The Vietnam War for Dummies

by Stephen F. Maxner and Ronald B. Frankum Jr.

The Vietnam War was unlike any war the United States ever fought. Unlike the previous wars of the twentieth century, the Vietnam War left the United States divided, and it continues to influence U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Without question, the Vietnam Syndrome that emerged after the war's end altered the policies of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and the lessons learned from the war were applied to later conflicts in the Persian...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764554808
• ISBN13: 9780764554803
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Passed the DANTES exam with this book!

I used this book exclusively to study for the DSST Vietnam War exam. I scored a 59. The passing score is 48. I highly recommend this book as a reference to help study for passing the Vietnam War DANTES exam! The book was easy to read and very well organized.

AUTHORITATIVE,WELL ORGANIZED,SURPRINSINGLY SCHOLARLY

Maybe the publishers of these series should take the "dummies" title from this and other books in this series.This is anything but a "dumb" book.THE VIETNAM WAR FOR DUMMIES...It may be for "dummies" but everyone from lay persons to the very informed and familiarized with the subject matter will benefit from owning a copy.Also,it's ideal for school and college both for student and educator.This book certainly has far more serious and important contributions to make to further understanding of the Vietnam War than the rather humorous title may suggest.Reading the book I couldnt find the bias alleged by he other reviewer.The book even gives you different interpretations of certain issues that are still open to debate.In fact there is the warning to the reader that it is advised to do research,ample esearch because ofr the many axes that are still being grinded you may find totally contradictory historical interpretations.further research sources are offered too.But opinion is one thing and hard facts are another.And you can have your own set of opinions but you are not entitled to your own set of facts.There is a part regarding myths and they shoot them down using historical documents and recent investigation rather than hysterical proselityzing so common every time Vietnam is dealed with.And believe me:right,middle of the road,left or just plainly "dummy",you will see many pre conceptions crashing in flames.Oh!And be mature and accept it.Period.If you believe US soldiers were dope smoking,murdering criminals or that South Vietnam only fell because of the press or the protesters you will see those challenged.Even there is a double myth dissected in some chapters and the top ten myths:that the Vietnam War was not lost/the Vietnam War was lost! That's a good one,see for yourself.Ronald B Frankum and Stephen F Maxner are authoritative,scholarly,detailed but manage to use plain English and organize the material in such a way that what it comes is an indipensable book which could be used as reference,introduction for further study and a very complete historical account by itself.They should be able to produce this little jewel:both are very involved with the Texas based Vietnam War experience project that collects documents of all types regarding the war to create a national archive.I think THE VIETNAM WAR FOR DUMMIES is the best source for up to date scholarship available now.Buy it with confidence.

Best War Historical for the lay-person!!!

This book is one of the best written for those with only a limited working knowledge of how war is waged. And I'm not just saying that because Stephen Maxner is my brother either. Like the rest of the "For Dummies" guides this book takes you from the Oval Office to Saigon, from the UN to the DMZ....with detailed maps and descriptions of battles taken from the men who fought them. It is an amazing compilation of information.