Soldato
As someone with only a passing knowledge of either but an interest in learning, what books would you recommend to me?
Books on the Cold War and Vietnam
- Thread starter One More Solo
- Start date
Soldato
Things wot I have read based upon the subject of your thread:
Vietnam:
Chickenhawk
Dispatches
If i die in a combat zone
We were soldiers
reading "a short history of the Vietnam war" at the moment just because it was cheap and easy reading in little bits
Cold War:
Bridge of spies
Afgansty
Charlie Wilsons War
Fiction:
Spy Who came in from the cold
Tinker Taylor
Hunt For Red October
Vietnam:
Chickenhawk
Dispatches
If i die in a combat zone
We were soldiers
reading "a short history of the Vietnam war" at the moment just because it was cheap and easy reading in little bits
Cold War:
Bridge of spies
Afgansty
Charlie Wilsons War
Fiction:
Spy Who came in from the cold
Tinker Taylor
Hunt For Red October
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Soldato
All of the above however if you cant go wrong with a lot of the documentary’s on you tube.
Was an 8 part series on the Sky history channel as well.
Was an 8 part series on the Sky history channel as well.
Soldato
ken burns vietnam is an excellent series
Soldato
I've read most of the books mentioned but this one sticks in my mind the most, iirc he used a .50 caliber machine gun as one of his sniper rifles.
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If you are up for watching a documentary series on Vietnam then I highly recommend watching The Vietnam War by Ken Burns.
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Associate
If you're interested in fiction based around the Cold War then imo John Le Carre is the go to. A lot of Cold War writers, especially of the time where completely one sided. His balance of themes both factious and historic are superb and having been an agent in the field himself he was able to really flesh out the details. He wrote the shame and the pride of British patriotism like no other writer I've known.
I'd start with 'Spy Who Came In From The Cold' and if you enjoy that make you're way through all the Smiley books (both before and after the Smiley Trilogy starting from 'Call For The Dead'). If you're not up for that then just read the Smiley/Karla trilogy. All three books are exceptional.
'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller is also a really interesting read. A story about the Salem Witch Trials played out as an allegory for the red scare and McCarthyism in general.
'The Cold War' by John Lewis Gaddis is essential reading these days and largely covers everything.
'Checkmate in Berlin' by Miles Milton is also amazingly gripping.
I'd start with 'Spy Who Came In From The Cold' and if you enjoy that make you're way through all the Smiley books (both before and after the Smiley Trilogy starting from 'Call For The Dead'). If you're not up for that then just read the Smiley/Karla trilogy. All three books are exceptional.
'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller is also a really interesting read. A story about the Salem Witch Trials played out as an allegory for the red scare and McCarthyism in general.
'The Cold War' by John Lewis Gaddis is essential reading these days and largely covers everything.
'Checkmate in Berlin' by Miles Milton is also amazingly gripping.
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Soldato
If you like personal histories ie this is my personal story of my time in........ then the list made by gettothechopper is very good.
If you prefer more wide scale history books ie 20,000 troops moved from A to B and had a battle........... then Max Hastings wrote an excellent book covering the time period.
My favourite Vietnam "personal story which is made wider" is the book A Bright Shining Lie which covers a possibly naive young US military officer/advisor and his changing attitude over almost 10 years of Vietnam experiences, from him being a "hearts and minds" supporter at the start to advocating for an all out invasion by US in the end before his eventual death in a helicopter crash in 1972.
If you prefer more wide scale history books ie 20,000 troops moved from A to B and had a battle........... then Max Hastings wrote an excellent book covering the time period.
My favourite Vietnam "personal story which is made wider" is the book A Bright Shining Lie which covers a possibly naive young US military officer/advisor and his changing attitude over almost 10 years of Vietnam experiences, from him being a "hearts and minds" supporter at the start to advocating for an all out invasion by US in the end before his eventual death in a helicopter crash in 1972.
Soldato
- Joined
- 21 Jan 2010
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The Sorrow Of War by Bao Ninh is a book about the Vietnam war written from the NVA perspective. It's a fairly literary novel, but I remember it being very good.
Gettothechopper's list is good.
Gettothechopper's list is good.
Associate
Sorrow Of War ism a fantastic shout. Completely broke me when I first read it and it's stayed with me since.