Looking for a Good Book on Vietnam Conflict

[LiveGoat]

Have been watching The Ten Thousand Day War and would love to read a good book on the subject. Something huge and exhaustive like the documentary would be nice. Preferrably something not written by journalists or by the soldiers themselves. Something akin to Keegan's WWII book. Basically I want something with all the details and phases before I start reading personal accounts.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

[SteamWake]

Good luck a large amount of history from that era has been swept under the rug.

I'm sure someone will come up with something for you.

[STEED]

I would recommend this one...

American Strategy in Vietnam, A Critical Analysis
By Colonel Harry G. Summers, Jr.

Required reading at The National, Naval and Air War Colleges as well as other high level military institutions throughout the United States.

The Vietnam War 1956–1975 Osprey Series Essential Histories No.38
By Andrew Wiest

Osprey Series Essential Histories are good general overview point, sort of a starting point.

When you're done with the statistical side of the Vietnam war I recommend this book by Bao Ninh to give a view from the Vietnamese perspective. Although fictional it is based heavily on Ninh's experiences in the war. Grim stuff.

[nikimcbee]

You could try "Summons of the Trumpet." Good overall book. Read it for a military history class.
http://www.amazon.com/Summons-Trumpe.../dp/0891415505

Vietnam: A History by Stanley Karnow is a good one and for something completely different if you can get hold of of Bernard B. Falls' Street Without Joy or Hell in a Very Small Place they are a great introduction into where it all begin as seen from the French perspective.

The book The 10,000 Day War is not too bad either.

[GoldenRivet]

a good personal account i enjoyed reading (when you get to that point)

"The element of surprise. Navy SEALs in Vietnam" By Darryl young

http://www.amazon.com/Element-Surpri.../dp/0804105812

[Sailor Steve]

Okay, OTH, now I officially hate you.

I looked at the book, said "That looks interesting", followed the link to Amazon, saw the price (very cheap) and ordered it. If you keep spending all my money for you I'll have to give up all my other hobbies, like eating.

Anyway, thanks for the link. I had not heard of that one, and I'm looking forward to it.

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Okay, OTH, now I officially hate you.

I looked at the book, said "That looks interesting", followed the link to Amazon, saw the price (very cheap) and ordered it. If you keep spending all my money for you I'll have to give up all my other hobbies, like eating.

Anyway, thanks for the link. I had not heard of that one, and I'm looking forward to it.

Oh you ordered it. Well, I was going to mention another book by another Vietnamese author, Novel Without a Name (could only find a spanish edition) written by Duong Thu Huong.

It's very similar to Bao Ninh's Sorrow of War, maybe Sorrow of War is a bit more grim though. Although they both tell a pretty similar story so you might just save the effort and just read one of them.

[Sailor Steve]

I saw that one at Amazon as well, and wondered about it.

Maybe later. I was there, and I love to hear stories from the 'other side'. It's why Letters From Iwo Jima is one of my favorite movies.