Vietnam Inc. by Philip Jones Griffiths
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Book Reviews of Vietnam Inc.
Book Review: Photos are excellent, comment is propaganda
Summary: 1 Stars
Having served in South Vietnam in 1968-1969 I will attest that the war was wrong. It is hell, but I also believe that all sides in the conflict participated in acts not only of horrible cruelty but of unselfish generosity as well. In Vietnam, the civilian population in particular was placed in a terrible situation and suffered greatly. That said, don't look to this book for any truth or insight into the complexities of the war. It is hardly more than lies and fabrications. Some of the photo captions are laugh out loud hilarious - such as the one of the boy, maybe 10 years old, dressed in an ARVN uniform and surrounded by smiling ARVN soldiers. He carries no weapons and looks to be a mascot of sorts. However, the caption tells us that the boy was actually some kind of hero to the soldiers for killing his own mother and teacher, just the day before, because they were VC. On every page Americans are portrayed as beasts who killed, looted, raped, distributed porn and cigarettes to kids, and had questionable motives even when passing out candy or providing dental care to the population. In every photo of Americans in combat they are "running for cover" or about to murder some innocent civilian. The NVA and VC are kindly and heroic. The people in the middle hate the Americans and love the communists. Oh yeah, and the NVA never slaughtered innocent civilians when they took over Hue during Tet. This book's unbalanced version of how the war was conducted conflicts with my own experience as an infantryman in the 25th Infantry Division and with much of what I have studied about the war since. I must conclude it to be a work of imagination and political propaganda. I have a copy of the 1971 edition and am simply amazed that it is now being reprinted. I am not surprised that the new edition includes fresh analysis from that old Stalinist truth-teller Noam Chomsky. Book Review: Vietnam Inc.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far the best book ever published on the Vietnam War. Out of print for thirty years, it is finally back on the bookshelves, much to the chagrin of the militarists in Washington. It's the only book that completely expains the disaster of what happened in Vietnam. It should be required reading in every school and college in this country.Read the words and learn. Look at the pictures and cry!
Our country must never repeat this.
Book Review: Essential For Anyone Interested In The Vietnam War
Summary: 5 Stars
From the summer of 1966 through the fall of 1968, I was fighting in some of the same areas of Vietnam that Phillip Jones Griffiths so dramatically photographed. The pictures in his book are a jolting reminder of that experience. No other book, by a single photographer, comes as close to capturing what Vietnam was like as this does.
He has produced a powerful, informative and compassionate work of photojournalism, that is as immediate today as when it was orignally published.
Book Review: pricey propaganda
Summary: 1 Stars
This old book is full of myth and propaganda that you have to wonder why the publisher actually charge money for the book, I usually get these type of books for free when I was still living in Vietnam.The book portrait the Americans as killers, it portrait all the S. Vietnamese as corrupt and whores - typical leftist stereotypes. What the book does not tell you is that the North Vietnamese were the biggest whores and most corrupt government in the world. On January 28,2002 L'express- the French leftist newspaper publish an article by Sylvaine Pasquier(go to lexpress.fr to see the full article), showing that in 1958 the North Vietnamese Communist gave the Spratley and Pearl islands off the coast of South Vietnam and near the Phillipines to China in exchange for Chinese support for the war. Also, in 1999 and 2000, the Vietnamese Communist sign a series of treaties giving China over 13,000 square Kilometers of land in North Vietnam and islands off South Vietnamin exchange for China support against a growing democracy movement in Vietnam. Yes, money to foreign government in exchange for help against the Vietnamese people. Never in the 5000 years history of Vietnam did this happen. Vietnam is a small country to give away thousands of square miles to another country so that they will have you retain absolute power is unforgivable. If Bush gave away 4000 square miles of land to Canada in exchange for campaign contribution, what would Americans think?
Book Review: superb collection
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a superb collection of photos that depicts the ironies and inanities that resonated throughout the US misguided war in Vietnam. There are haunting images of casual and mindless brutality, there are wonderful juxtapositions and there are the unforgettable faces of those caught up in the war as they try to lead their lives amidst wanton destruction. This is a book about betrayal...the betrayal of American ideals by US leaders, betrayal of soldiers by arrogant leaders, betrayal of allies for geopolitical machinations and betrayal of a people who suffered more than can be imagined. These timeless photos help us remember a dark chapter in US history and the reissue of this collection in a beautifully produced volume is welcome. Having taught about the Vietnam war to students who were born well after the debacle, this is an extremely valuable resource to bring to life the lessons learned from books and lectures. These mesmerizing images are informed by Griffith's conviction that, " the overwhelming impression of Americans in Vietnam is one of stupidity rather than evil." Certainly some veterans may dislike the photos and text, but few books convey the banality of war so effectively. Griffiths elegantly combines his photos, text and perceptive insights on Vietamese society and in so doing sets a standard for war reportage that others still only aspire to. This book is a must for anyone interested in the Vietnam conflict and the consequences of war.
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