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The Greatest Generation
"In the spring of 1984, I went to the northwest of France, to Normandy, to prepare an NBC documentary on the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, the massive and daring Allied invasion of Europe that marked the beginning of the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. There, I underwent a life-changing experience. As I walked the beaches with the American veterans who had returned for this anniversary, men in their sixties and seventies, and listened to their stories, I was deeply moved and profoundly grateful for all they had done. Ten years later, I returned to Normandy for the fiftieth anniversary of the invasion, and by then I had come to understand what this generation of Americans meant to history. It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced."
In this superb book, Tom Brokaw goes out into America, to tell through the stories of individual men and women the story of a generation, America's citizen heroes and heroines who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modern America. This generation was united not only by a common purpose, but also by common values--duty, honor, economy, courage, service, love of family and country, and, above all, responsibility for oneself. In this book, you will meet people whose everyday lives reveal how a generation persevered through war, and were trained by it, and then went on to create interesting and useful lives and the America we have today.
"At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world, they were fighting in the most primitive conditions possible across the bloodied landscape of France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the coral islands of the Pacific. They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world. They came home to joyous and short-lived celebrations and immediately began the task of rebuilding their lives and the world they wanted. They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. A grateful nation made it possible for more of them to attend college than any society had ever educated, anywhere. They gave the world new science, literature, art, industry, and economic strength unparalleled in the long curve of history. As they now reach the twilight of their adventurous and productive lives, they remain, for the most part, exceptionally modest. They have so many stories to tell, stories that in many cases they have never told before, because in a deep sense they didn't think that what they were doing was that special, because everyone else was doing it too.
"This book, I hope, will in some small way pay tribute to those men and women who have given us the lives we have today--an American family portrait album of the greatest generation."
In this book you'll meet people like Charles Van Gorder, who set up during D-Day a MASH-like medical facility in the middle of the fighting, and then came home to create a clinic and hospital in his hometown. You'll hear George Bush talk about how, as a Navy Air Corps combat pilot, one of his assignments was to read the mail of the enlisted men under him, to be sure no sensitive military information would be compromised. And so, Bush says, "I learned about life." You'll meet Trudy Elion, winner of the Nobel Prize in medicine, one of the many women in this book who found fulfilling careers in the changed society as a result of the war. You'll meet Martha Putney, one of the first black women to serve in the newly formed WACs. And you'll meet the members of the Romeo Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out), friends for life.
Through these and other stories in The Greatest Generation, you'll relive with ordinary men and women, military heroes, famous people of great achievement, and community leaders how these extraordinary times forged the values and provided the training that made a people and a nation great.
From the Hardcover edition.
In this superb book, Tom Brokaw goes out into America, to tell through the stories of individual men and women the story of a generation, America's citizen heroes and heroines who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modern America. This generation was united not only by a common purpose, but also by common values--duty, honor, economy, courage, service, love of family and country, and, above all, responsibility for oneself. In this book, you will meet people whose everyday lives reveal how a generation persevered through war, and were trained by it, and then went on to create interesting and useful lives and the America we have today.
"At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world, they were fighting in the most primitive conditions possible across the bloodied landscape of France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the coral islands of the Pacific. They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world. They came home to joyous and short-lived celebrations and immediately began the task of rebuilding their lives and the world they wanted. They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. A grateful nation made it possible for more of them to attend college than any society had ever educated, anywhere. They gave the world new science, literature, art, industry, and economic strength unparalleled in the long curve of history. As they now reach the twilight of their adventurous and productive lives, they remain, for the most part, exceptionally modest. They have so many stories to tell, stories that in many cases they have never told before, because in a deep sense they didn't think that what they were doing was that special, because everyone else was doing it too.
"This book, I hope, will in some small way pay tribute to those men and women who have given us the lives we have today--an American family portrait album of the greatest generation."
In this book you'll meet people like Charles Van Gorder, who set up during D-Day a MASH-like medical facility in the middle of the fighting, and then came home to create a clinic and hospital in his hometown. You'll hear George Bush talk about how, as a Navy Air Corps combat pilot, one of his assignments was to read the mail of the enlisted men under him, to be sure no sensitive military information would be compromised. And so, Bush says, "I learned about life." You'll meet Trudy Elion, winner of the Nobel Prize in medicine, one of the many women in this book who found fulfilling careers in the changed society as a result of the war. You'll meet Martha Putney, one of the first black women to serve in the newly formed WACs. And you'll meet the members of the Romeo Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out), friends for life.
Through these and other stories in The Greatest Generation, you'll relive with ordinary men and women, military heroes, famous people of great achievement, and community leaders how these extraordinary times forged the values and provided the training that made a people and a nation great.
From the Hardcover edition.
464 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1998
1770 people are currently reading
13672 people want to read
About the author
Tom Brokaw
99 books173 followersThomas John Brokaw is an American television journalist and author, previously working on regularly scheduled news documentaries for the NBC television network, and is the former NBC News anchorman and managing editor of the program NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. His last broadcast as anchorman was on December 1, 2004, succeeded by Brian Williams in a carefully planned transition. In the later part of Tom Brokaw's tenure, NBC Nightly News became the most watched cable or broadcast news program in the United States. Brokaw also hosted, wrote, and moderated special programs on a wide range of topics. Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors.
Brokaw serves on the Howard University School of Communications Board of Visitors and on the boards of trustees of the University of South Dakota, the Norton Simon Museum, the American Museum of Natural History and the International Rescue Committee. As well as his television journalism, he has written for periodicals and has authored books. He still works at NBC as a Special Correspondent.
