Book Description
"A rich, entertaining, and profound reading experience." -- The New York Times
"[The] most comprehensive saga of how America became involved in Vietnam. It is also the Iliad of the American empire and the Odyssey of this nation's search for its idealistic soul. THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST is almost like watching an Alfred Hitchcock thriller." -- The Boston Globe
"Deeply moving . . . We cannot help but feel the compelling power of this narrative . . . . Dramatic and tragic, a chain of events overwhelming in their force, a distant war embodying illusions and myths, terror and violence, confusions and courage, blindness, pride, and arrogance." -- Los Angeles Times
"Most impressive, superb -- perceptive, literary, multidimensional." -- The New York Times Book Review
"A story which every American should read." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating account of Kennedy and Johnson and Vietnam.......2007-09-15
While a little dry sometimes this is Halberstam's definitive book. It really shows how the years of McCarthyism leading up to Kennedy's administration led to many terrible decisions about supporting Diem and trying to not look weak to the Russians. After the fiasco that was the Bay of Pigs Kennedy became even more determined to show strength. However the first tragedy among many was the assasination which while horrible in itself also came at a critical time in the course of the Vietnam policy. Halberstam theorizes that Kennedy was nearly ready to pull the plug on Vietnam when he died. Well written, incredibly well researched and an important book.
A number of similarities with Iraq 40 years later........2007-06-11
I read this book when it was first published and then found it to be an excellent description of the failures of the Kennedy-Johnson administration as it incrementally entered a war with North Vietnam. I have read it again after I read of Mr. Halberstam's death a few weeks ago.
I had been very bothered by the actions of the US in Iraq. After reading The Best and Brightest I know what was bothering me. It is a repeat although with different characters, different enemies, different locale but the same thinking process and lack of thought for the many "what ifs" that war produces. It would have been nice if a few of the planners of the Iraq fiasco could have read Halberstam's book and taken note of the mistakes that were made in 1963 before launching the war in Iraq in 2003.
Halberstam quotes Henry Kissenger as saying something to the effect of "we won't make the same mistakes . . . we'll make our own mistakes." It looks like the current planners and executors of Iraq strategy are making the same ones that were made in 1963 - and learning the same lessons about a counterinsurgency war being fought with traditional troops, equipment and strategy.
The Iraqi insurgency in Iraq will go the same way as the insurgency in Vietnam - they will wait us out but without the large scale battles that took place in Vietnam once the army of North Vietnam entered the action in large numbers.
Vietnam was disaster and tragedy for the Vietnamese as well as the Americans. What seems to be preventing the same level of disaster in the US is the fact that this war is being fought by non-draftees. That is one dissimilarity with Vietnam which has prevented the large scale protests across the nation which were seen as the presidency of Lyndon Johnson unraveled.
I recommend this book to all students of political and military strategy. It is an exceptional read and I would predict you won't come away angry - just saddened that so much talent brought forth so little in the way of return for Vietnam and the United States.
Decisions that led to 59,000 US and 3,000,000 Vietnamese dead. .......2007-06-10
THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST by David Halberstam interprets US Foreign Policy of the Vietnam War as delusional.
The principals: Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy, William Bundy, George Ball, Dean Rusk, Averill Harriman, and Dean Acheson, not to mention Maxwell Taylor, and General Westmoreland. There are others of course.
The author weaves the character of each individual with the politics of the day and shows how it lead to decisions that were made from inner needs and wishful thinking rather than on facts. This error in thinking started at "the creation" i.e. the end of WWII. It torpedoed the power of rational thought.
Halberstam reasons that the US perceived the Soviets to be on the verge to swallow Western Europe. This led the US to turn to France to provide a bastion against them. Charles De Gaulle was ready to cooperate but only if the US allowed France to seize Indochina again.
In Halberstam's mind, the loss of China to the Communists, the Communist North Korean invasion of South Korea, the Communist Chinese invasion of Korea, McCarthy's hunt for Communists in the government, and then the Cuban missile crisis exacerbated and perpetuated fears about world domination by the Communists. These factors, according to Halberstam, contributed to the continued support of France in Indochina as an ally against monolithic Communism. After Dienbienphu, we did replace the French and decided that we would carry the crusade against Communism. We were then perceived by Ho Chi Minh as another western power colluding with another western but effete colonial power. The US nevertheless chose to allow France to regress to its former status as a colonial power over Vietnam in the name of stopping Communist aggression.
Neither Kennedy nor Johnson could show hesitation, ambivalence, or appeasement. Their obsession of not wanting to be viewed as weak trumped their instincts to look for alternatives. All the leaders, especially Dean Rusk, and with the exception of George Ball, put forth the Munich analogy to justify intervention and escalation.
