MWSA Review

THE VIETNAM WAR: A Graphic History is an outstanding chronicle of the Vietnam War, presented in a unique and visually stimulating way. It is well researched, well written, and superbly illustrated. It explains the tactical, strategic, and political decision making that made the war so unique and so infamous among the armed conflicts of our nation's history.  

As I read through it, I immediately noted how valuable the book would be in explaining to the younger, more visually driven generations the circumstances of and around the Vietnam War. In a matter of hours, a teenager could have a solid footing and decent understanding of a military conflict that has been overshadowed recently by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I especially respect the way Zimmerman and Vansant avoid overly gory or violent depictions, further adding to both the educational value and juvenile appeal of the work.

Vietnam veterans may find themselves giving this book as a gift to younger persons in their families to help explain the background behind the war, and to help interested family members better understand the language, situations, and climate both in the field and at home during that time.

Well done, educational, and enjoyable from start to finish.

Reviewed by: Rob Ballister (2010)

Author's Synopsis

The first-ever account of the entire Vietnam War in the graphic history format form its buildup and expansion in the early 1960s, the evacuation of Saigon in 1975, and the reconciliation and remembrance movement decades later that resulted in the construction of "The Wall"--the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In addition to the conflict in Vietnam, it recounts the many tumultuous events in the United States from the halls of power in Washington, D.C. to the streets of cities across the nation that threatened to tear the society apart. An even-balanced and surprisingly comprehensive account in a ground-breaking format of a traumatic period of our history that resonates to today.