Brokaw serves on the Howard University School of Communications Board of Visitors and on the boards of trustees of the University of South Dakota, the Norton Simon Museum, the American Museum of Natural History and the International Rescue Committee. As well as his television journalism, he has written for periodicals and has authored books. He still works at NBC as a Special Correspondent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,332 reviews
April 7, 2011
To be honest, this book wore thinner and thinner on me until I almost considered quitting (sorry Meg). I guess I liked it fine at first, but the nothing-but-profiles format became boring and pat. I was really quite surprised to find what a sophomoric writer Tom Brokaw is--is that the difference between broadcast journalists and print-media journalists? Or was he "dumbing down" his writing for mass appeal? The book would have been much better had he made some connections, braved some sociological theories, etc., but instead, he just kept repeating the same pat conclusions. Also, the editing was almost insultingly poor: On several occasions, the same thing would be explained in pretty much the same words within the span of a couple of pages. Clearly, these profiles were written separately and then just cobbled together.
I did find some of the stories ones of courage and industry, like the guy who built the hospital in the economically depressed rural area when he returned from the war. And it was interesting to read some true-life stories about exactly how the dearth of males spurred women to become more active and accepted in the workplace. Most interesting to me was maybe the way that the military machinery was just sort of being invented on the spot by farm boys who were good with their hands and used to working hard. There were definitely themes worth exploring, but old Tom just didn't seem to want to stray to far from simply giving everybody props.
I thought about what I think is the Greatest Generation--in America--and I decided it was the founding fathers generation. Those were some pretty amazing guys, and the proof is in the pudding.
I did find some of the stories ones of courage and industry, like the guy who built the hospital in the economically depressed rural area when he returned from the war. And it was interesting to read some true-life stories about exactly how the dearth of males spurred women to become more active and accepted in the workplace. Most interesting to me was maybe the way that the military machinery was just sort of being invented on the spot by farm boys who were good with their hands and used to working hard. There were definitely themes worth exploring, but old Tom just didn't seem to want to stray to far from simply giving everybody props.
I thought about what I think is the Greatest Generation--in America--and I decided it was the founding fathers generation. Those were some pretty amazing guys, and the proof is in the pudding.
August 19, 2025
This particular book is a signed copy by the author that I purchased as a gift for my father about 26 years ago. I found it while culling through my books. It was included with "The Greatest Generation Speaks" and "An Album of Memories" - two books published on the heels of the popular "The Greatest Generation."
I was impressed at the diversity of men and women Mr. Brokaw chose to write about. They were from all walks of life who came of age in the Great Depression and served their country in WWII without hesitation. He also didn't spare the reader by selecting only veterans with happy endings. Because we all know that for every man and woman who was successful in overcoming their battle scars after the war, there were also many who didn't. Not every veteran had a HEA.
The one veteran story that spoke volumes to me was of Mr. Gordon Larsen - born 7/26/1925, passed away on 8/19/2007. So this review is a bit of a tribute to him since it's being posted on the 18th anniversary of his death. Brokaw writes that when he was growing up in a small South Dakota town, he recalled hearing stories from the veterans about their respective sports achievements, hunting and fishing activities, but never about their war experiences. There was one comment though that he overheard and stayed with him a long time. It was from Gordon Larsen. Brokaw writes of Mr. Larsen:
'He was a stocky, cheerful young man who worked on a crew that kept the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems going in the town. He had such a lively sense of humor that it was almost worth it to have your furnace break down. Gordon always kept up a lively chatter while he worked on it. So it was surprising that the morning after Halloween, he came into the post office where my mother worked, and complained about the rowdiness of the high school teenagers the night before. My mother, trying to play to his good humor, said, "Oh Gordon, what were you doing when you were seventeen?"
He looked at her for a moment and said, "I was landing on Guadalcanal." Then he turned and left the post office.' This exchange was in 1953.
Years later, when Brokaw was writing this book, he spoke to Gordon Larsen again. And like many other veterans, Mr. Larsen said "I didn't talk about the war much. I spent most of my time trying to forget it."
While Tom Brokaw is no David McCullough, this book still resonates with me. The veterans and family members of veterans that Brokaw writes about in this book went through so much more than just the war. They grew up in the Great Depression years and if they were from the Midwest, also suffered through the Dust Bowl. My father was one of them.
The sequels I have to "The Greatest Generation" will be finding a new home soon. But this book? I'm keeping it. Along with his WWII wool Navy jersey and other memorabilia, my father also left me this book. I miss him very much.
I was impressed at the diversity of men and women Mr. Brokaw chose to write about. They were from all walks of life who came of age in the Great Depression and served their country in WWII without hesitation. He also didn't spare the reader by selecting only veterans with happy endings. Because we all know that for every man and woman who was successful in overcoming their battle scars after the war, there were also many who didn't. Not every veteran had a HEA.
The one veteran story that spoke volumes to me was of Mr. Gordon Larsen - born 7/26/1925, passed away on 8/19/2007. So this review is a bit of a tribute to him since it's being posted on the 18th anniversary of his death. Brokaw writes that when he was growing up in a small South Dakota town, he recalled hearing stories from the veterans about their respective sports achievements, hunting and fishing activities, but never about their war experiences. There was one comment though that he overheard and stayed with him a long time. It was from Gordon Larsen. Brokaw writes of Mr. Larsen:
'He was a stocky, cheerful young man who worked on a crew that kept the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems going in the town. He had such a lively sense of humor that it was almost worth it to have your furnace break down. Gordon always kept up a lively chatter while he worked on it. So it was surprising that the morning after Halloween, he came into the post office where my mother worked, and complained about the rowdiness of the high school teenagers the night before. My mother, trying to play to his good humor, said, "Oh Gordon, what were you doing when you were seventeen?"
He looked at her for a moment and said, "I was landing on Guadalcanal." Then he turned and left the post office.' This exchange was in 1953.
Years later, when Brokaw was writing this book, he spoke to Gordon Larsen again. And like many other veterans, Mr. Larsen said "I didn't talk about the war much. I spent most of my time trying to forget it."
