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American Heritage History of World War II
The American Heritage History of World War II was first published in 1966. At the time, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist C.L. Sulzberger received widespread praise for his authoritative account of the six-year war that involved more than fifty-six nations, resulted in the death of some 22 million people, and shaped the course of history. His work became a standard reference on the war.
Stephen E. Ambrose, one of the most highly regarded historians of our time, oversaw a major revision of this classic work. Seamlessly incorporating new material and insights, Ambrose produced a comprehensive and riveting account of the war’s key characters and events.
In planes and foxholes, in deserts and jungles, on ships and beaches, Ambrose shines a light on the people involved - the leaders, the fighters, the victims. He also added new chapters on the atrocities of the Holocaust and revelations about the secret war of espionage. Ambrose’s analysis also offers insight into the events that precipitated the Cold War.
This book captures the courage, commitment, military genius, and horror of the war that gave birth to a new era in world politics. For students, history buffs, and fascinated readers, The American Heritage History of World War II is the definitive single-volume work on the subject and will endure as a major narrative of world history.
Stephen E. Ambrose, one of the most highly regarded historians of our time, oversaw a major revision of this classic work. Seamlessly incorporating new material and insights, Ambrose produced a comprehensive and riveting account of the war’s key characters and events.
In planes and foxholes, in deserts and jungles, on ships and beaches, Ambrose shines a light on the people involved - the leaders, the fighters, the victims. He also added new chapters on the atrocities of the Holocaust and revelations about the secret war of espionage. Ambrose’s analysis also offers insight into the events that precipitated the Cold War.
This book captures the courage, commitment, military genius, and horror of the war that gave birth to a new era in world politics. For students, history buffs, and fascinated readers, The American Heritage History of World War II is the definitive single-volume work on the subject and will endure as a major narrative of world history.
506 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 1997
473 people are currently reading
879 people want to read
About the author
Stephen E. Ambrose
136 books2,397 followersStephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. He received his Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his final years he faced charges of plagiarism for his books, with subsequent concerns about his research emerging after his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 10, 2021
American Heritage History of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose, one of the most respected historians of our time. Having already read several of his other books and found them to be very professionally done and thoroughly researched. I also appreciate that he tends to follow the facts and also can be trusted to keep his personal opinions out of his writings. The American Heritage History of World War II was first published in 1966 by author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist C.L. Sulzberger who received widespread praise for his authoritative account of the six-year war that involved more than fifty-six nations and resulted in the deaths of some 22 million people. His work became a standard reference on the war. Stephen E. Ambrose stepped in and oversaw a major revision of this classic work incorporating new material and insights, he produced a comprehensive and riveting account of the war’s key characters and events. He also added new chapters on the atrocities of the Holocaust and revelations about the secret war of espionage. Ambrose’s analysis also offers insight into the events that lead to the Cold War. As with other books by Stephen Ambrose that I have read, it is well-written and held my interest even though I have read enough about World War II that I already knew what was coming up. This book captures various aspects of the war, the courage, commitment, military genius, and horror of the war that gave birth to a new era in world politics.
March 19, 2022
There are literally thousands of books on WWII, but I wanted one that was not so extensive that would cover every aspect of that war in one book. No book could contain the complete history of that war. By all means this book is not the whole story of that war. The aim of this book was to cover the essential history of this war, the human tragedies and what was like for people who were swept up by it. Instead of getting bog down in battles Ambrose hits the high points and covers the grand strategy on all sides. The authors explore the politics, the motivations for war and explain how and why decisions were made. The book provides insight into drivers that set WWII in motion, prewar politics of all the combatants, the allied agreements and issues between Churchill, Stalin and FDR. There is more information about all regions involved. America's prewar involvement in the aid to Europe and how American industry turned the tide, The book also delves more deeply regarding the war in the Pacific: Beyond the 'Island hopping' philosophy and the magnificent USMC, to include the war in China, Burma, the dangers to Australia and India that were thwarted, the rational for Japanese suicide attacks and much more. This is a short history of World War II that illuminates rather overwhelms the reader with facts. You could also make the argument that this is a “Cliffs Notes” type book, but it’s not necessarily a brief read, although there are many other books that are definitely much longer and more expanded. I did enjoy the book. There was nothing new for me, but of course this ground is as well-plowed as it is fertile so that is hardly worth noting at all. I had never been able to see the bigger picture in such graphic detail, until now when I can use this book to read more in-depth material on subjects that interest me on WWII. I’ve never been disappointed by Stephen Ambrose, and this book is par for the course.
