Book review: Vietnam: A History by Stanley Karnow

Reviewed by Scott Lyons

Stanley Karnow's Vietnam: A History--first published in 1983 and still in print today--is a compelling and informative work that provides an in-depth analysis of one of the most complex and controversial conflicts of the 20th century. His experience as a journalist in Vietnam, combined with his meticulous research and insightful analysis, enable him to vividly capture the realities of war, the complexities of the political landscape, and the personal impact on individuals. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the origins and consequences of the conflict, and the impact it had on Vietnam and the world. It is a testament to Karnow's skill as a historian that this book remains relevant and recommended today, almost 40 years after its publication.

Karnow's writing style is engaging and straighforward, making the book accessible to a wide range of readers. Additionally, Karnow served with the U.S. Army Air Forces in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. After the war, the Brooklyn-born Karnow went on to graduate from Harvard with a degree in European History and Literature. This combination of war-fighting experience and Ivy League education makes him emminently qualified to write about the Vietnam War. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for the book In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines. 

Karnow's historical account is enriched by his profound understanding of the Vietnamese culture, and his ability to portray the characters involved in the conflict with vivid description. He provides a lucid and compelling narrative of the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, Ngo Dinh Diem, and the other key figures that shaped the Vietnamese struggle. Karnow also delves into the US leadership, most notably JFK, LBJ and Nixon, providing readers with a deeper understanding of their strategies, decisions, and the prevailing political sentiments that resulted in the escalation of the war.

What sets this book apart is its focus on the human experience of war. Karnow delves into the daily struggles, personal views and traumas of soldiers, journalists and Vietnamese civilians, providing a human perspective on the war. He comprehensively covers the various aspects of warfare including the tactics, weaponry, and the struggle for hearts and minds. He describes the unimaginable hardships of soldiers fighting in jungle terrain, the mental toll of fighting for democracy, and the struggles of the US military to adapt to guerrilla warfare.

As someone who came of age in the 1960s and was assigned a Selective Service draft priority number in 1974, I have a particular fascination with the Vietnam War. This War was a regular fixture in our daily lives, with the likes of Walter Cronkite and the Huntley-Brinkley Report bringing the latest updates straight into our living rooms via the 6 o'clock news. Karnow's Vietnam: A History brings back memories of this era. In illuminating the Tet Offensive and the media and television, "Americans at home had become accustomed to a familiar pattern of images," Karnow reflects. He writes further: "The screen often portrayed human agony in scenes of the wounded and dying on both sides, and the ordeal of civilians trapped by the combat. But mostly it transmitted the grueling reality of the struggle--remote, repetitious, monotonous--punctuated periodically by moments of horror." (Karnow, p. 536)

In Vietnam: A History, Karnow's literary excellence shines through. At 768 pages, the book is a "heavy lift" but well worth your time.- Scott Lyons, Ed.