Tom BrokawBesprekingen

NF

Pretty good collection of stories about WW2 veterans & women. Not the great book I was expecting.

Good stories of war generation.

Gave me much to think about. I'm glad my generation has been spared these many trials buy fire.½

Tom Brokaw recounts the stories of a number of people, both ordinary and famous, who served in the military during World War II, or who served in some capacity on the home front. The stories tell of what they did during the war and also go on to tell of their accomplishments after the war and how their war experience played a role in those accomplishments. Many of them learned discipline and leadership skills that were instrumental in their success. While celebrating the bravery and heroism of Americans during the war, Brokaw does not overlook America's flaws. He includes a chapter on the (mis)treatment of minorities including African-Americans and Latinos and the forcible relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps. The book provides a good insight into that generation of Americans. I thought it was an interesting book.½

This might be the shortest book on my reading list, but it certainly isn’t the least impactful. Tom Brokaw shares the history of his family, mainly in South Dakota, and by doing that, delves into much about the history of this country in that part of the country. His parents were hard working and passed their work ethic and honesty on to their three boys. Tom’s love for them and the locations he grew up in are evident. He was as typical an American boy as you’ll find anywhere. His final chapter, the epilogue, shows his frustration in where we’ve come especially the past few years. Tom says he never in a million years guessed that he would live to see a United States where our president attempted to over throw the government he had led for four years. The final few pages are optimistic, even in the face of that. That’s Tom Brokaw, and we’re lucky to have had him at NBC and still have him.

Tom Brokaw lived through the 60s and... he remembers them. So do all of the people he interviews for this personal history of the era. Good thing, too. Because most of these people not only experienced the Boom! of change, they instigated or participated in it.

This may not be a complete picture of 'The 60s', but it's a good survey. And because it's based on and structured around personal reflections, the events of the decade come alive in a better way than a mere history might have rendered them.

I listened to the audio book version, which was clearly read by a voice actor. Unfortunately, this means it did not include any of the actual voices. Not even Tom Brokaw's.

It was insightful and I learned things I didn't know about Watergate- and that's saying a lot after listening to the Slow Burn podcast and the 6 or so episodes they had on this subject. It's about Watergate and the year -long saga but it's a sort of memoir for Tom Brokaw as he puts some of his fond memories into recounting....lots of dining out and high-brow talk but still with liberal cred.

It was insightful and I learned things I didn't know about Watergate- and that's saying a lot after listening to the Slow Burn podcast and the 6 or so episodes they had on this subject. It's about Watergate and the year -long saga but it's a sort of memoir for Tom Brokaw as he puts some of his fond memories into recounting....lots of dining out and high-brow talk but still with liberal cred.

Good but a little too long.

I did not this was an abridged version. I intend to purchase the book so I can read the full version. Not enough can be said about the debt we owe to the WWII generation. We need to get our act together to pay it forward before it is too late.

Read about a third of it. A long string of tiny biographies of WWII generation people, written in readers digest style. Not my kinda book.

Comes with a CD of the NBC special of the same name. The CD has never been opened.

5808. An Album of Memories Personal Histories from the Greatest Generation, by Tom Brokaw (read 1 Nov 2022) This book was published in 2001 and grew out of Brokaw's book on the greatest generation which I read on 16 Jan 1999. This book consists mainly of letters written by people after they read that book. The letters seem to be unedited and often are sincere but bland, though some are a bit poignant. I did not mind reading them but did not believe many were great missives. Some of what Brokaw himself wrote made me aware that he was born in 1940 and thus had no or minimal memory of the war, whereas I, born in 1928, was acutely aware of war developments tho only an Iowa farm boy, I had a brother in the Army all during the war--tho only in combat in 1944 and 1945--and we were avidly conscious of war developments and had cousins in war and sometimes in combat.½

Great stories, average writing.

The instant classic that changed the way we saw World War II and an entire generation of Americans, from the beloved journalist whose own iconic career has lasted more than 50 years.

In this magnificent testament to a nation and her people, Tom Brokaw brings to life the extraordinary stories of a generation that gave new meaning to courage, sacrifice, and honor. From military heroes to community leaders to ordinary citizens, he profiles men and women who served their country with valor, then came home and transformed it: Senator Daniel Inouye, decorated at the front, fighting prejudice at home; Martha Settle Putney, one of the first black women to serve in the newly formed WACs; Charles Van Gorder, a doctor who set up a MASH-like medical facility in the middle of battle, then opened a small clinic in his hometown; Navy pilot and future president George H. W. Bush, assigned to read the mail of the enlisted men under him, who says that in doing so he “learned about life”; and many other laudable Americans. To this generation that gave so much and asked so little, Brokaw offers eloquent tribute in true stories of everyday heroes in extraordinary times.