December 6, 2018
A Kindle “bargain” on Memorial Day. I would have been happy had I paid the full price. There have been so many books about the second world war, and many by author Stephen Ambrose. Most would argue that Ambrose has written many of the most well received and well known. This book does its due diligence in that it doesn’t really focus on one, or a few, certain aspects of the particular conflict, it’s simply a somewhat condensed volume detailing just about everything related to the tragedy.
Due to the vast subject material here, this book could have been several volumes, since it deals with the entire war, but Ambrose and co-author C.L. Sulzberger give the reader just enough information to provide the uninformed enough details to understanding the who’s, when’s, where’s and why’s.
You could make the argument that this is a “Cliffs Notes” type book, but it’s not necessarily a brief read, although there are many other books that are definitely much more long and expanded. This would be a good book for a high school student that might be curious.
For someone such as myself who has read a large number of accounts already, there was much in this book that I already knew. Such a compact piece really can’t afford to go into too many deep revelations. What I found somewhat refreshing is the treatment of the war outside of the battle and the combat zone. That might seem a bit of an oxymoron, but there are, for example, a couple of chapters talking about what life was like “back home”. In America, for instance, there was definitely a sense of patriotism and pride, but also fear and trepidation. Apart from the attack on Pearl Harbor (and Hawaii wasn’t a U.S. state back then, remember) there is virtually no conflict on the continent. So in a sense, the Americans had it “good”. That seems a bit bold, and the authors ensure that it was no picnic, especially since everyone living in the United States, it seemed, was related to someone overseas, so the fear never dissipated. Yet compared to places such as London, Berlin, Shanghai and Sicily, those in the U.S.A. at least never had to worry about their houses being bombed, their possessions being looted, or the women being savaged. So it was nice to see a book about the war and how it affected those that weren’t literally fighting in it.
This was a relatively quick read, and it should also be pointed out that the Kindle version does not include the illustrations - which tended to leave many purchasers feeling a bit gypped. I suppose pictures would enhance (when do they not?), but I didn’t think they were necessary. I’ve never been disappointed by Stephen Ambrose, and this book is par for the course. Start your older kids with this one for a good overall primer.
Due to the vast subject material here, this book could have been several volumes, since it deals with the entire war, but Ambrose and co-author C.L. Sulzberger give the reader just enough information to provide the uninformed enough details to understanding the who’s, when’s, where’s and why’s.
You could make the argument that this is a “Cliffs Notes” type book, but it’s not necessarily a brief read, although there are many other books that are definitely much more long and expanded. This would be a good book for a high school student that might be curious.
For someone such as myself who has read a large number of accounts already, there was much in this book that I already knew. Such a compact piece really can’t afford to go into too many deep revelations. What I found somewhat refreshing is the treatment of the war outside of the battle and the combat zone. That might seem a bit of an oxymoron, but there are, for example, a couple of chapters talking about what life was like “back home”. In America, for instance, there was definitely a sense of patriotism and pride, but also fear and trepidation. Apart from the attack on Pearl Harbor (and Hawaii wasn’t a U.S. state back then, remember) there is virtually no conflict on the continent. So in a sense, the Americans had it “good”. That seems a bit bold, and the authors ensure that it was no picnic, especially since everyone living in the United States, it seemed, was related to someone overseas, so the fear never dissipated. Yet compared to places such as London, Berlin, Shanghai and Sicily, those in the U.S.A. at least never had to worry about their houses being bombed, their possessions being looted, or the women being savaged. So it was nice to see a book about the war and how it affected those that weren’t literally fighting in it.
This was a relatively quick read, and it should also be pointed out that the Kindle version does not include the illustrations - which tended to leave many purchasers feeling a bit gypped. I suppose pictures would enhance (when do they not?), but I didn’t think they were necessary. I’ve never been disappointed by Stephen Ambrose, and this book is par for the course. Start your older kids with this one for a good overall primer.
February 16, 2024
Concise history touches on the main events.
