Product Description

The Vietnam War was arguably the most important event, or series of events, of the "American century". America entered the brutal conflict certain of its moral mission to save the world from the advance of communism. As this title explains, however, the war was not at all what the US expected. Outnumbered and outgunned the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces resorted to a guerrilla war based on the theories of Mao Zedong of China. This was war reduced to its most basic level - find the enemy and kill him.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24647 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Times Educational Supplement
‘Teachers or A-level students looking for details of military campaigns will certainly find these books detailed and authoritative.’

History Today
‘[Essential Histories] make the perfect starting point for readers of any age.’

Daily Express
‘[Essential Histories are] accessible and well illustrated.’

Customer Reviews

good overview
this book is a good initial overview in to the vietnam war. it is not too in depth, or heavy reading, it details the main facts and timeline of the war. it is written in documentary style, no personal accounts or campaign details.

A very good & highly recommended book..
This is a great little book and I would highly recommend it to anyone whether for personal reading or education purposes. It is a very concise and succinct account of the Vietnam War but without missing out anything of huge importance. You are taken through the background to the warning signs of war, the outbreak and the fighting. Contrary to another review that said there are no personal accounts, there are actually two - one by a soldier called John Young and another by a civilian Kim Herzinger - and although brief (a couple of pages for each, the book is approx. A5) they do give a good look into the war through different eyes. This is definitely a book worth buying.

Excellent Overview
Having seem many war films and read various fictional accounts about Vietnam I never really understood what went on. This book explained in clear simple terms the overall war and the background to it.

It gives all the relevant information in an easily digestable format, enough to make clearer the events that took place to another generation a world away. If you are looking for deep insight you may not find it here but you will learn why and what happened.