In Halberstam's analysis, the Vietnam War was a defeat before it even began because it was based on a faulty strategy: To stop communist aggression. The idea to expel the French once and for all and to help unify North and South Vietnam was thought about but never acted upon.
Halberstam holds the Bundy brothers along with McNamara responsible not only as instigators but the propagators of the war. McNamara was characterized as a whiz kid with a funny haircut who used his unbelievable grasp of statistics to flim-flam the pentagon in doing his bidding. It brings to mind Mark Twain's three types of lies: Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Despite their super-education, their impeccable character, and their natural brilliance all the principals viewed the war as a war against Communist hegemony; they too could not show any hesitation, ambivalence, or appeasement to their president. To do otherwise was political suicide. On the other hand, George Ball was consistent in his opposition to the war from JFK to LBJ. To Halberstam JFK was changing his mind about the morality of the war but got gunned down; George Ball was the hero, LBJ the looser and France the thorn in our side.
Excellent study of self-deluding war criminals.......2007-05-29
This is a wonderful study of the dreadful people who committed the crime of aggression against Vietnam. It shows how they fooled themselves, and others too, that theirs was some noble mission, to save other nations from communism. In fact, it was a crime, resulting in the killing of three million innocent Vietnamese, who were killed trying to save their country from a savage, unjustified and illegal assault. So, not the best, nor the brightest.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE IRAQ (OOPS!) VIETNAM QUAGMIRE.......2007-05-10
As the current Bush Administration-directed quagmire continues in Iraq it is rather timely to look at a previous bout of American imperialist madness in Vietnam if only in order to demonstrate the similar mindsets, then and now, of the American political establishment and their hangers-on. This book, unintentionally I am sure, is a prima facie argument, against those who see Iraq (or saw Vietnam) as merely an erroneous policy of the American government that can be `fixed' by a change to a more rational imperialist policy guided by a different elite. Undeniably there are many differences between the current war and the struggle in Vietnam. Not the least of which is that in Vietnam there was a Communist-led insurgency that leftists throughout the world could identify with and were duty-bound to support.
Mr. Halberstam's well-informed study of the long history of struggle in Vietnam against outsiders, near and far, is a more than adequate primer about the history and the political issues, from the American side at least, as they came to a head in Vietnam in the early 1960's. This book is the work of a long time journalist who covered Southeast Asia from close quarters. Although over thirty years have passed since the book's publication it appears to me that he has covered all the essential elements of the dispute as well as the wrangling, again mainly on the American side , of policy makers big and small. While everyone should look at more recent material that material appears to me to be essentially more specialized analysis of the general themes presented in Halberstam's book. Or are the inevitably self-serving memoirs by those, like former Secretary of War Robert McNamara, looking to refurbish they images for the historical record.
The bulk of the book and the central story line is a study of the hubris of American imperialist policy-makers in attempting to define their powers, prerogatives and interests in the post-World War II period. The sub-text of the book, which the current inhabitants of the Bush Administration obviously have not read and in any case would willfully misunderstand, is how not to subordinate primary interests to momentary secondary interests in the scramble to preserve the Empire. Be clear that Halberstam was no vocal opponent of the war but rather sought to see it successfully completed by a more rational approach. However, apparently, commonsense and simple rationality are in short supply when one goes inside the Washington Beltway. Taking into account the differences in personality among the three main villains of the piece- Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon- the similarities of response and need to defend some sense of honor, American honor, are amazingly similar, individual rhetoric aside. There thus can be little wonder that the North Vietnamese went about their business of revolution and independence pretty much according to their plans and with little regard to the `subtleties' in American foreign policy (or military doctrine, for that matter). But, read the book and judge for yourselves. Do not be surprised if something feels awfully, awfully familiar.
Book Description
Like its two best-selling predecessors in the series,
Graphic Design America 3 profiles more than 35 of the graphic designers and graphic design firms in the United States. The work being produced in America is wonderful, varied, and influential around the globe, which is the reason for the success of the first two books.
Each profile features a wide selection of a each designer or design firm's recent work that shows off a range of both their talents and breadth of style, as well as noted accomplishments and an overview of their signature style.
What is the status of graphic design in America today? Where is graphic design in America heading? This book provides the answers through the work profiles and essays by noteworthy writers in the graphic design industry.
Book Description
What one piece of advice has made all the difference in your life?
