The Greatest Generation

Rating:
Summary: Good idea - poor execution - shallow and simplistic.
Review: I listened to Imus for two weeks, and had to have this book. The I-Man should stick to politics and sports; book reviews are not his strength. I really liked the concept, and couldn't wait to read the book, particularly after having seen recent video interviews of WW II veterans, and Saving Private Ryan. About 25% into it, I had to take a break. There is nothing exciting or revealing here - just the very basic facts, folks - and that doesn't make for five stars. It really is too bad, because the premise was good, that is, telling the stories of the greatest generation. But it's all surface; there's no depth, and, therefore, no interest in the people whose stories are being told. Sorry Tom.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent & Timely Book
Review: Just what we need right now...to remember the people who made this country great, each in their own unselfish way. Written about top notch people by a top notch person himself, Tom Brokaw.

Read it, revisit it each Veterans' Day, and share it with younger generations in your family.

Rating:
Summary: As the kids in school say today "Boring."
Review: The beginning and ending narrative touched my heart being from the great state of South Dakota and having walked many small cemeteries where veterans flags and tombstones mark the sites of our fallen. Other than that the stories were shallow and uninteresting, lacking depth and insight of the effect of the war on these individuals. Let's face it, post war prosperity brought these veterans the success they enjoy today. I don't think it had much to do with their military experiences. Joe Foss was not revered by South Dakotans to any extent and throwing Al Neuharth in was really clutching at straws.

Really it was the parents of these WWII veterans that were the sacrificers, the moralists, the conservers, the workers, the survivors that should get the credit.

Rating:
Summary: Thanks, Tom, From An Old Friend
Review: This is a book about people of integrity, written by a man of integrity. Read it now and revisit it every Veterans' Day. Thank you, Tom.

Rating:
Summary: Understanding the Old Folks
Review: This book is pretty ilustrative of the deeds of the generation that went to World War II and it is a very worth reading in order to understand some of the motives and views of the 'greatest generation'.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant concept, poor execution
Review: The idea of exploring the human tragedy of WWII through the eyes of its participants is brilliant. Too bad its execution was left to Mr. Brokaw. Poorly written and politically correct to an extreme.

Rating:
Summary: Garbage in the era of postliteracy
Review: It is sad to see a mainstream news man stoop so low to stroke 1. the nation and 2. his "audience" (for who else must watch and believe mainstream tv news but old timers or people who think like old timers?) The job of a real journalist is never to make people "feel good" in the way that Brokaw does here. A real journalist would probe the terror that the American nation seems to ask each generation of young men to get ready to endure for more often than not false reasons. What's weird is that Brokaw mentions the humility of these people--they don't want to exploit their experiences in war, and he turns around and heroicizes them in precisely the way they seem to not want to be heroically portrayed. Is being sent off to kill another human being ever anything to get ra ra about? Shouldn't we instead look to the day when we never have to contemplate killing each other and write books that bring us in that direction? Like probing this thing called "nationalism" and the last refuge of a scoundrel "patriotism"?

Rating:
Summary: Takes One To Know One!
Review: Being an 80 year old, WWII B25 pilot, and kid from the citrus orchards of Whittier, Calif. I recognized many of my Air Force, college, and business friends in this book, though the names are different. Tom Brokaw, did indeed, find the "innerds" of these people he describes, and has truly captured the essence of their reason for existence. A successful and appreciated presentation. Thank you, Tom Brokaw

Rating:
Summary: Pomposity
Review: One need not go further than the title to see the pomposity of Mr. Brokaw. A love fest for a dying generation that looks down at every generation that follows because they didn't fight in a war. He fails to mention that fighting in WWII was very unpopular until our mainland was attacked. No, his generation is no better or worse than any other.

Rating:
Summary: Introspective, retrospective
Review: Outstanding work; vignettes of individuals & their contributions. A rightfully proud generation. The reader/reviewer that suggests Brokaw wrote this from an ultra-leftwing view is way off the mark. This is written in a spirit of patriotism, love of his country and giving the WW2 generation their due. Thanks, Mr. Brokaw, for a fine job.