This book was orginally written in 1983, but was revised in 1990 with additional interviews. Karnow was a reporter who was in Vietnam during the war, and had access to many primary sources. This is an excellet book that gives an account of the American involvement in Vietnam. But be forwarned that it is exactly that, the American’s experience and perspective in Vietnam. Nor is this a military history of the war, but a political history only – military details are only mentioned in the larger context of the whole conflict. Some may disagree with some of his conclusions, but they are well argued. Given those caveats, this is a very good one volume introduction into the Vietnam war.
