American Reckoning

The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

By: Christian G. Appy

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

How did the Vietnam War change the way we think of ourselves as a people and a nation? Christian G. Appy now examines the relationship between the war's realities and myths and its impact on our national identity, conscience, pride, shame, popular culture, and postwar foreign policy.

Drawing on a vast variety of sources - from movies, songs, and novels to official documents, media coverage, and contemporary commentary - Appy offers an original interpretation of the war and its far-reaching consequences. Authoritative, insightful, sometimes surprising, and controversial, American Reckoning is a fascinating mix of political and cultural reporting that offers a completely fresh account of the meaning of the Vietnam War.

©2015 Christian G. Appy (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This current book, isn't a history of the war but of its impact on America's identity, policies, and popular culture, drawing on a blend of materials from song and film to fiction and official documents." ( Library Journal)

Can I give negative stars?

When you read about Vietnam you expect the author to be negative about the involvement of the United States. What you don't expect is a historian to make unfounded sweeping statements without primary source documentation and with little regard to unbiased reporting. I certainly don't expect the historian to support the war, but I do expect at least a modicrum of academic rigor.

Lefitist propaganda at best

I listened to the first 5 minutes of this book and then I immediately removed it from my libtary.
It is a LEFTIST 'shades of Walter Cronkite' BS book about Vietnam written by a HATER of America.
Worthless garbage akin to the current news one hears on so-called 'mainstream media'. Not worth wasting your time on.
RETURN it goes!