faced it head on. Today's military exemplifies non-discrimination; a point not mentioned by Brokaw. Brokaw's victims and other non-ordinary folks certainly did their part but by anyone's count, the war was fought and won by ordinary men doing extraordinary things. Of the forty people cited by Brokaw only eight are in this category. As a result this book gives a slanted and inaccurate picture of who did what to whom and for whom. I think of my brother-in-law Jigger and my Uncle Bill and others who I knew who fought in the war and experienced it's horrors and who returned to their homes their families and their work and who demanded nothing but freedom to do so. I expected Mr. Brokaw's book to filled with the stories of such people but there were only eight. The rest was whining about discrimination or extolling the virtues of the rich and famous who were privileged to serve with the ordinary (who really weren't so ordinary). I can't help concluding that Mr. Brokaw dropped the ball at the one-yard line. With two out bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Mr. Brokaw struck out. The truly great book about the generation of World War II is yet to written. Donald R. MacDonough

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Summary: A Time to Reflect
Review: In speaking with my Grandfather, and in my various trips to Archives II at College Park, I've come to have a better understanding of what "The Greatest Generation" means.

The stories within these pages not only reflect a time of war, but a time of morality, freedom and those who felt an obligation or calling to fight for those ideals. My Grandfather is one such man.

Joseph A. Dean of the 1268 Combat Engineers may not have been in the thick of battle but his stories and life mirror those within these pages. I thank him and those that went to war along side him, because they took the terrible hand that was delt to them, and made it work. To those that have been offended by this work, I ask you to reflect on your life. The Generation spoke of in this book fought for your rights, and many gave up their lives so you could speak your mind. Isn't it time you use your mind for more than harsh words and sophomoric remarks?

Thank you Mr. Brokaw, and thank you Pappa D.!

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Summary: If You Like this try My American Century by Studs Terkel
Review: Mr. Terkel has been studying this generation for years,and has collected many of his stories in the aforementioned book. This is a great book too, but I'm getting tired of friends asking me if I've read this just because its the hot best seller. A book doesn't have to be popular to be good!