The Vietnam War

A Concise International History

By: Mark Atwood Lawrence

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Hailed as a "pithy and compelling account of an intensely relevant topic" (Kirkus Reviews), this wide-ranging volume offers a superb account of a key moment in modern U.S. and world history. Drawing upon the latest research in archives in China, Russia, and Vietnam, Mark Lawrence creates an extraordinary, panoramic view of all sides of the war. His narrative begins well before American forces set foot in Vietnam, delving into French colonialism's contribution to the 1945 Vietnamese revolution, and revealing how the Cold War concerns of the 1950s led the United States to back the French.

The heart of the book covers the "American war", ranging from the overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem and the impact of the Tet Offensive to Nixon's expansion of the war into Cambodia and Laos, and the final peace agreement of 1973. Finally, Lawrence examines the aftermath of the war, from the momentous liberalization - "Doi Moi" - in Vietnam to the enduring legacy of this infamous war in American books, films, and political debate.

©2010 Mark Atwood Lawrence (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Crisply concise.... Delves into the 'whys' of the war: why the Vietnamese fought against the United States, why the great powers were involved, why the war turned out as it did and why legacies of the war linger." ( Dallas Morning News)

I served but did not know this subject. Now I do.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Highly recommended. This books is thorough, well written, very well read. It provided the big picture as well as many interesting but obscure details.

What other book might you compare The Vietnam War to and why?

I have read a lot on Vietnam, but nothing so comprehensive and, for the subject matter, so brief.

Have you listened to any of Peter Berkrot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Berkrot is outstanding.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The very last chapter when he quotes from a novel by a Vietnamese author.

Any additional comments?

If you've been there, read this. It will possibly change your opinions about the cause and the execution of the way both positive and negative.

Good story good history.

Good history told in a good story. I would recommend it for commuting.
And now I am adding words.

Politically Slanting But Enjoyable Narrative

What did you like best about The Vietnam War? What did you like least?

For an otherwise brief overview, it was detailed enough to really make the narrative flow. Sadly though, the author clearly has a political axe to grind, and Nixon remains his villain, just as Kennedy his hero. His heroes do bad things reluctantly, whereas his villains do it malevolently. The same is true in reverse for good things. I still have yet to hear one in which this war can be discussed objectively. Sigh. Perhaps we are still too early write anything objective about this war? In any case, if you can get past his personal political commentary (or if your political orientation aligns with his), you will find this a very informative and fascinating story. One of the more enjoyable reads of the Vietnam War. Peter Berkot also gets high marks for his performance in reading the material.

Top notch narration / great writing

For those looking for an overview of the origins and duration of the Vietnam War, this has just enough detail with a bit of analysis to give a good perspective and understanding.

Excellent Intro/Review

This book is exactly as advertised. It's perfect as introduction for someone just starting to study the war, or as a review for someone who has read other books in the past and is looking for a refresher. This book does an especially great job of reviewing the long history leading up to the conflict.