July 8, 2020
Thousands of books have been written about World War II—”history’s greatest catastrophe.” Amazon shows more than 70,000 titles. Among them are general histories from the likes of the Smithsonian Institution, the New York Times, and unnumbered others. Although I can’t claim to have read them all, or even more than a handful, the very best short history of World War II that I’ve come across is the product of three eminent authors writing for the American Heritage magazine: Stephen E. Ambrose, C. L. Sulzberger, and David McCullough. You’re unlikely to find a better introduction to the grand sweep, the intensity, and the human reality of the Second World War.
You might expect an overview of the most complex event in the history of humankind to read like a textbook, forcing the meat-and-potatoes details that bring a story to life into the background in favor of a dry recitation of facts. But that’s not so in this masterfully readable treatment of the war. There is, of course, plenty of connecting tissue to stitch the tale together. But Sulzberger, Ambrose, and McCullough have brought their stellar storytelling chops to this project.
History comes alive in this book when one or another of the authors gets down to cases. For example, they write, “In the summer of 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower flew from Berlin to Moscow at 800 feet on a clear day. He could not see a single building still standing.” Later, they report the words of a “doughboy” on viewing the Colosseum: “‘Gee, I didn’t know our bombers had done that much damage in Rome.'”
A short history of World War II that illuminates rather than overwhelm with facts
But the book’s greatest attraction is the authors’ willingness to render judgment that sweeps away the details and brings their vast collective knowledge to bear:
** “One of the great myths of the war is that England slept while Hitler rearmed. In fact, the British and French spent as much as the Germans on rearmament. It was just that they bought the wrong weapons and had inferior doctrines for employing them.”
** “Hitler’s misjudgments concerning Britain were profound. He didn’t think they would fight in 1939, he didn’t think they would persevere in 1940, and until late 1942, it never occurred to him that they British might actually win.”
** The authors argue that Mussolini’s ill-considered invasion of Albania and Libya forced the Nazis to divert troops from the buildup for Operation Barbarossa to rescue the Italians in the Balkans and North Africa, thus delaying the invasion of the Soviet Union by many crucial weeks. “Had Hitler not run up a swastika on the Acropolis, he might have succeeded in draping it upon the Kremlin.”
American Heritage History of World War II is full of revealing observations like these. It’s refreshing to read history that truly leads to understanding rather than overwhelming the reader with inconsequential facts.
About the authors
The first edition of this book appeared in 1966. Its author was New York Times foreign correspondent and columnist C. L. Sulzberger (1912-93), but the prizewinning historian David McCullough (1933-) “was the creator and editor of the first edition of the book.” Historian Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002), best known to the public for the book and HBO series The Band of Brothers, updated the volume for publication in 1997. McCullough and Ambrose together published dozens of books on American history. McCullough’s won special praise, winning him two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Book Awards as well as a host of other honors.
You might expect an overview of the most complex event in the history of humankind to read like a textbook, forcing the meat-and-potatoes details that bring a story to life into the background in favor of a dry recitation of facts. But that’s not so in this masterfully readable treatment of the war. There is, of course, plenty of connecting tissue to stitch the tale together. But Sulzberger, Ambrose, and McCullough have brought their stellar storytelling chops to this project.
History comes alive in this book when one or another of the authors gets down to cases. For example, they write, “In the summer of 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower flew from Berlin to Moscow at 800 feet on a clear day. He could not see a single building still standing.” Later, they report the words of a “doughboy” on viewing the Colosseum: “‘Gee, I didn’t know our bombers had done that much damage in Rome.'”
A short history of World War II that illuminates rather than overwhelm with facts
But the book’s greatest attraction is the authors’ willingness to render judgment that sweeps away the details and brings their vast collective knowledge to bear:
** “One of the great myths of the war is that England slept while Hitler rearmed. In fact, the British and French spent as much as the Germans on rearmament. It was just that they bought the wrong weapons and had inferior doctrines for employing them.”
** “Hitler’s misjudgments concerning Britain were profound. He didn’t think they would fight in 1939, he didn’t think they would persevere in 1940, and until late 1942, it never occurred to him that they British might actually win.”
** The authors argue that Mussolini’s ill-considered invasion of Albania and Libya forced the Nazis to divert troops from the buildup for Operation Barbarossa to rescue the Italians in the Balkans and North Africa, thus delaying the invasion of the Soviet Union by many crucial weeks. “Had Hitler not run up a swastika on the Acropolis, he might have succeeded in draping it upon the Kremlin.”
American Heritage History of World War II is full of revealing observations like these. It’s refreshing to read history that truly leads to understanding rather than overwhelming the reader with inconsequential facts.