While Tom Brokaw is no David McCullough, this book still resonates with me. The veterans and family members of veterans that Brokaw writes about in this book went through so much more than just the war. They grew up in the Great Depression years and if they were from the Midwest, also suffered through the Dust Bowl. My father was one of them.
The sequels I have to "The Greatest Generation" will be finding a new home soon. But this book? I'm keeping it. Along with his WWII wool Navy jersey and other memorabilia, my father also left me this book. I miss him very much.
December 2, 2011
I have a strong interest in history, so I found this to be a fascinating peek into the lives of the WWII generation.
This is a series of little real-life vignettes about various people who served in the war in various capacities, and the effect it had on their lives after they returned to civilian life. These are stories of profound loss, life-long love, deep and abiding friendships. There are stories about women who blazed trails in careers previously closed to women because they stepped in to fill vacancies created by men who'd left to fight. It's the story of how black people coped with prejudice on the battlefield, and ended up being treated worse than the German POWs they guarded. It's about ordinary men (and some famous ones) who were so changed by their war experiences, that they moved beyond the boundaries of their inconsequential lives and went on to achieve greatness. It's about the absolutely deplorable way we treated Japanese American citizens.
As this book was actually written in 1998, many of these people are gone now. Fifteen years from now, 99% of these people will be gone, taking with them their collective memories of events that defined and shaped a whole generation. The history of events in World War II will be confined to dates, places and events recorded in history text books. I for one am deeply grateful to Tom Brokaw for giving me the opportunity to "meet" these people. Some of the stories made me cry. My deep and heartfelt thank you to all the veterans who have ever put themselves in harm's way to help make the world a better place. And rest in peace to the million men and women who have given their lives for their country.
This is a series of little real-life vignettes about various people who served in the war in various capacities, and the effect it had on their lives after they returned to civilian life. These are stories of profound loss, life-long love, deep and abiding friendships. There are stories about women who blazed trails in careers previously closed to women because they stepped in to fill vacancies created by men who'd left to fight. It's the story of how black people coped with prejudice on the battlefield, and ended up being treated worse than the German POWs they guarded. It's about ordinary men (and some famous ones) who were so changed by their war experiences, that they moved beyond the boundaries of their inconsequential lives and went on to achieve greatness. It's about the absolutely deplorable way we treated Japanese American citizens.
As this book was actually written in 1998, many of these people are gone now. Fifteen years from now, 99% of these people will be gone, taking with them their collective memories of events that defined and shaped a whole generation. The history of events in World War II will be confined to dates, places and events recorded in history text books. I for one am deeply grateful to Tom Brokaw for giving me the opportunity to "meet" these people. Some of the stories made me cry. My deep and heartfelt thank you to all the veterans who have ever put themselves in harm's way to help make the world a better place. And rest in peace to the million men and women who have given their lives for their country.
September 23, 2010
A mindless valentine to a generation who segregated, polluted, procreated and retired like there was no tomorrow. Thanks for leaving us holding the bag, *ssholes.
Read
February 7, 2014The African-American and Japanese coverage in the chapter 'Shame' was the only chapter worth reading. AND HERE ARE A FEW TREATS FROM THE REST OF THE BOOK:
1.) "Among other indignities, Holmes is persuaded that Fort Knox dentists experimented on BLACK (my capitals) soldiers.": I'm sorry Brokaw.... have you been drinking? Is Brokaw suggesting that Holmes made this up?
2.) "When my friends ask whether I ever considered divorce I remind them of the old saying 'We've thought about killing each other, but divorce? Never." Yes, let's stay married even though we want to kill each other. (Obviously the quote is flippant, and in jest. Nonetheless, its inclusion says what to the reader?
3.) "They sit in front of computer screens. It may be educational but they don't know how to play tag, baseball, whatever the hell else. Part of growing up is learning to fight with each other." i.e. if you're not a fighter, or didn't fight growing up, you're nothing.
Brokaw's inclusions of first hand accounts are horrible. Little is spent with their actual experiences, and too much is spent with the aftermath of their GREAT and WONDERFUL lives because they saw through 'hard times'.
The context is steeped in sentimentality and Norman Rockwell paintings, which shames so much of what OTHER WW2 veterans went through. Guess what? Some people came out of the war and never recovered. But let's not talk about them! I am thinking those losers didn't get in fist fights when they were young - so Brokaw doesn't want to include them.
GAY PEOPLE: No such thing. I guess there were no gay men in the WW2? Lesbians?
NATIVE AMERICANS: One memoir is sort of included (but he is part Apache, not full), and the other is of a white family who tried to adopt a Native American boy, who ended up trying to burn their house down. They got rid of him, despite feeling bad about it. Poor kid.
SECOND HALF OF BOOK: Famous people and Senators, Congressmen, etc. Basically it seems like these are Brokaw's friends.
Finale:
Brokaw is not a reporter, he is a newscaster. There's a big difference. And this book exemplifies that -- as Frankenfurter says -- in spades!
1.) "Among other indignities, Holmes is persuaded that Fort Knox dentists experimented on BLACK (my capitals) soldiers.": I'm sorry Brokaw.... have you been drinking? Is Brokaw suggesting that Holmes made this up?
2.) "When my friends ask whether I ever considered divorce I remind them of the old saying 'We've thought about killing each other, but divorce? Never." Yes, let's stay married even though we want to kill each other. (Obviously the quote is flippant, and in jest. Nonetheless, its inclusion says what to the reader?
3.) "They sit in front of computer screens. It may be educational but they don't know how to play tag, baseball, whatever the hell else. Part of growing up is learning to fight with each other." i.e. if you're not a fighter, or didn't fight growing up, you're nothing.
Brokaw's inclusions of first hand accounts are horrible. Little is spent with their actual experiences, and too much is spent with the aftermath of their GREAT and WONDERFUL lives because they saw through 'hard times'.
