A Short History of The Vietnam War

by D.K. Publishing, Smithsonian Institution (Contributor)

This is the definitive story of one of the longest and most controversial conflicts in US history.

Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, this authoritative history of the Vietnam War examines the key figures and events of the conflict, and its lasting effects on the world. Combining compelling text with maps and archive photography, A Short History of the Vietnam War is an all-encompassing showcase of every aspect of the fighting and the wider political landscape, from the struggle for civil rights to the treatment of prisoners.

Detailed descriptions of events, from Operation Passage to Freedom to the evacuation of the US embassy in Saigon, are brought to life with eyewitness accounts and iconic photographs. Gallery pages present collections of infantry weapons, artillery, aircraft, and armored vehicles, while diagrams and maps show exactly how battles and decisive moments unfolded, and biographical entries provide essential insight into the roles of significant individuals from Henry Kissinger to General Thieu.

The perfect read for the military history enthusiast, A Short History of the Vietnam War is a stirring visual record of the suffering, sacrifice, and heroism that occurred in America's bloodiest ever conflicts.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War

560 pages, Hardcover

Published May 6, 2021

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read, obviously written in the American perspective. Back when we visited the War Remnants museum in Vietnam, we learned about the atrocious effects of the war on the Vietnamese people (Agent Orange, POW tortures, etc.). This book on the other hand tried its best to summarize how the United States managed the war while dealing with domestic issues. It’s genuinely satisfying to have discovered both sides of the story.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captures the lead up to Vietnam war and the after shocks, what happened in the country and what we saw globally came to life. Very well written and easy to get through, visual supporting information also. Even if you only know a little about this war, you will really enjoy this book. If you know nothing then this book is the first go to reference book. Thanks #NetGalley for the copy to review.

[ED Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. As a veteran of three separate tours in Vietnam with MAAG, MACV, and the famed 173rd Abn Bde (SEP) I learned a tremendous amount of info and background about Vietnam that I would never have if I had not read this book. Well written, very factual, and covers all aspects of the war.
Should be a requirement in everybody's reference library. Never forget!

[Dan A. Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vietnam

Well done history of the Vietnam War. Although there was a fair amount of repetition, the war was covered in a relatively unbiased manner. The background of the war, its reasons, timeline, and impacts on the people and countries involved is good.

[Elizabeth Diggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a veteran of this conflict in 1965 and again in 1970, I found this book very informative. I learned a lot that I never knew before. Excellently written and easy to read. I highly recommend to everyone interested in learning about the Vietnam War and especially those who served.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

How is this a “short” history? I skipped a ton of it. Detailed and some visuals. It again proves the messiness of it all. Liked that is has a lot about what led up to the war AND its aftermath up to modern day.

[TRISHA · Rating 5 out of 5]

MASTERSTROKE

Exceptional in its ability to provide information not known to readers regarding this conflict. It was never declared a war. A conflict.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise but informative account of a period of history which was only superficially covered in my school history lessons. Judicious use of images to add impact to the text.

[Mia Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize how little I knew about the Vietnam War until reading this. It was a good resource, and obviously well-researched & presented

However, this publication was fraught with with typos and formatting errors. It could have benefitted from a couple more rounds of editing.
Here are some of my favorite examples-
1. Popular spelled "powwpular"
2. A quote about the war was dated from 1936 instead of 1963
3. Pol Pol instead of Pol Pot
4. Discussing the effects of the Indochinese War on the 980s instead of the 1980s
I am fairly forgiving about typos, etc., but I was surprised finding so many in a Smithsonian publication. Maybe these errors have been revised in more up-to-date versions.

[Dawn]

Good comprehensive book on different aspects of the Vietnam War without being too subjective. I especially appreciate the small sections covering the lead-up to the French Indochina War and post-war Khmer Rouge periods. I also appreciate the reference to photographs that were used in the book.
Only that, my version was absolutely riddled with typos, not just non-English words ('doi moi' as 'dao moi'), but also very obvious random typos ('the' as 'theww', lack of space between words, etc). Mine was a 2021 version, and this happened every dozen pages or so, frequent enough to make it a really annoying reading experience! Please proof-read your prints better!

[Ron Baumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and concisely written novel about the war in Vietnam from the time of the French occupation till the fall of Saigon. The book is a quick read and tells not only of the battles fought, but the social and political aspects as well. A great read for the history fan.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Steve Cripwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This presents the reader with the full background and buildup to the USA stepping into war in South East Asia in the 1960s. It relates to the history of the area including the French occupation. This is a very detailed and interesting account of the always unwinnable conflict.

It's easy to read, well laid out and very informative. A useful book to have on your reference shelf.

[Robert Newbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and detailed history of the conflicts in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos told from a objective POV. Provides insight into the political powers behind the major player in the conflict beginning at the end of WWII and continuing through the current rebuilding of the countries at present time. Covered topics often omitted from other histories of the Vietnam conflict.

[βαβυλών · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's a picture book :) anyway, the united states government is pure evil, driven by a two-pronged fork made of xenophobia and profit-margin

[Joy Ashwell Callaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great images and summary pages.

[Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dry at times, but overall a wonderful short overview of the war.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-organized introduction for anyone interested in learning about America's war in Vietnam. The summaries are succinct and the choronological layout helped me associate the connection of events. There are plenty of details that cannot be covered in five hundred pages, but this book can be combined with video documentaries for a more thorough understanding of the war.

[Julian Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accessible entry-level introduction to the Vietnam War which makes good use of plentiful pictures and is organized roughly chronologically into 2-4 page, image-heavy chapters. Slightly heavy on the US perspective at the expense of Vietnamese voices, but the content itself was largely unbiased, aside from the rather selective use of the adjective "heroic." I most enjoyed the sections on social history, ie the section on Black US soldiers' experience, and was less interested in some of the battles late-war. Still pleased overall, I feel like I have a good foundational knowledge of the conflict.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know nothing about the Vietnam war. So I was very happy to find this book. I certainly learnt a lot from reading it. It was very interesting and written in a way that helps you learn about it without getting overwhelmed. I definitely recommend reading this book if you want to learn about the war.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for bringing us this very interesting history book.