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A Bright Shining Lie
- John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 35 hrs and 47 mins
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Summary
One of the most acclaimed books of our time - the definitive Vietnam War exposé and the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
When he came to Vietnam in 1962, Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann was the one clear-sighted participant in an enterprise riddled with arrogance and self-deception, a charismatic soldier who put his life and career on the line in an attempt to convince his superiors that the war should be fought another way. By the time he died in 1972, Vann had embraced the follies he once decried. He died believing that the war had been won.
In this magisterial book, a monument of history and biography that was awarded the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction, a renowned journalist tells the story of John Vann - "the one irreplaceable American in Vietnam" - and of the tragedy that destroyed a country and squandered so much of America's young manhood and resources.
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What listeners say about A Bright Shining Lie
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Wilbur
- 08-12-22
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Astonishing, detailed, complex, morally neutral, focussed, enigmatic , charismatic and tragic
This book and it’s subject
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- TSY
- 28-03-15
Superb, start to finish
What did you like most about A Bright Shining Lie?
As well as the story of John Vann's life this book gives a brilliant and easily listened to history of the lead up (with French occupation) and eventual American involvement in the Vietnam War. What a waste of life on both sides and very different to the Hollywood version of events!
Any additional comments?
I read this book 10 years ago and listening to it recently gave further insights into the story.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mark
- 01-06-16
A FORGOTTEN GEM
What did you like most about A Bright Shining Lie?
I was looking for a decent primer on the war ahead of a trip to Vietnam and was willing to endure a bit of bio about a guy I had never heard of, but I was blown away by Neil Sheehan's admiration of the man.
By the end, I understood why it was subtitled John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam.
I had also never heard of Neil Sheehan, and was pleasantly surprised to discover he was the journalist who obtained the Pentagon Papers, and that Daniel Ellsberg (who I had heard of) has a key supporting role in the book.
Sheehan's decision to focus the war through the lens of fairly obscure (today, at least) player, rather than say a president or top general, gives a real down-in-the-dirt perspective.
One of the best and most rewarding audiobooks I've bought. I may give it another spin before I head to Vietnam.
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Bright Shining Lie?
I loved the rather peripheral retelling of the Double Seven Day scuffle, a punch up between journalists covering a Buddhist protest in Siagon in 1963 and ostensibly friendly South Vietnamese police, particularly the intervention of the apparently terrifying but highly principled New York Times reporter David Halberstam.
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- Roger
- 07-05-13
Very interesting.
This is an important audiobook to listen to if you have any interest in the Vietnam War. Robertson Dean read it excellently, as usual, with only a couple of mispronunciations (primmer instead of primer and other trivial errors).
John Vann was THE Vietnam expert, and the book also exposes what drove him and his difficult childhood.
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5 people found this helpful
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- james whyman
- 04-04-16
Fantastic & gripping
Sheehan has provided the best overview of the ground war in Vietnam that I have come across.
He parallels the adrenaline fuelled life of the daring lieutenant colonel John Paul Vann with a well researched and highly detailed overview of the war. The book concentrates mainly on the efforts on the ground yet also manages to provide an accurate background and covers most of the other key events that happened throughout the war.
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- Paraig McGovern
- 04-02-17
A brilliant book beautifully read
A superb introduction to the folly of America's involvement in Vietnam .
The book veaved a brief history of Vietnam over recent centuries, with an overview of US involvement with a biography of Vann. The 3 strands each hid their own lies and that combined to give the 'Bright Shining Lie' of the title.
Complementing the text is Robertson Dean's superb narration.
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- Anonymous User
- 27-12-23
Great biography
The repulsive life of John Paul Vann biographied masterfully. A horrible character fighting a disgusting war written masterfully. Narrated immaculately.
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- Mr S.M.R.Plocki
- 28-04-15
Thought provoking
What made the experience of listening to A Bright Shining Lie the most enjoyable?
How the military and political establishments deluded themselves as to how the war was being fought and the implications of their delusion.
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Bright Shining Lie?
No specific moment, the whole peice is well done and equally enjoyable.
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
Mostly.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, too long for one sitting.
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- Neil R Hargreaves
- 30-06-21
Exceptional biography
Brilliant - provides insights into so much more than the Vietnam war; the history of 'indo-China', America and the history of the southern states and the macho culture of 'the most powerful nation on earth'. Truly enlightening. Gives the reader so much more than the life - provides the contexts in which it took place.
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- Mr. Magnus H. Smith
- 14-03-17
fascinating incite
amazing to hear how the same mistake s are repeated in every conflict. very compelling
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