To Bear Any Burden: The Vietnam War and Its Aftermath in the Words of Americans and Southeast Asians

by Al Santoli

" To Bear Any Burden is necessary to understand the most significant aspect of the Indochina the human one." ―Tran Van Dinh, author of Blue Dragon White A Tet Story

"At least this reader would like to spend hours if not days talking to each of the people within these pages." ―Jack Reynolds, Network Correspondent, NBC

" . . . remarkable insight into the human aspect of the war." ―Library Journal

The 48 American and Asian veterans, refugees, and officials who speak in this book come from widely divergent backgrounds. In their narratives we hear them reliving crucial moments in the preparation, execution, and aftermath of war. It is a riveting, eyewitness account of the war and also reclaims from this tragic continuum larger patterns of courage and dedication.

Genres: History, War, Biography, Nonfiction, Asia, Military History

374 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this is one of the best books I've read on the Vietnam war and it's aftermath. It's definite must read for historians and anyone interested in learning about the war from those who were there. It's not told by a one sided perspective either, but from both sides of the conflict.

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of recollections of the war and its aftermath by soldiers, aid workers, refugees etc. Some intetresting insights, well worth a read.

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice collection of recollections about the Vietnam War as told to the author by people from both sides of the conflict. The time line would have been better placed in the beginning of the book or interspersed throughout. Both disturbing and intriguing segments but also a lot of bland ones. Good book for those interested in hearing more about the era.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it for my US history since 1960 class. It's a collection of first hand accounts of the Vietnam war by people from all aspects of the war. Members of the VC, north/south Vietnamese and Americans.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for history class. It helped me understand Vietnam better. I enjoyed the accounts from people who were there. It gave me a much better perspective of what people felt during the war.

[Nick Lebbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at the conflict from both sides