That was the question longtime journalist and Fox & Friends cohost E.D. Hill asked of scores of the most famous and successful figures in America -- from President George W. Bush to supermodel Carol Alt. The result is Going Places, a collection of moving and instructive profiles that reveal exactly what inspires and drives our nation's best and brightest to survive and thrive.
In the pages of Going Places, you'll discover how Donald Trump approaches the competition, what makes NFL star Tiki Barber a smart player on and off the field, and what life lesson television star Doris Roberts learned on a trip to Napa Valley. You'll follow country music star Trace Adkins's journey from working on a rig in the oil fields of Texas to signing a deal with Capitol Records in Nashville, and Donna de Varona's path to becoming the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic swim team at age thirteen. Sometimes heart wrenching, sometimes humorous, and always captivating, these portraits are sure to inform, entertain, and, most important, inspire.
-Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, on searching for her soul in Tibet -Champion bull rider Justin McBride on what it means to get a good night's sleep -Senate Majority Leader Dr. William Frist on medicine as a currency of peace -Dolly Parton on her father's horse-sense advice -Dean Cain on rejection, perseverance, and lessons he learned from his son
Sharing these stories in these figures' own voices, Going Places reflects a vast and diverse America in which anything is possible. "It is my hope that you'll have this book by your bedside table and turn to it, alone or with your children, to find inspiration from wonderful people." After all, as these real-life stories illustrate, great advice can come from anyone, at any time.
Customer Reviews:
E.D. Hill my kind of writer.......2007-01-11
Excellant book. Great airplane reading. She's thoughtful and funny. How wonderful to have met and interviewed such great people.
an autobiography may be better than Going Places!.......2006-10-10
I enjoyed reading E D's book, Going Places. It's perfect for younger readers, especially for ones trying to establish themselves, as well a relaxing read for older folks. E D Hill is not only attractive and kind; she may be the best news anchor on Fox.
The book is about well-known people talking about their experiences that help them become successful in life.
I read some of the previous comments and will note that proceeds from the book went to charities and not all in her pocket!
A word to E D Hill would be, write an autobiography, it may be better than Going Places!
Inspiring.......2006-05-17
The book is every bit of entheusiam I expected. Very good review of success.
Nice coffee table book.......2006-03-23
This book will probably end up under my coffee table or on my decorative book shelf. It's a good book to have around for a few minutes of upbeat reading, but is by no means a self-help book. It includes pictures and thoughts from many well-known people, and although I personally did not know a lot of them, the ideas were still honest and true.
Uncommon Denominator.......2006-03-19
As my 18 year old daughter was unwrapping her autographed copy of E. D. Hill's book "Going Places" on Christmas morning, I told her I wanted to read it when she finished it. By Spring Break she lent me her book, and I now understand why she enjoyed it so much.
E.D. Hill explores the common denominator of successful people from all walks of life. But what the reader comes away with is the clear message that it is not the common, but the uncommon things that successful people do that has led them to the top of their respective fields.
In a culture that embraces mediocrity and highlights those who stand out for all the wrong reasons, "Going Places" is a wonderfully inspirational breath of fresh air. For anybody with teenagers, E.D. Hill's book reinforces the message that not only is it OK to be different from "the crowd" and follow their life's passion, but it is absolutely essential if they wish to be one of the few with the courage and stamina to Go Places.
Book Description
Over the next few decades, global migration is likely to play an influential role in shaping the nature of politics and economies internationally. This timely study illuminates possible implications of migrant flows from a development perspective. The authors survey the magnitude of the poor to rich-country flows, the rich-country policies that are driving them, and the multiple channels through which skilled migration affects development. They provide a rich discussion of the policy options, as they search for those that avoid the worst losses to poor countries while maintaining the most liberal feasible international migration regime.
Book Description
Veteran comet hunter and eloquent popular astronomy writer David H. Levy takes amateur sky-watchers on a fascinating journey into deep space in this enthusiastic and informative survey of the many far distant yet observable objects in the night sky. Light years beyond our solar system, deep sky objects include such intriguing phenomena as red stars, double and triple stars, mysterious star patterns, globular clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and quasars. Designed to be accessible for even beginners, Levy's clear, elegant descriptions will guide astronomy buffs in any hemisphere and locale (light-polluted cities as well as dark countryside) to the wonders of our enormous universe. As the discoverer or codiscoverer of twenty-one comets, including the famous Shoemaker-Levy 9 that crashed into Jupiter in 1994, Levy has devoted many decades of experience to observing the night sky. Over the years he has located about 300 deep sky objects, of which the 111 "best and brightest" are featured in this book. Along with a finder chart, Levy offers a physical description and a discussion of each object's history and beauty. Proceeding from objects closest to our solar system to those farthest away, Levy gives readers an awe-inspiring glimpse into the structure of the cosmos. Complete with both color and black-and-white photos, plus many helpful illustrations, Deep Sky Objects is the ideal guide to the wonders of the universe for both experienced and novice star gazers.