The context is steeped in sentimentality and Norman Rockwell paintings, which shames so much of what OTHER WW2 veterans went through. Guess what? Some people came out of the war and never recovered. But let's not talk about them! I am thinking those losers didn't get in fist fights when they were young - so Brokaw doesn't want to include them.
GAY PEOPLE: No such thing. I guess there were no gay men in the WW2? Lesbians?
NATIVE AMERICANS: One memoir is sort of included (but he is part Apache, not full), and the other is of a white family who tried to adopt a Native American boy, who ended up trying to burn their house down. They got rid of him, despite feeling bad about it. Poor kid.
SECOND HALF OF BOOK: Famous people and Senators, Congressmen, etc. Basically it seems like these are Brokaw's friends.
Finale:
Brokaw is not a reporter, he is a newscaster. There's a big difference. And this book exemplifies that -- as Frankenfurter says -- in spades!
August 17, 2017
This book recently resurfaced for reasons that escape my comprehension but I suspect have to do with the current US president. I read this when it was first published and wish I could have back those wasted moments. Brokaw was a media man, a talking head and his writing ability made this painfully obvious. The book was written on an elementary school age level - or perhaps that was the intelligence of those he was attempting to reach.
Additionally, as with most talking heads, this book was nothing but pure propaganda. The generation to which this book refers gave us nothing except a population explosion, never ending wars, out of control pollution, waste, chemicals and nuclear weapons and NOW we have them to thank for Donald Trump. There was never anything great about them. Ever.
This book, its subject matter, the writing, all are pure garbage. Please, instead, read A History of Us or Lies My Teacher Told Me, anything that will help dispel the layers of lies we have been repeatedly told throughout our lives. Please.
Additionally, as with most talking heads, this book was nothing but pure propaganda. The generation to which this book refers gave us nothing except a population explosion, never ending wars, out of control pollution, waste, chemicals and nuclear weapons and NOW we have them to thank for Donald Trump. There was never anything great about them. Ever.
This book, its subject matter, the writing, all are pure garbage. Please, instead, read A History of Us or Lies My Teacher Told Me, anything that will help dispel the layers of lies we have been repeatedly told throughout our lives. Please.
March 31, 2019
I liked this book. I agree that the WWII generation is remarkably special. Their military training, the opportunity to go to college and their leadership experience prepared this generation for greatness. It seemed to me that the book emphasized the extra ordinary soldier who became very successful. What about the men and women who came back damaged - physically, emotionally, financially and mentally?? What about the soldiers who can’t stop thinking about the horrors. The ones who didn’t go to Harvard and Yale and were not officers or pilots, they did not go on to become congressmen and presidents. Maybe that book with ordinary, possibly unsuccessful soldier stories would not sell.
September 23, 2012
Here are my thoughts on reading The Greatest Generation (I apologise in advance for the verbosity):
Over sixteen million American men and women served their country during the second world war and estimates from the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration indicate that just over one million veterans of this war are still alive today. Some reports suggest that veterans of WWII are dying at rates near 1000 per day, which means it will not be long until there are no living memories of the worst war in modern times. This is significant. It is imperative that we maintain in our memories, not simply the legacy of these men and women, but the awful, gruesome affair they endured that earned their generation the title: “The Greatest.”
When I first stumbled upon Tom Brokaw’s book, I was working as an aide in the English department of Mountain View High School. While taking inventory of the bookroom, I encountered a floor-to-ceiling bookcase filled with The Greatest Generation. The book’s red white and blue color scheme evoked a veritable gag reflex as I faced the wall of what I supposed to be sentimental, patriotic propaganda. I arrogantly scoffed at the title’s presumption. I truly believed I would never read the book. I am fiercely anti-war, not to mention strongly opposed to the military in general, and I thought this book would be a glamorization of the war and a deification of those who fought; that it would commit the crime mentioned in Vonnegut’s Slaughter-house Five of portraying soldiers as valiant, heroic men, championed for their ability to kill instead of the more accurate depiction of young boys, scared and far from home. No wonder this volume had been seemingly relegated to the back, seldomly visited corner of the department’s storage room, I thought. I would never want to teach it, that’s for sure.
Looking back, my views on the military--and even Brokaw’s book--were immature. I made the mistake of lumping the humans in with the whole military machine, forgetting, or perhaps more accurately ignoring, the fact that these people, these young men and women, did not always choose to fight; they were not to blame for creating the mess; and they should not be victimized or held responsible for the evil intentions and actions of other, more powerful, greedy, and corrupt humans. It’s not that I have come to embrace the inevitability of war and the necessity of a military force--which I of course acknowledge, but I will never embrace--but I have come to believe that the best argument against future war may well be the remembrance of wars past.
War is not glamorous, it is not pretty, and it is most certainly not clean, and no one knows that better than those that have experienced this hell first hand, which I thankfully have not. I distinctly remember the occasion in my childhood when my father brought the family together to watch Steven Spielberg's amazing film, “Saving Private Ryan,” which is rated R, a taboo in my household growing up. In my naively puritanical bewilderment I reminded my family that we don’t watch those kinds of movies. I will never forget my wonderful grandpa’s quick retort: “The war was rated R,” which was most certainly an understatement. My grandpa was a sailor in the war and he often recounted tales from his time on the LCI 222. His military service shaped the rest of his life, and he lived a great life. He was the greatest man I have ever known.
It pains me somewhat to write that last sentence in the past tense. My grandfather died not long ago. His death wasn’t foreshadowed by a long period of struggle. In fact, he was still going to work every day at the company he built shortly after he returned home from the pacific. He undoubtedly possessed the matchless work ethic Brokaw claims to be indicative of his generation. His moral principles were solid because they had endured the fiery kiln of war. He lived a rich and great life, and he was buried with full military honors surrounded by those he’d left behind to carry on his legacy. I was touched by the seriousness with which the color guard performed the ceremony at the funeral. Those former soldiers and volunteers paid a deeply moving tribute to a man they only knew through the bond of service. I was inspired by their words, which have escaped my recollection, and I understood, as his coffin was lowered into the snowy ground, that something significant had occurred. With his passing, my grandfather took with him one of the few remaining first-hand memories of World War Two.
