4 cassettes / 4 hours Read by the Author, Tom Brokaw Also available on Compact Disc In this superb audiobook, Tom Brokaw goes out into America to tell - through the stories of individual men and women - the story of a generation, American's citizen heroes and heroines who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to bud modern America. "They won the war; they saved the world. They can 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 have the world new science, literature, art, industry, and economic strength unparalleled in the long curve of history." 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. "I am in awe of them, these men and women who have given us the world we have today. I feel privileged to have been witness to their stories. A I came to know many of them I became more and more moved by their everyday excellence - and more and more convinced that this is the greatest generation in our country's history." - Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw was born in 1940, but it wasn't until he was a famous newscaster that he began to contemplate what his parents' generation--those born between 1910 and the mid-1920s--had accomplished. Narrating his own book, he discusses the sacrifices those men and women made: the bodily harm they suffered in war, the diligence with which they built families and businesses, the courage they displayed in rehabilitating their war wounds, the integrity and values that infused their lives. "They never whined or whimpered," Brokaw notes. The stories these men and women tell Brokaw are consistently startling--triumphant, tragic, courageous, sad, miraculous. Although Brokaw never gets maudlin or sappy, most people will find it impossible to listen to this audiobook with dry eyes. (Running time: 4 hours, 3 cassettes) --Lou Schuler
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Brokow's abandonment:
After sharing the wonderful accounts of this self sacrificing generation so fairly, Tom Brokow has currently chosen to throw them all overboard. Everything they fought against is finding its way into our society today, under the blind eye of today's main stream media. Brokow's lack of journalistic integrity and bias has been completely exposed. His recent interview on the PBS Charlie Rose show has demonstrated, with Brokow's own words, he didn't do his journalistic duty and find out who Senator Obama is.... more info
Stop and reflect a little:
I just finished this book. I know it's years old, but it's new to me. I sat down with it expecting to basically have a written version of any History Channel documentary about the World War II generation. In some respects, I suppose that's what it is. On the other hand, the vignettes and profiles that Brokaw has included in his book are fascinating, and some are heartrending. To watch one's brother receive a fatal injury in battle, and be helpless to do anything about it . . . that's just horrific.more info
Copy was highlighted:
The copy recieved was not as described. I was expecting a clean used copy and I recieved a copy that was used as a text book and had yellow & green highlighter and hand written notes in the margins. I could not give it as a gift.
Generation- World War II:
Tom Brokaw has coined the World War II generation the greatest generation ever. In this book, he chronicles the lives and times of those who fought in World War II and how it affected them. The book is broken up into sections with miniature biographies of individuals telling of there lives before, during, and after the War. Undeniably, there were tremendous sacrifices by those in uniform and at home and the whole country rallied to help the troops win the war. The book includes average Joe and Jill... more info