Customer Reviews:
Good list; so-so book........2006-05-03
This book really can't decide what it wants to be, and feels like it's a few editorial rounds away from being a finished book.
The book has an odd overall structure, and the organization within chapters is a free-association mess of object descriptions, personal recollections, observing advice and seemingly whatever happens to cross Levy's mind.
It's frustrating because there are elements of a good book here, but as it stands it doesn't really work as an observing guide, reference book or personal memoir, despite trying to be all three.
The list of objects itself, currently available on the internet, is an excellent and useful list which could form the basis of an interesting personal observing program.
Veteran comet chaser teaches amateurs how to observe!.......2006-03-12
David Levy is a veteran comet discoverer - one of the most successful discoverers in history - and wants others to share in his personal achievement and joy in locating unusual deep sky objects. You don't have to live in the country to be able to observe distant objects: DEEP SKY OBJECTS: THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST FROM FOUR DECADES OF COMET CHASING can count city-dwellers among its astronomy fans, providing positions, magnitudes, history and best observation times to accompany a running commentary of the author's discoveries and excitement about his findings. It's this excitement which makes DEEP SKY OBJECTS unique in the world of amateur astronomy titles, pairing specifics on how and what to observe with a veteran comet chaser's exciting discoveries.
Catalog of objects that might look like comets.......2006-01-23
Perhaps the most famous astronomers of our time, Mr. Levy is one of the most successful comet discoverers in history (actually he's tied for third place in the number of comets found). His finds include the Shoemaker-Levy comet that crashed so dramatically into Jupiter. His formal education includes a degree in Englash. His astronomical activities came as a hobby. Who better to write a book aimed at the amateur astronomer?
This book is based on a list of objects visible in the sky that might be confused with comets. He began this list many years ago to avoid mis-identification as he searched for comets. Here he lists, describes, and usually photographs these items from deep into space. The objects are arranged from 'nearby,' that's say up to a few hundred light years away, to billions of light years.
I can't help but wonder what Galileo would have thought of this book as he spent his final years under house arrest for publishing a book saying that four moons orbited Jupiter.
Book Description
What do Henry Kissinger, Jack Welch, Condoleezza Rice, and Jon Bon Jovi have in common? They have all reached the top of their respective professions, and they all credit sports for teaching them the lessons that were fundamental to their success. In his years spent interviewing and profiling celebrities, politicians, and top businesspeople, popular sportscaster and Fox & Friends cohost Brian Kilmeade has discovered that nearly everyone shares a love of sports and has a story about how a game, a coach, or a single moment of competition changed his or her life.
These vignettes have entertained, surprised, and inspired readers nationwide with their insight into America's most respected and well-known personalities. Kilmeade presents more than seventy stories straight from the men and women themselves and those who were closest to them. From competition to camaraderie, individual achievement to teamwork, failure to success, the world of sports encompasses it all and enriches our lives. The Games Do Count reveals this simple and compelling truth: America's best and brightest haven't just worked hard -- they've played hard -- and the results have been staggering!
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Topic, Yet Stretched Too Far.......2007-08-22
Brian Kilmeade intrigues me on TV. He is witty, fast thinking, well informed, and personable.
In my judgment, his book covered a worthwhile topic--the impact of athletics on the lives of participants, even those who don't become star performers.
As an avid sports fan, I welcomed several wise observations like this statement from George Will, one of the celebrities profiled: "Baseball--it's a cliche, but like a lot of cliches, it's true--is a game of failure. The best hitter in baseball in a given year fails more than 60 percent of the time. If you bat .350, you've failed 65 percent of the time. Ted Williams batted .406 in 1941, which means he failed to get a hit roughly 60 percent of the time. In any given year, the best team in baseball walks off the field beaten about sixty times. It's a very difficult game and a game of failure. That doesn't mean that some people aren't a whole lot better than others. And everyone was a whole lot better than I was most of the time."
However, because so many of the people Brian Kilmeade featured say practically the same thing, I suggest that he would have produced a more appealing book if he had eliminated the duplications. Through careful editing, he could have given us half as much material that would have carried twice as much impact.
The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!
The Author's High Profile Job Got Me To Buy The Book...........2007-05-15
The author's high profile job got me to buy his book, as I watch his morning news program everyday. I was happy to find that the book stands alone as an inspiring weaving of interesting true stories from celebrities on how sports impacted their lives.
