Dispatches Audiobook

" One of the best books on the Vietnam "war". Good as, if not better than A Bright Shining Lie. "

" One of my favorite books! "

" Herr didn't waste ink mourning over the fact that Vietnam was a trying experience. Besides, Herr was a willing participate, who had he written a book about his bravery it probably wouldn't have garnered any respect from the soldiers. But it should not be concluded that Herr's actions were not admirable. It was made clear that he had to watch his back as well as his front in order to maintain his safety. The way in which Herr's courageous acts were conveyed didn't overshadow his reason for being there-to report the occurrences in Vietnam. Consequently, it is the book's humility that writers, especially writers who find themselves entrenched within the same chaotic circumstances with the people of whomthey seek to accumulate information from, should attempt to emulate. Herr's collection of thoughts and ideas are connected with those he spoke for. "

" This book is fabulous. A first rate view of the Vietnam conflict. I haven't read it in awhile but I do remember it being on one of the more enjoyable, intelligent & enlightening books that I read about the conflict that embroiled the United States in one of its longest conflicts till 9/11 when we got involved in Iraq & Afghanistan. This book should be read alongside Tim O'Brein's, "Things They Carried" for a definite more personal view of what it was like to serve in Vietnam. "

" A riveting, roller coaster ride of New Journalism. "

" A must read for anyone interested in Vietnam (in particular) or the culture of war (in general). "

" I often find I learn a lot about geography and history through reading fiction, and though this book isn't fiction but a war correspondent's account of being in Vietnam in the late '60s, I hoped for the same here. My knowledge of the Vietnam war isn't good, and I hoped this book would remedy that. Unfortunately it's not an ideal first port of call, as it assumes a lot of prior knowledge that non-Americans may not possess, and was peppered with initials and acronyms but had no glossary or any other means of explanation. I connected with it only in patches - where the narrative occasionally narrowed its focus down to to a single person, and then it was possible to understand and to empathise, but these sections were relatively sparse. All in all I would concede it is fantastically well written, and worthy of more than the speed-reading I resorted to in the end. "

" A gonzo spin on the vietnam war. amazing read. "

" Utterly unforgettable. "

" It is a priceless book, in a kind of screwy way. It gave me nightmares a la Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I think it should be required reading for all politicians who vote to send our nation - and thus our 17 year olds - to war. "

" Very honest and believable. The author was a war correspondent, and whilst this gave the novel a very authentic feel it also tripped me up with a lot of the lingo that I wasn't familiar with. "

" Pretty intense, and gory, collection of war stories from Vietnam. I think large portions of this book were used to write the screenplay for Full Metal Jacket. I wouldn't call this a novel, but a collection of war stories. "

" The definitive work on Vietnam as experienced by the guys on the ground. "

" Good but not great. But prob a must read on Nam. But written by a journalist and not a soldier. "

" Great, riveting, elucidating. Drags a bit in the 'Colleagues' section (or maybe it was just me) but overall I loved it. "

" Great non-fiction representation of the Vietnam War. "

" Wanted to like this more. Didn't. "

" This book inspired my Vietnam War study project. It raised some interesting question for me about the aesthetics, ethics, and politics of representing the Vietnam War. I look forward to seeing how I feel about it after I've read some of the other novels. "

" I'm probably showing my shallow side, while I really liked the book, the style was too intense, very hard to stay with the writer as he jumped around. a very stream of consiousness type of narrative "

" book with some great parts but poorly written at times "

" My favourite ever book about war. Deals honestly with the attractions and glamour of war. "

" insane. awesome. wish more people wrote like this. "

" The classic example of the Vietnam oral history genre. "

" An incredible memoir of Herr's experiences working as an UNembedded journalist during the Vietnam War. It's told through a haze of drugs, violence & helicopter flights. Some of the people he met are truly strange... "

" Written like Hunter S. Thompson went to war and tried to write a war novel in the style of William Burroughs or Nelson Algren. A little slow at times (mostly near the end where he talks about his colleagues who were mostly invisible throughout the book) but overall really great. "

" Fierce and unsettling war correspondence from Vietnam, written in a profane, druggy, stream-of-consciousness rap that is yet vivid and precise. The chapter on Khe Sahn ranks with The Things They Carried as the finest writing to come out of that horrible, beautiful, soul-destroying time. "

" Very honest and believable. The author was a war correspondent, and whilst this gave the novel a very authentic feel it also tripped me up with a lot of the lingo that I wasn't familiar with. "

" maybe the best piece of non-fiction i've ever read. "

" The very best book I have read about Vietnam and what it means to be a Marine. The things those boys did to protect the journalist, and to put their lives on the line for love of country was amazing. "