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Audiobooks > History >  Military > The Coldest Winter (Abridged): America and the Korean War
The Coldest Winter (Abridged): America and the Korean War Audiobook, by David Halberstam Play Audiobook Sample

The Coldest Winter (Abridged): America and the Korean War Audiobook

By: David Halberstam
The Coldest Winter (Abridged): America and the Korean War Audiobook, by David Halberstam Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Narrator Info Added Soon Publisher: Hyperion Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 9.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 6.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: September 2007 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781401389031
4.006678539626 out of 54.006678539626 out of 54.006678539626 out of 54.006678539626 out of 54.006678539626 out of 5 (4.01) - 2,246 listener ratings
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Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

28

Longest Chapter Length:

40:49 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

20:13 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

29:41 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

13

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Publisher Description

"In a grand gesture of reclamation and remembrance, Mr. Halberstam has brought the war back home."---The New York Times

David Halberstam's magisterial and thrilling The Best and the Brightest was the defining book about the Vietnam conflict. More than three decades later, Halberstam used his unrivaled research and formidable journalistic skills to shed light on another pivotal moment in our history: the Korean War. Halberstam considered The Coldest Winter his most accomplished work, the culmination of forty-five years of writing about America's postwar foreign policy.

Halberstam gives us a masterful narrative of the political decisions and miscalculations on both sides. He charts the disastrous path that led to the massive entry of Chinese forces near the Yalu River and that caught Douglas MacArthur and his soldiers by surprise. He provides astonishingly vivid and nuanced portraits of all the major figures--Eisenhower, Truman, Acheson, Kim, and Mao, and Generals MacArthur, Almond, and Ridgway. At the same time, Halberstam provides us with his trademark highly evocative narrative journalism, chronicling the crucial battles with reportage of the highest order. As ever, Halberstam was concerned with the extraordinary courage and resolve of people asked to bear an extraordinary burden.

The Coldest Winter is contemporary history in its most literary and luminescent form, providing crucial perspective on every war America has been involved in since. It is a book that Halberstam first decided to write more than thirty years ago and that took him nearly ten years to complete. It stands as a lasting testament to one of the greatest journalists and historians of our time, and to the fighting men whose heroism it chronicles.

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"This book sheds light on a war that has been all but forgotten by Americans. There is much to be learned by this first confrontation of the post WWII world. The Coldest Winter was written by one of America's finest journalists, David Halberstam. Sadly, it was also his final work. He was killed in an auto accident in April 2007."

— Bruce (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • I could hardly put this book down. Meticulously and thoroughly researched, it is splendidly compelling reading. The Coldest Winter is a superb conjoining of all the factors of this tragic war: the military tactics and strategy of both sides; the international diplomacy; the internal politics; the personalities of the various players. A great work.

    — Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.), co-author of We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young

  • Halberstam is at his very best.

    — The Wall Street Journal

  • An instant classic look at the people, power and politicsthat created a dangerous stage...and then acted on it.

    — Chicago Sun-Times

  • He is a peerless reporter of events and facts--with a signature human touch.

    — The Seattle Times

  • In a grand gesture of reclamation and remembrance. Mr. Halberstam has brought the war back home.

    — The New York Times

  • His most operatic war story.

    — The New York Times Book Review

The Coldest Winter Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.51724137931035 out of 54.51724137931035 out of 54.51724137931035 out of 54.51724137931035 out of 54.51724137931035 out of 5 (4.52)
5 Stars: 18
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 1
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I loved it. It made me want to talk with my father, a Korean War vet, about his experiences. "

    — Dave, 2/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " So sad that David Halberstam died shortly after finishing this remarkable book. The Korean War and its veterans have been well served by his engaging writing. "

    — George, 12/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Halberstam's last book was informative, readable (if not a fast read) and comprehensive. "

    — Carolyn, 11/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A harrowing story about the frustrating Korean War. Our soldiers endured many hardships. A good background for understanding politics on the Korean Peninsula. "