Kilmeade did a great job of getting the biggest names of our time to share their victories and defeats, and how those experiences shaped their paths toward success.
This is an upbeat book that will touch your soul. A great gift for teenagers.
A Great Read; A Great Gift.......2006-09-26
I originally purchased this book for my husband. After reading it myself, I decided that it would also make the perfect Christmas gift for every guy on my list. I gave 11 of these books that Christmas. I have never received such heartfelt and enthusiastic thank you's for my gifts as I did from gifting "The Games Do Count". My son and nephews in college especially appreciated this book, as it (1) consists of many great, individual short stories and (2) with their busy college schedules, this book was the perfect choice for some quick, enjoyable down-time reading.
GOOD BOOK BUT.......2006-06-21
THIS MAY A GOOD BOOK BUT THE AUTHOR IS STILL A POMPOUS ARROGANT JERK. AND HE IS NOT AT ALL FUNNY.
Fast Read.......2006-03-16
This was a fast read but the chapters get a bit repetitive. Most of the stories begin to sound the same.
Customer Reviews:
Brightest and Best::Stories Of Hymns.......2007-06-18
Father Rutler is a very great writer and uses language beautifully.
This book is wonderful not only for its historical value but also the inspirational, it will give you a great insight into the true meaning of "Sacred Music" and a desire to investigate further the great treasure of church music, which has sadly been ignored, suppressed, and replaced by cheap TV like jingles. The History of Western Music begins with The Catholic Church. Father Rutlers command of the English language is
un-equalled and may I add is a lesson in writing as an art form.
Book Description
The Best Practices series addresses the growing appetite for a business reference series. Addressing issue that matter most to middle managers, the series focuses on dealing with people and communicating. Drawing on the sales history of other management series, the Best Practices line will give managers what they want most: insight into what successful managers already know and presented in easy–to–access lists.
The books cover the basics of management; strategies for hiring the best people; proven ways to deal with difficult bosses, workers and customers; how to evaluate and reward employees; ways to motivate the people who work for you; time management; effective communication in person and on paper; as well as, how to set and achieve goals.
Book Description
This second volume displays the work of 37 of the best designers and design firms from across the United States. Organized by DK Holland of the Pushpin with Chip Kidd and Jessica Helfand, the selection presents such firms as Looking, Los Angeles; Post Tool, San Francisco, Modern Dog, Seattle; Carlos Segura, Chicago; Go Media, Austin Texas; Greteman Design, Wichita, Kansas; P. Scott Makela, Minneapolis; Werner Design Works, Minneapolis; and Design!, Atlanta.
Customer Reviews:
I really like this book........2001-10-22
I can appreciate the work of others and just think this book is beautiful. I get a great sense of how others express themselves by the way this book is presented. The cover and pages are wonderful quality paper and the images are crisp and freshly laid out. I am not a super power pro but as I mentioned, I appreciate and enjoy how artists perceive their world. Nice big book with the quality to be placed on anyone's coffee table.
Creative Insight.......2000-09-28
Like most others in the Rockport series this book has an intriguing preface and a conglomerate of great work. The book features several prominent firms while highlighting the designers that work there. It's a good source of information because it explains the communication problem, and then how the use of good design solved it. It does this across several different media, from the aesthetics of store architecture to the traditional printed brochure. Like the others from Rockport, certain projects are repeated in their other books, but overall, any individual with an eye for the intangible will appreciate this book.
Books:
- The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
- The Border of Truth: A Novel
- The Children of Húrin
- The Cricket in Times Square
- The End of Victory Culture: Cold War America and the Disillusioning of a Generation
- The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
- The Escape from Hunger and Premature Death, 17002100: Europe, America, and the Third World (Cambridge Studies in Population, Economy and Society in Past Time)
- The Fifth Sacred Thing
- The God Delusion
- The Joy of Being Wrong
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
- Marketing: Real People, Real Choices
- Egalia's Daughters: A Satire of the Sexes
- Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia
- History: Fiction or Science
- Introduction to Statistical Pattern Recognition, Second Edition
- Introduction to Random Signals and Applied Kalman Filtering with Matlab Exercises and Solutions, 3rd
- Defender of the Dunes: The Kathleen Goddard Jones Story
- Duncan Hines: The Man Behind the Cake Mix
- Fiscal Policy Formulation and Implementation in Oil Producing Countries
1945 - Present
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War
The Fifties
Summer of '49 (P.S.)
A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
War in a Time of Peace : Bush, Clinton, and the Generals