With the passing of my grandfather’s generation, we must carefully decide how we will carry their legacy forward. On one hand, we should champion their dignity and valor. These men and women are exemplary. But on the other hand, we must be cautious as to avoid the pitfall of remembering the glory while ignoring the ugly brutality of war that these men and women faced. My fear is that we will become more and more removed from the reality of war since these memories exist in fewer and fewer members of our society. My fear is along the same vein as Santayana’s insight, if we do not remember the past we will be condemned to repeat it. It is not enough to remember the men and women as heros. We must be careful when forming the rhetoric with which we reminisce about war and those who fought them. We must also remember what they endured, in all its grotesquery, so as to never repeat the atrocities.
Brokaw’s book succeeds in capturing the humanity of these veterans, and he acknowledges many of my concerns early in the text. He portrays the men and women whose lives he details as the greatest generation, and it is this fact that makes me leery of this book. Time after time he explains how the war positively shaped these people’s lives. Indeed, I have mentioned how the war positively shaped the life of my own grandpa, but that does not mean that the war was good. I think I would be hard pressed to find a lot of people who disagree with my argument, but I feel compelled to make it. We must not confuse good results with good methods. We should read and study books like this one, books that raise our spirits and inspire us to honor our elders, but we should not allow our raised spirits and good feelings to deceive us into believing that war is honorable. It is not.
The men and women who served deserve our thanks and admiration, but the blind patriotism and sense of American exceptionalism that occasionally derives from our holidays and celebrations, and even the rhetoric of book titles like, The Greatest Generations, should be kept in check.
Over sixteen million American men and women served their country during the second world war and estimates from the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration indicate that just over one million veterans of this war are still alive today. Some reports suggest that veterans of WWII are dying at rates near 1000 per day, which means it will not be long until there are no living memories of the worst war in modern times. This is significant. It is imperative that we maintain in our memories, not simply the legacy of these men and women, but the awful, gruesome affair they endured that earned their generation the title: “The Greatest.”
When I first stumbled upon Tom Brokaw’s book, I was working as an aide in the English department of Mountain View High School. While taking inventory of the bookroom, I encountered a floor-to-ceiling bookcase filled with The Greatest Generation. The book’s red white and blue color scheme evoked a veritable gag reflex as I faced the wall of what I supposed to be sentimental, patriotic propaganda. I arrogantly scoffed at the title’s presumption. I truly believed I would never read the book. I am fiercely anti-war, not to mention strongly opposed to the military in general, and I thought this book would be a glamorization of the war and a deification of those who fought; that it would commit the crime mentioned in Vonnegut’s Slaughter-house Five of portraying soldiers as valiant, heroic men, championed for their ability to kill instead of the more accurate depiction of young boys, scared and far from home. No wonder this volume had been seemingly relegated to the back, seldomly visited corner of the department’s storage room, I thought. I would never want to teach it, that’s for sure.
Looking back, my views on the military--and even Brokaw’s book--were immature. I made the mistake of lumping the humans in with the whole military machine, forgetting, or perhaps more accurately ignoring, the fact that these people, these young men and women, did not always choose to fight; they were not to blame for creating the mess; and they should not be victimized or held responsible for the evil intentions and actions of other, more powerful, greedy, and corrupt humans. It’s not that I have come to embrace the inevitability of war and the necessity of a military force--which I of course acknowledge, but I will never embrace--but I have come to believe that the best argument against future war may well be the remembrance of wars past.
War is not glamorous, it is not pretty, and it is most certainly not clean, and no one knows that better than those that have experienced this hell first hand, which I thankfully have not. I distinctly remember the occasion in my childhood when my father brought the family together to watch Steven Spielberg's amazing film, “Saving Private Ryan,” which is rated R, a taboo in my household growing up. In my naively puritanical bewilderment I reminded my family that we don’t watch those kinds of movies. I will never forget my wonderful grandpa’s quick retort: “The war was rated R,” which was most certainly an understatement. My grandpa was a sailor in the war and he often recounted tales from his time on the LCI 222. His military service shaped the rest of his life, and he lived a great life. He was the greatest man I have ever known.
It pains me somewhat to write that last sentence in the past tense. My grandfather died not long ago. His death wasn’t foreshadowed by a long period of struggle. In fact, he was still going to work every day at the company he built shortly after he returned home from the pacific. He undoubtedly possessed the matchless work ethic Brokaw claims to be indicative of his generation. His moral principles were solid because they had endured the fiery kiln of war. He lived a rich and great life, and he was buried with full military honors surrounded by those he’d left behind to carry on his legacy. I was touched by the seriousness with which the color guard performed the ceremony at the funeral. Those former soldiers and volunteers paid a deeply moving tribute to a man they only knew through the bond of service. I was inspired by their words, which have escaped my recollection, and I understood, as his coffin was lowered into the snowy ground, that something significant had occurred. With his passing, my grandfather took with him one of the few remaining first-hand memories of World War Two.
With the passing of my grandfather’s generation, we must carefully decide how we will carry their legacy forward. On one hand, we should champion their dignity and valor. These men and women are exemplary. But on the other hand, we must be cautious as to avoid the pitfall of remembering the glory while ignoring the ugly brutality of war that these men and women faced. My fear is that we will become more and more removed from the reality of war since these memories exist in fewer and fewer members of our society. My fear is along the same vein as Santayana’s insight, if we do not remember the past we will be condemned to repeat it. It is not enough to remember the men and women as heros. We must be careful when forming the rhetoric with which we reminisce about war and those who fought them. We must also remember what they endured, in all its grotesquery, so as to never repeat the atrocities.
