Tom Brokaw - The Greatest Generation

Pros: Brokaw's prose is concise and clear. Great stories.
Cons: None

The term Greatest Generation might smack of journalistic hyperbole or nationalistic jingoism, but the more I read the works of Stephen E. Ambrose (D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, Band of Brothers) or watch any of the ...

Pros: Interesting reading when taken in small doses
Cons: Gets repetitive after a while

First off, let me state that this review has been submitted as part of a write-off hosted by ed_grover. The subject is “aging – or things related to aging”. If you have the time and inclination, I strongly urge you to check out the submissions by the...

Pros: A Fine Book.
Cons: Labeling one generation as "The Greatest" may be premature.

Over and over and over again in Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation the vital values emerge again and again: duty, honor, courage, spiritual strength, love of family, love of country, and responsibility for one's self.
These are the...

Pros: True and First Person Portrayals
Cons: Perhaps a bit too much praise for the younger generation to swallow

Tom Brokaw's book -THE GREATEST GENERATION is of special interest to me. Not only because I am a member caught in that time frame, but because of Tom Brokaw, himself. I spent a large part of my youth in Vermillion, South Dakota, which is just a hoot...

Pros: A moving compilation of stories of ordinary men and women
Cons: None

Tom Brokaw may be one of the sleekiest and most popular anchormen of NBC, but forever, he will be remembered by this work, The Greatest Generation. Back in 1984, he went to France to make a documentary marking the 40th anniversary of D-day....

Pros: Very respectful of the people written about.
Cons: Lacks depth, focus, and support for main argument

Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" was, for me, a major disappointment. When I bought it, I had hoped to read an exciting, well written and carefully researched chronicle of an era. What I found instead was a lightweight book which...

Pros: some interesting stories
Cons: Whitewash and perversion of history, denigrates outside of the generation

It is honestly seldom that any piece of work can evoke truly strong emotions from me. I'm quite known amongst my friends for my fondness of certain games, such as Final Fantasy IV. I'd swear on REM's "Automatic for the People." And people had told me...

Pros: patriotic, inspiring
Cons: a few too many famous names

Tom Brokaw takes us back 50 years, to a time of great hardship and patriotism. He analyses the impact the Great Depression, then World War II, had on the youth of that time. He interviewed hundreds of veterans and their families, and the result is an...

Pros: amazing stories, great writing
Cons: I really can't think of any

Last fall I took a history class at my college, Ole Miss. Because of a great teacher, for the first time, I began to enjoy history. What interested me the most was the generation of WWII. My parents being so much older than me also made me want to...

Pros: inspiring stories, tributes to American heroes of all types
Cons: gets a little stale towards the end

The America of today would certainly not be the same without the efforts made of the previous generation. Our parents and grandparents made extreme sacrifices, through economic hardship and war, and the result was the greatest Superpower on Earth. This...

Pros: Passionate, honorary tribute to an noble generation.
Cons: The obvious hyperbole, a bit of Redundancy in the stories

The Greatest Generation had its beginning in 1984 when Tom Brokaw traveled to the beaches of Normandy for the fortieth anniversary of D-Day. In the introduction, Brokaw states he was briefed for the journey, but was not prepared emotionally for...

Pros: easy read, interesting story
Cons: wanted more

I don't think I would have picked this book to read, but I was in book discussion group and this was one of the books chosen. Unfortunately, I didn't attend that meeting, but fortunately for me, I got to read this book. For me, it was a book that I...

Pros: "just folks" stories, told simply and well
Cons: misses the big themes, larger issues that drove participation in the war

It's true adversity sometimes brings out the best in men (and women). It's also true the generation that fought World War II performed valiantly. Brokaw's book is a sweet, pleasant read, but it indulges too much in a tendency to wax nostalgic about...

Pros: Great Book
Cons: None

This is a must read book, Tom Brokaw has done a very fine job on this book. This book is a story about different people from different walks of life that came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War. This is the type of book that is...

Pros: Beautifully written
Cons: long

I am not a war buff, but I do like Tom Brokaw. When I picked up his book I really didn't know what to expect. I can't begin to tell you how this book helped me to understand why the people of my parent's generation behave as they do. I grew up...