Rating:  Summary: Political Cheap Shot Artist Uses WWII as "P.C." Platform Review: Brokaw, one of the New Left Elite of the Baby Boomer generation that did its level best, when its own "call to arms" came, to avoid any variety of military service, now finds it convenient to wrap himself in the glory of a very different generation, which never paused to count the cost to itself of service to its country. In a very few pages after the opening, Brokaw takes his first opportunity to deliver his first cheap shots at today's Republican Party; he doesn't miss a single chance thereafter. A paradox: Brokaw lauds the generation that won the war against fascism, yet he and his own generation, to include our own noble Commander-in-Chief, are precisely the ones who rebelled against the concepts of "duty, honor and country" their parents held so dear. This is a shallow work, and superficially written. Worse, it is a shameless pandering to the sentiments of a nation which has come only lately, through the excellent works of hard-working historians such as Steven Ambrose, and cinematography of the caliber of "Private Ryan", to recognize the sacrifices of the men and women who gave their all, so that the self-absorbed yuppies of Brokaw's generation could take it all for granted. Do I know what I'm talking about? I hold two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts; my father was an American OSS agent in Northern Europe; that generation was my guiding beacon. It's a shame that a hypocrite like Brokaw has sullied their aura by trying to ride the breaking crest of their now-diminishing wave. Don't waste your money on this book.
Rating:  Summary: A little disappointing Review: Brokaw has made the talk show rounds touting this book. He tells several excellent stories taken from the book. Turns out those were the BEST of the bunch. The rest are fairly boring. He spends too much time lecturing about the political incorrectness of the times. C'mon Tom, save the sermons and give us more heartwarming stories like the one on Art Buchwald.
Rating:  Summary: Brokaw is better on television. Review: The Greatest Generation is pretty good, considering. I mean what can one really expect by way of literature from over paid, telegenic, media stars? I enjoyed the references to Howard Stern. Too bad Brokaw didn't give Stern his own chapter. The book reminded me of Getting To Howard: The Odyssey of an Obsessed Howard Stern Fan. Now that's a great book. Sort of like Tolstoy meets Dr. Seuss.
Rating:  Summary: Found this to be excellent reading. Review: The events in this book took place during my high school years. Our only information about this time was thru the media, i.e., radio, newpaper, and movie newsreels. To read about the actual experiences of these people was eye opening and added to my understanding of that war much as the movie SAVING PRIVATE RYAN did to make more relevant. My 6th grade teacher daughter said they both should be required reading/viewing for that age group.
Rating:  Summary: Excellent, should be required reading in High schools. Review: This book is fantastic. I am 34 years old, reading this book brought back memories of all of the comments my granparents made about this time in America. This book should be required reading for High-school juniors and seniors who feel that after a community project or two (undoubtedly for school credit) feel they are "owed" something. Thank you, Mr. Browkaw, for letting me read about what I didnt have the sense to listen for (from my Grandparents). Mark K.
Rating:  Summary: How Times Have Changed Review: Although some of the chapters were redundant, The Greatest Generation is a great lesson in history and should be required reading in every high school and college throughout this nation. Then maybe...just maybe we Baby-boomers, and Generation X'ers and Angsters and Ganstas and the self-righteous, and selfish, and self-indulgent, and self-pitying might return to a value system based on responsibility, work, selflessness, fairness, commitment, honesty, and loyalty.
Rating:  Summary: Look at the reviewers who hated it. Review: I am an eighties child. Too old for gen-x, past the baby boom. I see those older than me(I am 26), as a group of people yelling "Not my fault!" The baby boomers in my opinion never grew from being just that, babies. This book details the lives of people who to take responsibility for their actions. Living the American dream was worth fighting for, and was never achieved by suing someone. The only group I know I can trust as a whole(with a few exceptions) are those from the generation presented in this book. It is only for this group that America is the great nation that it is today.
Rating:  Summary: Should have left the politics out. Review: The day I bought this book I couldn't wait to start reading it. But I soon realized it was just another Politically correct book from one of TV's talking heads. Almost every life story in the book was about how they made it through the war and into the Democratic party to make the world a better place, with a few token stories about some other people who happened to be republicans and thus thier stories were glossed over. My question is, What does politics have to do with these storise? A disappointing book over all.
Rating:  Summary: Yuppie View of WWII Americans Review: Unfortunately, this book is just a series of repetitive "snippets" that really does little to tell the story of this generation. I am about Brokaw's age and my parents and their brothers and sisters numbered 17 in total. I have heard all the stories, and have three uncles buried in Europe. I found Brocaw with little talent (this book could have been done by a mediocre college sophomore) and a love for "Brocaw". Never have I seen a "talking head" lever his TV exposure to the extent this guy has. He, like a lot of his generation gave little, reaped plenty and are looking for legitimacy via the accomplishments of their parents. Also, please note he put his name on every other page. Really a tacky work. The "ME" generation is true to form !!!!
Rating:  Summary: a feel good soft and sentimental recollection of WW2.---- Review: Since World War Two, we have all traveled our separate paths, and all of us have had many blissful and sad times, but somehow one thing has always remained in my memory, that never before nor since has there been a time when we were as together as we were then, as certain of what we wanted and who we were. For many of us it is one of the most intense and personal memories of our lives. It was certainly the end of our age of innocence. However having said that, I can honestly say that calling us the Greatest Generation is quite pretentious. Let us remember that it was also a time, as through out our history where many indiscretions and inproprieties occurred. Nevertheless it was a group of outstanding and remarkable citizens who united together and rolled with the punches. I was born in the roaring twenties and I believe that all generations may not have to cope with a depression nor a war but they all have something great to offer that will always be unique and different.
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