Brokaw’s book succeeds in capturing the humanity of these veterans, and he acknowledges many of my concerns early in the text. He portrays the men and women whose lives he details as the greatest generation, and it is this fact that makes me leery of this book. Time after time he explains how the war positively shaped these people’s lives. Indeed, I have mentioned how the war positively shaped the life of my own grandpa, but that does not mean that the war was good. I think I would be hard pressed to find a lot of people who disagree with my argument, but I feel compelled to make it. We must not confuse good results with good methods. We should read and study books like this one, books that raise our spirits and inspire us to honor our elders, but we should not allow our raised spirits and good feelings to deceive us into believing that war is honorable. It is not.
The men and women who served deserve our thanks and admiration, but the blind patriotism and sense of American exceptionalism that occasionally derives from our holidays and celebrations, and even the rhetoric of book titles like, The Greatest Generations, should be kept in check.
April 16, 2019
I rated 3⭐️s but really 3+. I read this book along with my book group for our 20th anniversary discussion. This book was selected because it was a best seller when we started as a group in 1999. It really put in perspective how quickly 20 years goes by. 😮 I had extremely high hopes for this book and it fell a little short. However, I am still really glad I read it. A series of short stories on a generation that experienced the depression, WWII, and the cold war. Many a hero emerged from this generation who had to grow up fast and put their lives on the line for our freedoms. I salute all veterans and thank them for their selfless service.
“They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. They stayed true to their values of personal responsibility, duty, honor, and faith.”
― Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation
“They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. They stayed true to their values of personal responsibility, duty, honor, and faith.”
― Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation
May 21, 2014
This is the single most disappointing book I have ever read. There were no insights. There was no consistent theme. There was no analysis beyond "Aren't they wonderful?" It was nothing but a series of 2-3 page vignettes. Brokaw seemed to make a point of people coming out of exactly the same experiences with very different beliefs about politics, religion, race, etc., but never speaks of it, much less discusses why that occurred. He included a high proportion of elected officials - does he think that war experience made it more likely that veterans went into politics, or was it simply that such a high proportion of people served, or was it because that's the people Brokaw knows? Was everyone who came through the Depression and WWII happy, reasonably successful, hardworking? Obviously not, but those are pretty much the only people he portrays.
This book could not have been more shallow unless it were convex.
This book could not have been more shallow unless it were convex.
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March 12, 2025I picked up this book in an attempt to counteract my growing cynicism towards America and older generations. Did it work? No. Yes, these people lived up to the challenges of their times in remarkable ways. I respect their courage and strict dedication to what they believed was right. That being said, I cannot say that this book brings anything new to this discourse surrounding WWII. I appreciated its vignettes as a psychological study into how widespread cultural trauma affects people in different ways. However, I had to parse these interpretations through Brokaw’s frequently repeated premise that this was America’s greatest generation because they faced the toughest times and responded by putting duty, patriotism, and family above all else (including their own lives). We cannot broadly commend this generation as “the greatest” for acts of service committed when they were just teenagers/young adults while ignoring the political and societal impacts they had for the rest of their lives. It is hard for me today to gush over this generation unreservedly when we are living with the consequences of the modern political system that they helped to build. I believe it is possible to admire this generation’s immense sacrifices while at the same time recognizing that they were not perfect, as nobody is. Clearly Brokaw’s sole objective was to idolize these people and their achievements, which is his own prerogative. Personally, I was looking for a more nuanced take.
October 2, 2016
I have. even greater admiration & respect for the amazing generation of my grandparents. Thank you, Mr. Brokaw, for the stories, the history, the incredible look into the lives of the men & women in this book.
I was especially shaken by the look into marriage & commitment. Sadly, our world has taken a nonchalant, all-about-me view of marriage. I pray, as weal love need to, that we will see the dire need to restore our faith in each other & our commitments till death do us part.
I was especially shaken by the look into marriage & commitment. Sadly, our world has taken a nonchalant, all-about-me view of marriage. I pray, as weal love need to, that we will see the dire need to restore our faith in each other & our commitments till death do us part.
December 3, 2019
I wanted to read this book because my father-in-law was there in Normandy and German during WWII. He meet my mother-in-law in Germany married her sent her to his parents till he came home from this terrible war. I love history also. So I found this interesting.
February 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book that provides short vignettes about the extraordinary men and women who served here and abroad during World War II. Hero’s everyone from every walk of life who found the common humanity in everyone. Shocked at the irony of considering Second Generation Japanese Americans as enemies but willing put them in harms way on the battle field. Also fascinating how despite their common experiences everyone still developed their own political philosophies. Finally since this book was written more than 20 years ago, many of people in this book have since passed away. So sad.
March 26, 2019
I wish I could give this book 3.5 stars, my feelings about this book aren’t high enough for a 4 star rating but they aren’t low enough for a 3 star rating. Some of the stories in this book will stick with me but a lot of them seemed a repeat of others. What this book did for me was make me curious about my own Dad’s WWII experiences and wish I would have asked him about it before he passed away. I am definitely going to investigate what I can about my Dad’s war record and learn as much as I am able to.
June 14, 2024
I read this book to more fully comprehend what my own parents experienced by going through World War II. My dad was drafted into the Army near the end of the war and served about a year and a half in Germany, helping to rebuild and restore. While Dad was overseas (that's what my parents always called it--overseas), my Mom and her two little kids lived in a basement apartment in Nevada with her married sister and two little kids while the sister's husband was also serving in the military! The book pays tribute to millions of Americans who sacrificed in this and many other ways. Although I am not a big Tom Brokaw fan, I am grateful that he put this book together as one small way to honor our parents' generation. Some of the chapters get a little bogged down, but this is a book you can skim and choose the ones you want to read.
