The Greatest Generation
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
3.5/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
The instant classic and runaway bestseller that changed the way we saw World War II and an entire generation of Americans, from the beloved journalist whose own iconic career has lasted more than fifty years.
In this magnificent testament to a nation and her people, Tom Brokaw brings to life the extraordinary stories of a generation that gave new meaning to courage, sacrifice, and honor.
From military heroes to community leaders to ordinary citizens, he profiles men and women who served their country with valor, then came home and transformed it: Senator Daniel Inouye, decorated at the front, fighting prejudice at home; Martha Settle Putney, one of the first black women to serve in the newly formed WACs; Charles Van Gorder, a doctor who set up a MASH-like medical facility in the middle of battle, then opened a small clinic in his hometown; Navy pilot and future president George H. W. Bush, assigned to read the mail of the enlisted men under him, who says that in doing so he "learned about life"; and many other laudable Americans.
To this generation that gave so much and asked so little, Brokaw offers eloquent tribute in true stories of everyday heroes in extraordinary times.
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Reviews for The Greatest Generation
357 ratings15 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pretty good set of mini-biographes, which seek to show by example the range of virtues and lives that members of "The Greatest Generation" lived. They all had very impressive lives, of course. The writing style is a bit uneven and doesn't do them all justice, but still a very informative read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was excited to get into this book. As a long-time fan of Tom Brokaw, I knew of his desire to honor this generation. I found it a compelling read. The personal stories touched my heart although, a few seemed repetitive. While not a sit on the beach, light read, it is a good book, not great, but good.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The glossy style, which always sounded like it was written to be read outloud for a broadcast, made this book somewhat less appealing. Also, the breezing through of the individual stories was disappointing. A few chapters here and there contained nuggets of details that were a glimpse into the reality of their lives. Otherwise, it was a solidly tempered book that paints broad strokes, but leaves you desiring more details. The short chapters make it an easy book to read if you only have limited bits of time, or are often interrupted.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5great book of history and honor
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tom Brokaw interviews a number of WWII veterans about their war experiences and how their lives were changed after they gt back to the states. The stories told are very interesting, as well as their perspectives on their lives and how the world has changed since that time.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed reading this book. First person memories are much more interesting to me than bland histories with lots of place names and dates. This is the generation just before my parents, one which I have not known much of, except through books. I appreciate Mr. Brokaw's attempt to try to know and understand the men and women who experienced WWII. To find out about their thoughts, feelings, experiences and memories. A very moving and personal read.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Glimpses of ordinary American heroes during extraordinary times. Some real good personal stories found within the covers of this book.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I expected a bit more from this book - I think Brokaw did a good job interviewing his subjects and finding interesting people to talk to (and I would hope so, given his background and experience!) but I thought his analysis and writing was rather weak. At times I felt like I was reading a hagiography of WWII veterans, rather than a biography. I also felt that Brokaw belabored his ideas and had a hard time occasionally with the transition between his interview and his overall points. Still, I'm glad I read it, as the book had an excellent premise and raw material, it just could have used a better implementation.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What can you say about a book that tells one amazing story after another? It's just a great read. I loved this book because you can put it down and pick it up later and not loose much of what the book is about.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5There was a lot of wind over this book, but it deserves a reading on its own merits. (I love oral history.) To be fair, set next to Studs Terkels' "The 'Good' War" it reveals a lot of the burnishing of the WWII generation's image in the years between the two books' publications.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5this was a sobering book. what great men and women of the past.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A series of stories of US WW2 veterans. Actually much better than it sounds.Read Mar 2004
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Interesting, not bad, but not particularly compelling.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/54 hours: abridged. I bought it at a second-hand store and now I want the unabridged version. This is a compilation of the lives of individual men and woman who told of their experiences during the fighting of WWII. I marveled at the selfless dedication and bravery of ordinary people and even some famous ones. Tom Brokaw states, "I am in awe of them, these men and women who have given us the world we have today. I feel privileged to have been witness to their stories". You might be shocked at how different our cultural worldview presents itself today in just the span of 68 years. (For me, it is just one generation) . Tom Brokaw inspires as retells each hero's experience.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I don't belong to this generation but my parents did and I love this era. The war was only a small piece of what was going on in America.