The Best and the Brightest

One of the most painful books I have ever read in that it took so long to get through, but it was very interesting.

brillant!

Outstanding! Illuminates in great detail the back-story and politics of our involvement in Vietnam over several administrations. A "must-read" for all who grew up in the 60's.

Certainly not for everybody, but an incredibly well written and informative book.

You learn so much from reading this book. Even just from the first chapter which describes President-Elect Kennedy trying to recruit some experienced older people from Eisenhower's staff because he knew what he lacked: experience. But why didn't he listen to Eisenhower when it came to Viet Nam?

Simply a fantastic book both in research, writing and conclusions

Every American should read this book.

In my ongoing, and somewhat unhealthy fascination with the blunders of US foreign policy, I wholeheartedly recommend this legendary book by David Halberstam. It is not a book about Vietnam, but about America, and more specifically, the personalities of the major US leaders who led to our disastrous involvement in the Vietnam War. It is a book that probes the culture of success, reason,...more

In my ongoing, and somewhat unhealthy fascination with the blunders of US foreign policy, I wholeheartedly recommend this legendary book by David Halberstam. It is not a book about Vietnam, but about America, and more specifically, the personalities of the major US leaders who led to our disastrous involvement in the Vietnam War. It is a book that probes the culture of success, reason, nationalism, ideology, and its breakdown in a fundamentally irrational conflict. I would suggest reading this as supplementary material since it is more limited in its scope than other historical accounts.   hide

Incredible detail and outsanding observation... Really well written- he take's you right into the Oval Office and you know its the truth.