I found a profound poem in this book that deeply touches my heart. (I'll have to get back to you on the page number.) It's called "When You Come Home"; it describes the complete loss of ability to think or speak experienced when the person you have longed for and whom you love the very most returns to you. It's a heart-gripping poem of reunion. (It reminds me of the way I felt when my sweetheart returned home from his 2-year mission "overseas.")
I found a profound poem in this book that deeply touches my heart. (I'll have to get back to you on the page number.) It's called "When You Come Home"; it describes the complete loss of ability to think or speak experienced when the person you have longed for and whom you love the very most returns to you. It's a heart-gripping poem of reunion. (It reminds me of the way I felt when my sweetheart returned home from his 2-year mission "overseas.")
October 5, 2009
There are some fascinating stories in The Greatest Generation, many of which elicited "I didn't know that!" and "I'm glad I didn't have to go through that!" as I read them. At times, I found myself with watery eyes as I perused some particularly emotional account. I'm glad I read the book, really I am. However, the whole collection of mini-biographies left me feeling like I'd just experienced the USA TODAY McPaper version of these biographical accounts. So, if you're wondering why the rating is so low compared to the comments these stories evoked, it is because the book felt uneven to me.
I definitely appreciated some of the thematic material Brokaw presented. I thought his notes on racism, gender discrimination, and the effect of the war on our culture and the economy were well-considered. I thought what he had to say was important. It just seemed like I had dined on mental appetizers when I reached the end of the book instead of a satisfying meal.
I definitely appreciated some of the thematic material Brokaw presented. I thought his notes on racism, gender discrimination, and the effect of the war on our culture and the economy were well-considered. I thought what he had to say was important. It just seemed like I had dined on mental appetizers when I reached the end of the book instead of a satisfying meal.
February 5, 2019
Such an engaging topic, too bad Brokaw wasn't up to it. Typical superficial twaddle we've come to expect from broadcast journalists.
February 16, 2025
What a wonderful series of vignettes. I have loved reading these stories about outstanding individuals. Like Tom said at the end, many will stay unheard. However, through his work and connections he has been able to unearth but a handful 🌟.
It would be fascinating to know if there are books like this that tell the stories of people from other nations.
I may well possibly read more of Tom’s work.
It would be fascinating to know if there are books like this that tell the stories of people from other nations.
I may well possibly read more of Tom’s work.
December 4, 2023
Absolutely Fantastic ! These stories about the WWII vet’s cross over almost every feeling and emotion.
I loved the stories.
I loved the stories.
February 20, 2021
Read this one several years ago and absolutely loved it! Not my usual pick, but it was recommended by a friend and what a great surprise.
September 10, 2012
Although I don't always agree with him, Brokaw deserves great credit for documenting and immortalizing some of the people who comprise the Greatest Generation.
As more and more of these great warriors pass on every day, we are losing the collective memories and recollections of these people at an astonishing rate. The fact that they were shaken from their near-universal silence to finally share their most disturbing memories and deepest fears is a tribute to Tom Brokaw. He made it "all right" to talk about what happened and posterity will be the beneficiary of these witnesses to living history.
The War was their defining accomplishment but struggling and surviving through the Great Depression was no walk in the park either. This double-barreled challenge was enough to sink any generation but these folks were made of sterner stuff. They persevered and they prevailed and they came home to rebuild America and raise a family. Many used the benefits of the GI Bill to get an education that was once beyond their reach. They then went about the business of converting a potent war production machine into a vibrant and thriving peacetime economy.
Some have accused them of raising a generation of whining and selfish offspring, The Baby Boomers. I don't agree. Giving their children the security they fought for and material advantages they never had was the most natural thing for them to do. And not all Boomers are self-centered narcissists. After all, some of them did put a man on the moon.
So in defense of the Greatest Generation with regard to their offspring, most of us will never know "what it's like to be 22 years old and already know that you will never do anything more important for the rest of your life than what you have already done?" (Quoted from The Last Jump page 505)
The book is fabulous and the stories are deeply personal and revealing. They simply engender more respect and honor for these great citizens. And it pays respect to the often-forgotten women who made such an outstanding contribution to the ultimate victory.
And it was Tom Brokaw who took the great risk of recording some painful memories and in the process unleashed the torrent of repressed recollections of many other aging veterans. The Veteran Oral Histories Project Act (Public Law 106-380) passed in 2000 funded the recording of the experiences and memories of many veterans who were set free by the highly positive public adulation to The Greatest Generation published 2 years prior. For that, history truly owes Tom Brokaw a great debt of gratitude
As more and more of these great warriors pass on every day, we are losing the collective memories and recollections of these people at an astonishing rate. The fact that they were shaken from their near-universal silence to finally share their most disturbing memories and deepest fears is a tribute to Tom Brokaw. He made it "all right" to talk about what happened and posterity will be the beneficiary of these witnesses to living history.
The War was their defining accomplishment but struggling and surviving through the Great Depression was no walk in the park either. This double-barreled challenge was enough to sink any generation but these folks were made of sterner stuff. They persevered and they prevailed and they came home to rebuild America and raise a family. Many used the benefits of the GI Bill to get an education that was once beyond their reach. They then went about the business of converting a potent war production machine into a vibrant and thriving peacetime economy.
Some have accused them of raising a generation of whining and selfish offspring, The Baby Boomers. I don't agree. Giving their children the security they fought for and material advantages they never had was the most natural thing for them to do. And not all Boomers are self-centered narcissists. After all, some of them did put a man on the moon.
So in defense of the Greatest Generation with regard to their offspring, most of us will never know "what it's like to be 22 years old and already know that you will never do anything more important for the rest of your life than what you have already done?" (Quoted from The Last Jump page 505)
The book is fabulous and the stories are deeply personal and revealing. They simply engender more respect and honor for these great citizens. And it pays respect to the often-forgotten women who made such an outstanding contribution to the ultimate victory.