About the authors
The first edition of this book appeared in 1966. Its author was New York Times foreign correspondent and columnist C. L. Sulzberger (1912-93), but the prizewinning historian David McCullough (1933-) “was the creator and editor of the first edition of the book.” Historian Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002), best known to the public for the book and HBO series The Band of Brothers, updated the volume for publication in 1997. McCullough and Ambrose together published dozens of books on American history. McCullough’s won special praise, winning him two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Book Awards as well as a host of other honors.
July 17, 2020
Completed August 14, 2018
The book is an easy read. I bought it for 3.00 on Amazon (book bub). It is a little over 500 pages. It is a very good survey of the war, the causes and the everlasting effects. I feel I gained a very good perspective on the different theaters and battles that occurred on both fronts. I hope to explore other books and courses on the war that are more specific in their scope.
The book is an easy read. I bought it for 3.00 on Amazon (book bub). It is a little over 500 pages. It is a very good survey of the war, the causes and the everlasting effects. I feel I gained a very good perspective on the different theaters and battles that occurred on both fronts. I hope to explore other books and courses on the war that are more specific in their scope.
October 10, 2020
Excellent overview of the entire war and I learned several things I didn't already know.
May 2, 2025
My wish for an update to Sulzberger’s 1966 survey of the 2nd World War was answered when I found a copy of this 21st century re-write. Ambrose is a good writer, and a qualified historian (even if there are critics of the accuracy and conclusions in some of his works), and hence in a good position to integrate later material. So much has come to light in the half century since the 1960s, what with formerly classified files being now available to historians, the advantages of the broader perspective that comes with time, and the myriad of witnesses who since 1966 have spoken and written about what they experienced of the war, that make this update a necessity. So, as an introductory survey, this is superb. Sadly however, this update does NOT include the maps, photos, and other material from the original edition which are so important to envisioning what happened, therefore both editions stand alone. I read both cover to cover, but I might suggest to those with less time to just read this one, and follow along with the illustrations from the previous edition. [note: neither of these are intended for professional historians, but for lay readers with an interest in history, however they do function well as broad surveys of the war years.]
June 12, 2021
Great overview of WWII
This book is a good overview of World War II. If you have never studied or read about it, this is a fine book to begin exploring the history and impact of the war. A special note to liberals and progressives who are attempting to equate climate change as their World War II, you are very wrong. As Patton said comparing any human endeavor to war, makes the endeavor insignificant. Climate change comes nowhere close to the cost, destruction and devastation created by World War II.
This book is a good overview of World War II. If you have never studied or read about it, this is a fine book to begin exploring the history and impact of the war. A special note to liberals and progressives who are attempting to equate climate change as their World War II, you are very wrong. As Patton said comparing any human endeavor to war, makes the endeavor insignificant. Climate change comes nowhere close to the cost, destruction and devastation created by World War II.
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August 30, 2020World War II History
I gave this book a five star rating because it gives the knowledge and details of what our ancestors fought and died for. The world peace that is taken for granted by our younger generations. People of our time should be educated on the history of past wars so we will become more appreciated for the freedom we have today. Free trade, open seas, open air space, and much more.
world should be more thankful
t oday
I gave this book a five star rating because it gives the knowledge and details of what our ancestors fought and died for. The world peace that is taken for granted by our younger generations. People of our time should be educated on the history of past wars so we will become more appreciated for the freedom we have today. Free trade, open seas, open air space, and much more.
world should be more thankful
t oday
February 10, 2021
So much is written about ww2, it horrors and heroism that there is hardly a subject that was not covered. This book doesn't bring anything new to the table, all is covered and with much bether understanding and more detail. I admit that maybe I am to harsh because ww2 was my favorite subject to read as a kid. The book itself is good with lots of pictures and short texts and it is good for the people who want to know some more but not too much.
February 5, 2022
This is one of my favorite books of all time; I would highly recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in war history. Sulzberger writes with a gripping pen, laying forth the abundant pieces of the war with a special focus on the individual heroes bringing it to fruition, both lauded and unknown. The balance between aspects (at least to my American bias) suited me quite well. I try to reread it every summer.
September 14, 2022
I enjoyed the book, or maybe I should say, found it interesting and informative. I never thought about the number of lives lost, cities destroyed, and the depth of the hatred between peoples until I read this book. What a terrible war? I hope we never have another like it. It was well-written like all of Ambrose's books. I strongly recommend it.
