The Greatest Generation

Rating:
Summary: needed to have more depth
Review: Very easy book to read but the author needed to have longer chapters about indivduals and should have profiled fewer people. I came away with the feeling that only veterans from south dakota made a difference in the war. As a vietnam vet I was interested in the few comparisons that the author made between ww11 and the vietnam conflict. I feel that the author was trying to get present generations to be more thankful to the ww11 vet and he makes his case that we indeed should do that. I will try to seek out the ww11 vet in my hometown and simply say thank you and hopefully 30 years from now tom brokaw will write a book about the vietnam war and generation z will seek me out and say thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Our parents are special...duh
Review: While most people described in this book are certainly interesting, many are regular people (like me) with fine achievements but with no particular attractiveness to warrant inclusion in a "greatest" list. I keep waiting to see what many of these "greatest" people did,,,and wonder why my parents, of the same generation and with a better story (at least in my opinion), weren't included! Short, basic bios. Its a fair night stand book...for those who fall asleep easily.

Rating:
Summary: first svg pvt ryan, now this.. we owe so much..but..
Review: Seeing "pvt. ryan" piqued in me an interest in the sacrafices made by those individuals, specifically At Normandie, and generally in the free world at that time, that evil be vanquished, and order restored to the world. That interest led me to several excellent tomes by Stephen Ambrose, and then to Mr. Brokaw's work. I was swept up in the spirit of the book, the stories which it told. Brokaw is to be commended, for his effort, and especially for the sentiments behind it. I wish that I had been able to take part in the events,(1984 not "44) that inspired him. However, once the swelling of pride and gratitude recede, and one looks at the work, it regretably does not deliver. Brokaw has not the training to put the proper tone into these stories. They lay flat. Perhaps if more time were given to fewer stories, it would be possible to achieve that level. Brokaw writes as a newsman, not displaying enough of the emotion he so obviously (to those who have seen his promotional spots on Rosie, Tim Russet, etc.) feels.

Rating:
Summary: You missed the point Tom
Review: This book does an admirable job of describing the great accomplishments of the WW2 generation. Many people with little preparation became heroes or millionaires. But to call them the 'Greatest Generation' totally misses the point on what it takes to make one great. It isn't just great accomplishments, it's having great values - and passing these on to your children so that when you're gone the world is a better place. Look at the children neglected while their mothers work. Look at the skyrocketing national debt. Look at the social security debacle. The 'Greatest Generation' passed all these on to us to solve.Look around Tom... they were a major failure.

Rating:
Summary: Sense of appreciation
Review: It is true that not many people from this generation have chosen to reveal their attitudes toward their experiences. My grandparents were young adults during this time and there have not been very many facts that they have revealed regarding their life experiences. Mr. Brokow, through this book and the people he interviewed, offered those of us who did not grow up during these times a wounderful chance to gain insight to the experiences of their day. As a history teacher, this book has allowed me to strengthen my appreciation to the men and women who bravely fought and served to ensure that future generations would have the freedom that we do. A freedom that today many of us take for granted. It is an appreciation that I hope I can pass on to my students. To the men and women of this generation, I say a heartfelt thank you and to the people of other generations I say read this book. You just might learn something from it that will enrich you own life.

Rating:
Summary: It is a concise and touching rendition of my parents time.
Review: My parents are from South Dakota. They are Oglala Lakota (Sioux). My father was in the Army from 7-43 to 9-45 ( Tank driver/2nd Arm'd 5-44 to 3-45). My mother was in the Navy from 4-44 to 6-45. Every story I saw my parents. I saw their brothers, I saw their cousins. Tom Brokaw even quoted my Mothers brother on pg. 208. Moot (Cleveland) Nelson. I had many tears while reading the stories, but more when I read of my Uncle Moot and his short commentary. Tom called that chapter "Shame"' and rightfully so. Yes. Tom could have gone deeper, but the subject matter itself prevents that,he could of got lost real easy, and that was not the overall purpose of the book. But I do not feel he "Short Sticked" anyone on any of his stories,as some of the other reviewers stated. My only correction would be for Tom to correct his statement about certain Japanese Americans being sent to an Indian reservation southwest of Phoenix.. This is the Papago/Pima Reservation, not the Navajo Reservation. ( Pg. 220.) Other than that, Tom's book should be placed in many of our schools, both Grade school level as well as High school. There is a lesson in who we are today within those pages. A lesson that should be repeated for all of us "Boomers" and our children .We do not know how lucky we are for the things we have today, but with Tom's book on the shelf we can be reminded of those who made it very possible for the way we live and the liberties we have today. This book ranks right up there wirh all of Stephen Ambrose's latest works, as well Stud Terkels, and any other essays on the WWII/Depression period . The book is easy to read, informative , but not redundant, and touching , but not relying on any overt patriotic feelings that we now have for that period in our history. Job, Well Done !!!

Rating:
Summary: Good idea, poor execution
Review: Tom Brokaw is not a gifted writer. He wrote this book in the same dry and simple style as he uses with his TV audience. The book is completely stripped of romance and soul for the sake of the lowest common denominator. I have met many WW2 veterans who tell stories woven with romance and heartbreak that bring tears to your eyes. This is not represented in any of the 4 page biographies of these common place heroes. Pure non-fiction at its most uninspiring.

Rating:
Summary: What about everyone else?
Review: Yeah, I'm impressed with everything that those veterans did in the years following the war, but Brokaw seems to focus only (or mostly) on those that became politicians or in government. What about the effects of the war on musicians? or artists? I would have liked to see him expand on his stories more. All in all, I felt obligated to finish the book (my mother raved about it, but then, she is one of "those generation") but I wouldn't recommend it or read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Tedious and condescending....
Review: Mr. Brokaw minimizes every other generation of people in this century and thousands before...I am a lover of history and consider myself well read in many areas of world and US history. There have been many great generations of people and many great people who have led generations. Fighting a war is nothing new in this world. Thousands upon thousands before this generation have suffered in wars; it is only now, because of our vast system of media, that we have first-hand accounts of war and of communities ravaged by war. Every generation has its' burdens, peculiarities, and identities. I am a baby boomer..born post-war..and I grew up in a lower middle class home, had to work after school and on weekends, never owned a car till I was in my thirties, earned my way through college and graduate school, paid back every loan with high interest rates, have struggled to make a living and deal daily with the myriad of stresses that cloud everyday life. My father was in the Navy in WWII in the Pacific arena and I knew about the war, its' atrocities and the horror long before 'Saving Private Ryan', Steven Ambrose and Mr. Brokaw hit the scene. I have all the compassion in the world for the men who fought in that war and every other one, but if Mr. Brokaw and others think that my generation hasn't faced death, despair, fear, illness and poverty, he and they are not truly connected to the world in which they live now. I suspect in another 20 years, some wealthy boomer will write a similar book......

Rating:
Summary: It ain't Studs Terkel
Review: Noble try. Right instincts. There must surely be more interesting stories? Little energy, though the intention is touching. Book bogged down when laboring to touch all segments of society and be very politically correct. Did I really give this 3 stars?