And it was Tom Brokaw who took the great risk of recording some painful memories and in the process unleashed the torrent of repressed recollections of many other aging veterans. The Veteran Oral Histories Project Act (Public Law 106-380) passed in 2000 funded the recording of the experiences and memories of many veterans who were set free by the highly positive public adulation to The Greatest Generation published 2 years prior. For that, history truly owes Tom Brokaw a great debt of gratitude
August 15, 2017
The Greatest Generation is a very moving non-fiction novel that contains real life fascinating stories of WWII and the Great Depression that give you a look into the lives of veteran soldiers telling their story to Tom Brokaw. Former anchor on NBC News, Tom Brokaw, searches for veterans from WWII and the witnesses of the Great Depression to tell their story about their day in what Brokaw calls The Greatest Generation. The Greatest Generation is filled with many facts about the war and struggles of being drafted into the military at a young age to being sent to one of the most deadliest wars in history. What caught my eye was that Brokaw wrote not only the veterans point of views, but also his own thoughts. This novel had an outstanding flow of writing and was very informative and interesting at the same time. The short biographies the veterans explained were attention-grabbing and truly appealing to the eye, it also shows what hard work many have put in into the past to have a great future for a life of their own. I have read many biographies written by military veterans and this novel is one of the most excellent.
June 12, 2019
I read this incredible book for several reasons. One, the 75th anniversary of D-Day was coming up and the other was the current state of American politics in general and our president in particular. I can’t begin to express how magnificently Brokaw presented the members of the greatest generation and what they endured during World War II. These very young men in most cases were gifted with duty, honor, respect for their fellow man, amazing courage under the worst circumstances, and, above all, their love for our country. Brokaw conducted countless interviews with people who explain their wartime experiences. He ended with Bob Dole and Mark Hatfield whose lives were and have been consumed with their time on the battlefields of Italy and the Pacific theater. My father was a member of the greatest generation and I can’t tell you how much I miss him. He exemplified these qualities and there are not too many people left today that do so. I highly recommend this book.
December 9, 2009
I think any book that gets people to read about history is a good thing. Using short, anecdotal descriptions of various people who contributed to the war effort in WWII Brokaw's book does an excellent job of illustrating the hard work and honor of many members of that generation. There is also a strong theme of providing perspective for our later, somewhat over-entitled generations. However, Brokaw communicates this in the first few pages and then repeats it over and over again throughout the book. The Greatest Generation just ended up feeling to me like a repetitive, Hallmarky, PR exercise. I think I'm being a little harsh, and I think it's probably good to have a very approachable book like this to communicate how life was different not that long ago, but I can't say I really enjoyed it.
April 30, 2015
I read a little over half of this book aloud, shared with my teenage daughter as a part of our study of WWII. The people we met via Tom Brokaw's interviews were remarkable in many ways. War brought forth a fortitude and inventiveness in farm boys, teens, women, and people across the spectrum and we noticed an underlying thread that they nearly all remained engaged and altruistic after the war years ended. The chapter entitled "Shame" was a good counterbalance to the rosy hero chapters, cataloging our nations sins regarding the infamous Japanese internment camps and military racial unfairness. The writing was unremarkable and although each character interviewed had a worthy story to tell, the formulaic approach began to wear thin and we grew bored enough to shelve it, unfinished.
June 18, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As I was reading about these individuals, some prominent, others not so, I found myself googling their names. The majority have passed away since the writing of this book. There are some, a few, who are still alive. Tom Brokaw did a marvelous job of telling their stories. Their stories were interesting and fascinating. I enjoyed each and every one of them. I found it fairly easy to relate to this era. I was born in 1950, my uncles, grandfather, and relatives of friends all served in this war. One of my best friends dad, will soon be 100, God willing…he can tell these stories as if they happened yesterday. Thank you to all who served, all who have passed, and to all who continue to serve this great country of ours!
January 14, 2009
I really wanted to like this book- the idea of a memoir of the greatest generation is fabulous. Unfortunately, I though Mr Brokaw got a little- how can I say this nicely- dull in the telling of a fabulous tale.
But, if one has never met some of the amazing individuals that collectively make the greatest generation, it will do. I am just blessed to have met many folks who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War, and heard them speak for themselves.
My son won a copy of this as a prize in American History, so we will be keeping his inscribed copy and BookCrossing the spare copy.
But, if one has never met some of the amazing individuals that collectively make the greatest generation, it will do. I am just blessed to have met many folks who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War, and heard them speak for themselves.
My son won a copy of this as a prize in American History, so we will be keeping his inscribed copy and BookCrossing the spare copy.
June 18, 2011
#256
Stories of those in my parents' generation who lived through the Depression, World War II and lived lives of service, honor and responsibility because of the lessons learned from these events. Difficulties like these build character
Why didn't Mr. Brokaw include those who contributed by serving their country as conscientious objectors? My dad fought forest fires in Glacier National Park for the Civilian Public Service. He worked for $2.50 a month and fought fires on foot that were as difficult as doing battle. These men served their country in a different way and at least deserve recognition for their sacrifices.
Stories of those in my parents' generation who lived through the Depression, World War II and lived lives of service, honor and responsibility because of the lessons learned from these events. Difficulties like these build character
Why didn't Mr. Brokaw include those who contributed by serving their country as conscientious objectors? My dad fought forest fires in Glacier National Park for the Civilian Public Service. He worked for $2.50 a month and fought fires on foot that were as difficult as doing battle. These men served their country in a different way and at least deserve recognition for their sacrifices.
September 28, 2017
An excellent read about a most excellent generation. While the underlying theme is the same for each person reflected upon in this book, it is their personal stories that make this book so interesting. For the history buffs, this book will confirm your suspicions of the WWII generation. For everyone else, it will explain that unique characteristic that set your grandparents or great grandparents apart from the current generations that you know.
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