Born on the Fourth of July

Born on the Fourth of July
by Ron Kovic

Born on the Fourth of July
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Book Summary Information

Author: Ron Kovic
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-06-01
ISBN: 1888451785
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Akashic Books

Book Reviews of Born on the Fourth of July

Book Review: Inspirational Memoir
Summary: 5 Stars

Ron Kovic was an icon of the Vietnam Veterans anti-war movement in the early 1970s, as well as a powerful voice for downtrodden veterans. In his memoir "Born on the Fourth of July," he movingly recounts his journey from an ultra-patriotic youth growing up in an upstate New York suburb to an embittered disabled veteran, who wound up championing the anti-war and veteran causes. His narrative begins in combat in Vietnam where he is wounded and paralyzed, then goes to his childhood experiences; it's not really in chronological order like the movie is.

The most heartbreaking part of the book is his stay in the VA, where the conditions for wounded veterans are hardly what we would expect them to be. The recent Walter Reed scandal shows an inability on the part of our government to learn from its mistakes in this area. In addition, though Jane Fonda said that this book was the inspiration for the movie "Coming Home," Ron Kovic gets no Sally Hyde character to be his angel of love. Due to his injury, he can never again function sexually, and the only love he can get is the kind he has to pay for. Kovic is clearly anguished about this, and his situation reflected the reality for most paralyzed veterans.

Ultimately, Kovic was able to find a purpose in his life, and his book had wide influence. He became outspoken against the Vietnam War and for better treatment of veterans. He became a much-sought speaker, and his memoir was eventually turned into a movie starring Tom Cruise. Bruce Springsteen wrote "Shut Out the Light" after reading "Born on the Fourth of July," and his "Born in the USA" may have been partly inspired by Kovic. Kovic continues to speak out against the war, and his memoir remains a classic.

Moreover, "Born on the Fourth of July" remains relevant today. All of the Iraqi veterans coming home with PTSD and having trouble functioning in everyday life, or have had marriages broken due to the stress related to constantly being recalled for another tour of duty, or had injuries similar to Kovic's, show that the issues in the book are very much alive today. Finally, I would recommend this book to history fans who want to see the ways in which society was changing 40 years ago, and how Vietnam impacted ordinary people.

Summary of Born on the Fourth of July

?A great, courageous fellow, a man of deep moral convictions and an uncompromising disposition.??John Kerry on Ron Kovic

?As relevant as ever, this book is an education. Ron is a true American, and his great heart and hard-won wisdom shine through these pages.? ?Oliver Stone, filmmaker

?Born on the Fourth of July brings back the era of the Vietnam War at a time when the Establishment is trying to make the nation forget what they call the ?Vietnam syndrome.? Ron Kovic?s memoir is written with poetic passion and grips your attention from the very first page to the last. It is a classic of antiwar literature and I hope it will be read by large numbers of young people, who will be both sobered and inspired by his story. ?Howard Zinn

?If you want to understand the everlasting reverberations of our war in Vietnam and how it impacts our current events, you must read this book.? ?LARRY HEINEMANN

?There is no book more relevant in the 21st century to healing the wound of Vietnam, which continues to bring so much pain to our country, as reflected in the last presidential election . . . It remains to Kovic to remind us that history matters, and that the cost of our high follies persists.? ?ROBERT SCHEER, Los Angeles Times columnist

This New York Times bestseller (more than one million copies sold) details the author's life story (portrayed by Tom Cruise in the Oliver Stone film version)--from a patriotic soldier in Vietnam, to his severe battlefield injury, to his role as the country's most outspoken anti-Vietnam War advocate, spreading his message from his wheelchair.

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