Fine Introduction to a Difficult War

Looking for a quick overview of the Vietnam War? The Trivia Book series has produced another winner here. It’s a little shorter than I would have liked but still covers the major issues and events of the war as well as providing the context within which the fighting began. The things that makes these books stand out, however, are the short vignettes that add humanity to the larger discussions. If you’re curious about this period of history, this is a good way to get introduced to the topic.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

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So many interesting facts

I absolutely love history, so when I saw this book I just had to get it! I really don't know much about the Vietnam war and enjoyed all of the random facts and trivia that went along with the book. I love that it quizzes you at the end of each chapter because that really helped my pay attention and test myself afterwards.

I was given this Audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

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Interesting orientation/overview of Vietnam War

I'm Generation X from Canada who enjoys military history but knows next to nothing about the Vietnam War (other than pop culture such as one of my favourite Billy Joel songs 'Goodnight Saigon', and the presence in Canada of draft dodgers and Vietnamese boat people refugees).

Based on my exploration of other events in military history, I know that it's impossible to cover all of the bases in a single book - especially one that is less than five hours in duration. Thus, it's not a huge disappointment that this book doesn't mention the Gulf of Tonkin or Jane Fonda (although I would have liked to have learned about this).

One thing that I particularly enjoyed about this brief history was that it touched on so many different contextual aspects as well as specific events. The pre-war geopolitical context is really important because it helps you understand why different people took different stances about the war. (It's like blaming Germany for starting World War One without understanding treaties and ties such as those between Germany and Austro-Hungarian Empire, or between Serbia and Russia.). I was also interested in the perspectives and actions of different US Presidents during this time period, and the legacy of those actions today. Commentaries about anti-war protesters, movies, and music were also insightful. It's one of the great things about books like these - one can really get a sense of the interconnectedness of people and events, and how the past influences the future. This book is a really good starting point for someone like me, who has a limited understanding of the Vietnam War and seeks a bird's eye view before exploring specific topics in the future from additional sources.

The narration was excellent; I have absolutely no complaints there or suggestions for improvement!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Learn something and have fun

Interesting history and overview of the Vietnam War. Lots of fun facts and fun trivia questions. Definitely worth a listen.

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Thought Provoking

A great book filled with interesting trivia and little known facts.
I found it interesting and it was easy listening. I think the author was successful in writing this book - because when I finished it 1/ I had learned somethings and 2/ I have a desire to learn more about the Vietnam war.
Narration keeps your interest.
All in all a good book that is well written and researched.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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A great overview of the Vietnam War

Similar to 'War Trivia Book 1", which covered World War 2, this book gives a overview of the events leading up to the war, the players and politics, the main offensives, the reactions abroad, and the ongoing legacy of the war. It is a great, quick, overview for anyone wanting to get a basic understanding of the Vietnam war. The flow is great, allowing readers to build knowledge as they go. It is clear to see how the Vietnam was became such a schamozzle for the USA.

Spread throughout the book there is little trivia and strange facts that, while not required to understand the war, add depth to the history. They are the interesting little pieces that make you want to know more, and that you may not see in other history books.

O'Neill includes small revision quizzes at the end of each chapter to test yourself and make sure you have picked up the information contained previously.

Narration by Derek Newman is good. Clear and easy to follow, he is well paced. Nothing exciting in the narration but good solid, enjoyable work.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

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Big Picture Synthesis of the Conflict in Vietnam

Bill O'Neal takes on an ambitious summary of the 2nd Indochina war in this book. Every bit as informative as his other works on the war, it follows a clear outline of events; from setting the stage with tensions after World War II, to the legacy of the Vietnam War in American culture today. It would take months to gain the amount of information O'Neill condenses into barely more than a 3-hour read.

Gripping and emotional the book is sure to keep you listening until the end. The quick facts and the Q&A sessions are here as before, for you to test yourself. I highly recommend this book as well as O'Neill's other trivia books. I was very glad to receive a free copy for review purposes, since I really enjoy learning history in such an accessible format as audiobook.

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The Recent Past

For some of us “The Viet Nam War Trivia Book” is a visit to our own personal history. We knew someone who served. We knew someone who died. We knew someone who resisted. We knew someone who fled the country. That’s all covered in this book but not in a trivial manner. Bill O’Neill covers the Viet Nam conflict through pertinent data and relevant facts. Especially apropos is the historical build-up to the war through it’s roots in French colonialism, it’s regional status and Viet Nam’s overall struggle for independence.

Derek Newman does a stellar job matching in quality the research and writing of Bill O’Neill.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Not my favorite historical time period but ...

Note: I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

This book did a good job of clarifying one of the most muddled, confusing, messes of a war that is part of our country's history. I have conflicting feelings about that time period in the U.S. and this war in particular. This helped bring things into a bit of perspective. Don't think it'll really change much about how I feel about the war as a whole but it helped understand things a bit better. Once again, the narrator did a solid job. Recommended for anyone who enjoys history and/or wartime history.

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Goodnight Siagon! Good Morning Vietnam!!

I fell into this series with book 3, the one about the Civil War, and loved the way it was written and set up. I enjoyed the quizes at the end of each chapter, and felt that even though it was under five hours in length that it was informative and interesting.

Well, this book is just as good. It would seem that all the books in this series follow the same format, and so all the good things of one book will follow in the next. Here we get to know a lot about how the whole shebang got started, get introduced to some lesser known individuals and events, as well as the better ones. I wish they had a book like this on the Korean War, too. As a MASH fan that would really hit the spot. Thankfully, my Platoon interests filled the bill here, and I learned a lot even though I had grown up right in the middle of this mess of a war.

Newman is an excellent narrator. He keeps you captivated, and does not merely inform, he educates you and piques your interests. That is a rare quality in a narrator. Even though I did receive a promo code for this review it in no way influenced my considerations of the material, and in fact, inspired me to be more honest. In fact, getting a code generally makes me harsher as a reviewer as I am more often concerned what someone like Me will decide based on my review.

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