The instant classic that changed the way we saw World War II and an entire generation of Americans, from the beloved journalist whose own iconic career has lasted more than 50 years.

In this magnificent testament to a nation and her people, Tom Brokaw brings to life the extraordinary stories of a generation that gave new meaning to courage, sacrifice, and honor. From military heroes to community leaders to ordinary citizens, he profiles men and women who served their country with valor, then came home and transformed it: Senator Daniel Inouye, decorated at the front, fighting prejudice at home; Martha Settle Putney, one of the first black women to serve in the newly formed WACs; Charles Van Gorder, a doctor who set up a MASH-like medical facility in the middle of battle, then opened a small clinic in his hometown; Navy pilot and future president George H. W. Bush, assigned to read the mail of the enlisted men under him, who says that in doing so he “learned about life”; and many other laudable Americans. To this generation that gave so much and asked so little, Brokaw offers eloquent tribute in true stories of everyday heroes in extraordinary times.

I listened to Tom Brokaw read it and really enjoyed it. Lots of history, much of which I remembered...

It was insightful and I learned things I didn't know about Watergate- and that's saying a lot after listening to the Slow Burn podcast and the 6 or so episodes they had on this subject. It's about Watergate and the year +-long saga but it's a sort of memoir for Tom Brokaw as he puts some of his fond memories into recounting....lots of dining out and high-brow talk but still with liberal cred.

Growing up, Tom Brokaw and his nightly newscast on NBC was a staple in my house. Out of the “big 3” national networks, he was my favorite anchor. I suppose it was the calm, steady way in which he presented the news of the day. Despite the fact that he’s had several bestsellers before this latest title, this was the first one that I’ve actually listened to (audiobook). A couple of things drew me to this title. I was curious to know how a seemingly invincible (at least to me) public figure that I admire has coped with such a crisis. I also have a personal friend who is fighting his own battle with Multiple Myeloma; I didn’t know much about the disease and I wanted to understand it better.

Learn about Multiple Myeloma, I did. Mr. Brokaw gives a detailed account of his diagnosis and treatment. Along with factual information, he puts his human touch on it, describing how his illness has turned his life upside down, going from an active, on-the-go 70-something to having to slow down his pace of life significantly and having to rely more on his family for support, both practical and emotional. As frustrating as it was for him, it gave him the opportunity to reflect on his life and to define those things that matter to him most. Along the way, he makes detours in his story relating to his career as a journalist—specifically the fall of the Berlin Wall, his visit with the Dalai Lama, and the events of September 11, 2001. He also gives his wife a lot of the credit for helping him deal with his illness and makes another detour, chronicling the story of how they met and married.

It is obvious that although retired and dealing with a potentially life-threatening illness, Tom Brokaw’s passion for journalism is still alive and well. While the book isn’t very long (230 pages), it makes a satisfying, thought-provoking weekend read. With this, I plan on reading (or listening) to more of his titles.

I think I’ll pass on reading this book.

The Greatest Generation is a term used to describe those Americans who grew up during the Great Depression and fought in World War II, or whose labor helped win it. The term "the Greatest Generation" is thought to have been coined by former NBC Nightly News anchor and author Tom Brokaw in his book by the same name. The Greatest Generation, also known as the G.I. Generation and the World War II generation, is the demographic cohort following the Lost Generation and preceding the Silent Generation. The cohort is defined as individuals generally born between 1901 and 1927.

Great stories, remind me of my grandparents and the stories they tell about this time in their lives. I think we can learn a lot from this generation, and I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have because of these folks.

I was troubled, though, by the unexamined implications of statements like "I'm dismayed by how women today focus on their careers." (Both of my grandmothers worked full-time to support their families -- heresy according to this book.) Also wish there was some examination of the ramifications of the choices of this generation - suburban lifestyle, dependance on cars, increased consumption, etc. Those things all have serious implications for our generation. Not a critique of the folks profiled here, but a comment that all of these issues are more complex than are reflected in this book.

My father, who was a member of the "greatest generation" loved this book, so I felt I owed it to him to read it. It is a fine book well written and conceived. Somewhat ordinary people are profiled. They are removed from ordinary lives and put in harm's way and respond with simplicity, courage and fellow-feeling. It is a good lesson about our parents and true patriotism.

Journalist, Tom Brokaw, reflects on his life during the first year he is diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Interesting and readable!