November 29, 2017
Gives one a complete understanding of the ware events
Easy to read and understand. Written objectively with the reasons each country acted politically and militarily.
This is a MUST READ for anyone interested in "Human Society" or the effect of supporting dogma.
Easy to read and understand. Written objectively with the reasons each country acted politically and militarily.
This is a MUST READ for anyone interested in "Human Society" or the effect of supporting dogma.
October 1, 2018
Highly readable
I could not put this book down. There is not a dry paragraph anywhere. It introduces areas of the war not commonly in history books. I loved it. Bored my family constantly talking about the things I learned from it.
I could not put this book down. There is not a dry paragraph anywhere. It introduces areas of the war not commonly in history books. I loved it. Bored my family constantly talking about the things I learned from it.
July 11, 2019
Well written
Ambrose has a knack for simplifying complex issues and making them understandable. He also has taken the time and effort to get meaningful quotes from the actual participants.
Well done!
Ambrose has a knack for simplifying complex issues and making them understandable. He also has taken the time and effort to get meaningful quotes from the actual participants.
Well done!
November 5, 2019
Great Organization of an Avalanche of Facts and Events
I liked the organization of the book. Rather than a day-to-day chronicle of the war, individual chapters addressed, in detail, various “pockets of knowledge “ about both military and political events.
I liked the organization of the book. Rather than a day-to-day chronicle of the war, individual chapters addressed, in detail, various “pockets of knowledge “ about both military and political events.
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September 21, 2020Best single volume WW 2 book I've read
The best single volume WW 2 book I've read. The basics of cause and effect of WW 2 were explained in easy understandable way. It is well written and a good source for those who want to be able get a working knowledge of WW 2
The best single volume WW 2 book I've read. The basics of cause and effect of WW 2 were explained in easy understandable way. It is well written and a good source for those who want to be able get a working knowledge of WW 2
January 14, 2024
As part of my effort to learn about WWII, an interesting overview, with some exceptional photos and some very thoughtful essays. Not necessarily the most organized or comprehensive account, but brought many things of interest to light, for sure.
August 16, 2024
It was very thorough book of WWII, although sometimes bogged down with too many details, numbers etc.
“Life came cheap in the world of 1945.” It is very unfortunate that only a handful of people pulled the strings during the war, but millions were killed.
“Life came cheap in the world of 1945.” It is very unfortunate that only a handful of people pulled the strings during the war, but millions were killed.
May 13, 2025
Well organized chapters. Well written with little to no fluff. We had no time to get lost in the details because we were flying through from topic to topic. Other books are meant to go more in depth, but this one provided a great overview for the things we should never forget.
August 11, 2025
A pretty solid whirlwind tour through WWII from a US perspective. I picked up a few interesting new-to-me nuggets, but I also noticed some things that were straight up wrong. Not a bad place to start reading about the war - just not a good place to finish.
September 15, 2017
A quick overview of WWII and provided insight I had not previously seen
October 17, 2017
Well I was amazed at how much politics were a major part of winning the war. Very high level, not very detailed, good overview.
January 4, 2018
Love it !
Not just the fact but the human aspect of leaders, places and weapons. Excellent overview and fast pace reading.... recommend ed
Not just the fact but the human aspect of leaders, places and weapons. Excellent overview and fast pace reading.... recommend ed
September 18, 2018
A general introduction to WWII. Good coverage of all aspects of the war. It is interesting and well written.
June 22, 2020
Excellent
I finished this 600 page book in two days. I couldn't put it down. It does a great job of covering the most important events of WWII.
I finished this 600 page book in two days. I couldn't put it down. It does a great job of covering the most important events of WWII.
October 17, 2020
A solid book by this prolific historian.
Good description of battles, given from the American point of view.
Worth reading, but not brilliant.
Good description of battles, given from the American point of view.
Worth reading, but not brilliant.
July 26, 2021
This is an overview, and it does a good job of tracing the highlights of WWII. Based on length, very little detail is given. For that level of detail, see Atkinson’s Liberation Trilogy, e.g.
March 31, 2022
Fabulous!!! Wonderful overview of a horrid time.
Narrator is perfect!
Listened using Chirpbooks.com.
Narrator is perfect!
Listened using Chirpbooks.com.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews