The Greatest Generation / The Greatest Generation Speaks

by Tom Brokaw

Distinguished journalist and former White House correspondent Tom Brokaw celebrates the lives and achievements of what he calls "the Greatest Generation"—the generation of Americans who fought in World War II and who led the nation, and the world, by their example in the postwar years—in this collection of two bestselling books.

The Greatest Generation tells the story of America's citizen heroes and heroines, who came of age during the Great Depression and World War II, and who went on to build modern America. They were a generation united not only by a common purpose, but by common values—duty, honor, courage, service, love of family and country, and, above all, responsibililty for oneself. The Greatest Generation Speaks continues the story of the first book, drawing on letters, interviews, and memoirs of members of the Greatest Generation that offer, in Brokaw's own words, "firsthand accounts of battles and poignant reflections on loneliness, exuberant expressions of love and somber accounts of loss."

Genres: Nonfiction, History

652 pages, Leather Bound

First published September 6, 2013

About the author

Thomas 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.

Reviews

[Stephanie | Books_and_Steph]

There is nothing more endearing and fulfilling than reading old war stories from WWII. The sadness, the loss, the modesty, the perseverance, dedication, love, and patriotism are so heart warming and historical.

The first half of this book was slightly dull in some areas, but I still found it fascinating to hear what happened to these men and women during the war and especially what came of them afterward. The struggles they had to overcome after coming home from the war as well as the inspiration they had to rebuild America and raise their families.

The second part of the book in "The Greatest Generation Speaks", it was much more interesting to see the letters and war stories told from the veterans themselves or from family members who know the stories that have been told to them. Knowing such intimate details of blood shed, humility, friendships, marriages, and bravery, were so intense and I admire each and every single one of them.