1968

by Michael T. Kaufman

1968, THE YEAR AMERICA GREW UP From racial and gender equality fights to the struggle against the draft and the Vietnam war, in 1968 Americans asked questions and fought for their rights.  Now, 30 years later, we look back on that seminal year--from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assasination to the Columbia University riots to our changing role among other nations--in this gripping introduction to the events home and abroad.  The year we first took steps in space, the year we shaped the present, 1968 presented by a former New York Times writer who lived through it all, shares the story with detail and passion.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, American History

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2009

Reviews

[Takumi Morimoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books explained the year of 1968 in U.S very well. I haven't known much about what happened in 1968, so this book was very good for me to get new information.
I was surprised that the 1968 is the year that is very important to all Americans.
You should read this book if you like history or nonfiction book.

[Kris Loveid · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much for my brain at this time. might try again at another time.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you a hippie? Do you like history? Do you like 60s music? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, then 1968 by Michael T. Kaufman is the right book for you. This book is about the year 1968, and talks about important events during that year that include the Tet Offensive, the Homefront, Martin Luther King Jr. and his death, the events at Columbia University, the riots and events in Paris, Chicago, and Mexico City, Bobby Kennedy and his death, Prague, and the Apollo 8. This book is divided by different events that happened in 1968. For example, a section would be the riots and events in Chicago. There are pictures throughout the book, and before each section, it has an article that was in the New York Times relating to what the following section was about. Also, it had mini-sections within a big section about a person that the section mentions. For example, in the section about Prague and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, it has a mini-section about Alexander Dubcek, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia during this time. This book has a table of contents, a timeline of 1968 at the beginning of the book, all the full articles listed at the end of the book, and an index. I have never seen a book organized this way, but this is my favorite way that I have seen a book organized. It is very helpful, helps the reader clearly understand everything that is mentioned in the book, and has some very interesting information in the articles, pictures, and mini-sections. When I read this author's writing, it felt like a voice talking to me, not like I was reading. His voice is strong and gets the point across, but feels like a real human and not sterile. I didn’t want to stop reading, and I knew what I was reading was true because the author was a New York Times reporter during 1968, and a credible expert. This author does not seem biased through his writing in the book, but I assume he is biased because he worked for the New York Times. I think this author wrote this book the best way that it book could have been written, considering the way he was trying to write it, as an interesting, factual book. This book kept me interested the whole time I was reading it, and it gave me some interesting facts that were made easy to understand with his information and organization. I would personally give this book a 7/10, but many people of my age would not be interested in literature of this kind. In the end, I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates an interesting non-fiction book, or someone looking to escape all of today's adventure books, but still wants to read an entertaining book.

[Liz Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story: 1968 was a year that changed the United States forever--and the world, too. Michael Kaufman, a reporter for the New York Times, watched it all come down. Here, he offers a short but thorough report about the killing of both Martin Luther King, Jr and Bobby Kennedy, campus riots, the Vietnam war, and other events that people are still talking about 50 years later.

Non-fiction: regular ratings don't apply. Good for middle school readers.

Liz's comments: 1968 was a watershed year, not just due to the killings of Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy. Here's the story of some recent history whose effects are in place today, told by a person who lived it.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! For people of my generation (those born after 1968), this is an insightful look into the history of the year. I already knew about the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. But, I didn't know about all of the rioting in the United States, Paris and Mexico City.

I didn't know that the 1968 Olympics were held in Mexico City or about the events that took place just prior and during the games. At the end of the year, Apollo 8 with its crew of 3 takes the first ever pictures of the earth for the world to see -- this was probably the most positive event of the year!

There is so much more to be learned from this book! Check it out!

Interesting presidential facts that I picked up:

Lyndon Johnson once said "Presidents, for example, quickly realize that while a single act might destroy the world they live in, no one single decision can make life suddenly better or can turn history around for the good."

We all know about the infamous Richard Nixon, but we may not all know about the good he did: "He reopened relations with China in 1972. He began rapproachement with the Soviet Union with the signing of the first treaty limiting the potentially deadly nuclear arms race. And after at first broadening and intensifying the conflict in Vietnam, he ended American involvement in the fighting there."

[David H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello recently I just finished a book called 1968 by Michael T. Kaufman. This book contains many great and not so great stories that happened in the year 1968. This book talks about the Vietnam war, Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, the revolt at columbia university, Bobby Kennedy’s death, the problem in Chicago were people were revolting and police beat a lot of them even if they weren’t doing anything at all, Apollo, and many more. Each chapter is a different conflict that happened in that year. It’s in chronological order. And they’re pictures on almost every page, some of them are of pictures of the conflict and some of them is the front page of the newspaper showing articles and pictures in the newspaper of what happened. This book is very interesting though, the one thing that confused me was who’s perspective it was coming from because he usually talked about other things but then he talks about himself in it to and it kinda confused me, but overall it is a fantastic book. I think that people who didn’t experience that year because they weren’t alive yet should read it. It’s just a wonderful book.

[John Ballin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A year ago when I read the Book One Summer, America 1927 I wrote

"As I read it I thought that maybe in 75 years the same type of book would be written about 1969: assassinations, the moon landing, Woodstock and many other things would make quite a story."

I loved that book, the characters and how the year was brought to life. It was an exciting read. So when I saw this book I thought it would be a fun good read to remember the times. It was so dry I only made it about a quarter of the way through before I gave up. It was like reading a History book for a class. Maybe it got better later but I didn't have the patience.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a New York Times reporter, this account of a "year like no other" reads like a collection of short stories. The year begins with the Tet offensive, ends with the Apollo 8 sending pictures of earth. In between are anti war protests, Columbia riots, deaths of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, student protests in Paris and Mexico City, protests at the Democratic National Convention, and the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union. Although it is just one year, it really covers the decade of the sixties.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photos, newspaper articles, biographical textboxes, and brief essays convey the extraordinary events of 1968. It was a year when both Martin Luther King, Jr and Robert Kennedy were killed, student protests disrupted Columbia University, Paris, and Mexico, there were riots in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, the Prague Spring occurred and was squashed in October with the invasion by the Soviets, the Tet Offensive increased death rates in Vietnam, Lyndon Johnson decided not to seek reelection, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed, and the first humans orbited the moon.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the reason I like this book so much is that I see it as firmly YA, and I believe that it is a fantastic overview of 1968 for a young adult audience. Although I knew about or had read about many of these events before, seeing them in order and with plenty of pictures and accompanying NY Times articles put it all in perspective for me. An enlightening and engaging read. Recommended for those who want a general overview or a book for ages 11-12 and up.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There can be no peace in the United States until there is peace in Vietnam."

1968 was The Year. I graduated high school in 1968 and vividly remember all the events that were described in this extremely well written book. Reading it was as if I was there & living in that moment now.

The articles at the end of the book are not to be overlooked. Fascinating!

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what I look for in nonfiction: a little insight into a part of history I am intrigued by, well laid out with great photos, and a bonus--reprints of the New York Times articles about the events of 1968 chronicled in this book.

[Out of the Stacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what I look for in nonfiction: a little insight into a part of history I am intrigued by, well laid out with great photos, and a bonus--reprints of the New York Times articles about the events of 1968 chronicled in this book. --Hauser

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A review of the turbulent year, 1968, through photos and articles from the New York Times.