    — Phillip, 11/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Excellent historical novel about the Korean War. "

    — Dayla, 11/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A great story about the triumph of the common soldier in spite of the ego driven mistakes of their leaders. "

    — Dad, 11/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Outstanding book about America's forgotten war, and the idiocy that caused so many casualties. "

    — Dan, 8/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Compelling narative, with vivid character development. "

    — Matt, 3/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " An overall picture of the situation of the world at the end of WWII and the people and events which led to the Korean War. Many ego traps among the world leaders led to miscalculations and misinterpretations of their foes and their own relationships with the people of their counties. "

    — John, 1/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Halberstam at his finest: critical of poor decisions, praising of good ones, and always generous to the average Joe. A fine basic history of the Korean War. "

    — Brian, 12/31/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A great read! David Halberstam's last work. He will be missed by this reader "

    — Jeff, 12/5/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Excellent information; easy to read. Compelling. "

    — Janet, 11/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of the best non fiction/history books I've read. I was so unaware of what happened in Korea. Such interesting characters--Truman, McArthur, and the army generals and the chess match that went back and forth. Really interesting. "

    — Bill, 11/11/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Well written. Really helped me understand the Korean war, and the personalities that drove it. Amazing that the decisions of those men (yes, mostly men) could reach down through history and affect my life personally on many levels, from my wife to my current job. "

    — Travis, 7/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A nearly perfect book. I needed maps but google helped me out there! "

    — David, 7/12/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Excellent history of America and Korean War. Mixed battlefield descriptions with the politics at home and descriptions of main characters. Recommend this author!! "

    — Jerry, 1/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Excellent history. I never knew anything about the korean War and this book explains it all, and how it let to the Vietnam War. "

    — John, 12/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Absolutely outstanding book covering the personalities, politics, and fighting during the Korean War. "

    — Mitchell, 11/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Very interesting book which left me with a new appreciation of the men who fought this war, and the country of Korea itself. "

    — Deb, 6/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I learned so much - about Korea, General MacArthur, and the politics of the time. What is going on now is not so very different from then, politically - same groups/different names. Excellent read! "

    — David, 6/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " gave up 40% of the way through. Too much uninteresting detail... "

    — Rich, 5/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " What a read!!! It is truly amazing that the world didn't blow itself up in its atomic infancy. This book shows the courage of our not just our fighting forces, but of our Korean friends as well. Sadly it also points out the terror and waste of war. Really-what is it good for? "

    — Phil, 4/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Halberstam did a fantastic job of explaining the military and political aspects of the war. "

    — Rachel, 2/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Best account of the Korean War that I have read to date. "

    — Mark, 2/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I knew next to nothing about the Korean War and this book cured that deficiency by providing a compelling human tale without overlooking the strategic and political considerations. It made the visit to the Korean War memorial on the Mall even more moving. "

    — Robert, 1/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Halberstam never disappoints. A brilliant perspective on the Forgotten War. "

    — Dojo_mouse, 1/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Absolutely outstanding book covering the personalities, politics, and fighting during the Korean War. "

    — Mitchell, 1/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Accessible history. Good personal stories. Perhaps a bit long. "

    — Lorelei, 12/21/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Okay a little off topic with all the background and personalities presented. It does not cover the entire war only up until 1951. "

    — Ben, 12/7/2010

About David Halberstam

David Halberstam graduated from Harvard, where he had served as managing editor of the daily Harvard Crimson. It was 1955, a year after the Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public schools. Halberstam went south and began his career as the one reporter on the West Point, Mississippi, Daily Times Leader. He was fired after ten months there and went to work for the Nashville Tennessean. When the sit-ins broke out in Nashville in February 1960, he was assigned to the story as principal reporter. He joined the New York Times later that year, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1964 for his early reports from Vietnam. He has received every other major journalistic award, and is a member of the Society of American Historians.