The Tragedy of Vietnam - Softcover

Hearden, Patrick J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0205744273 ISBN 13: 9780205744275

Publisher: Pearson Higher Education, 2011

Synopsis

The Tragedy of Vietnam is a brief and accessible text that provides comprehensive coverage of the causes and consequences of the Vietnam War. The book provides extensive background on the Vietnam War, the relevant history of Southeast Asia and the consequences of the Vietnam conflict on the region. Author Patrick Hearden examines the key decisions and questions surroudning the tragic American entanglement in Vietnam, providing readers with a fascinating discussion of why the United States became involved in this war and why this involvement persisted for nearly a quarter of a century. This book covers the social, economic, ideological, diplomatic and military aspects of the Vietnam War.

About this title

About the Author:

Patrick J. Hearden is the distinguished professor of diplomatic history emeritus at Purdue University. He has written extensively on American foreign policy, but he considers The Tragedy of Vietnam to be his greatest achievement in insight and synthesis on the subject. Hearden earned a Ph.D. degree in American History from the University of Wisconsin--Madison.  He has written several books on  American Foreign Relations including Roosevelt Confronts Hitler:America's Entry into World War II and Architects of Globalism: Building a New World Order during World War II.  He has also edited Vietnam: Four American Perspectives.   During his long and distinguished career, Hearden has specialized in teaching courses on American Foreign Affairs. His course on American in Vietnam was ranked as one of the ten most popular courses taught at Purdue University.

Review:

Patrick Hearden’s The Tragedy of the Vietnam is arguably the best single short history of the Vietnam War. As a text, it is readable, fast-paced, well-organized, comprehensive and solidly researched. More than just a text, though, it is tied together by a challenging interpretation that requires critical rethinking about the causes and consequences of the Vietnam War.

- Thomas J. McCormick, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.

In The Tragedy of Vietnam, Patrick J. Heardon provides an interesting story of a people who fought for centuries to establish their own national identity and of the nations that tried to colonize or "civilize" them. In telling the story of Vietnam, Heardon argues compellingly that the tragedy of Vietnam was not just for the United States, who gave up the fight to save the Vietnamese people from communism, but also for the Vietnamese people, who got governance wrong.

- M. Kathryn Barbier, Associate Professor of History, Mississippi State University, U.S.A.

What lessons did Americans learn from their Vietnam tragedy? Too few, judging from their endless post-2001 wars. Patrick Hearden's new edition superbly teaches these lessons for a 21st-century audience, and notably for college students. With clearly presented, up-to-date information, it is a pleasure to read. Each chapter's several striking, often declassified, documents beautifully illustrate major themes for both the well-informed reader or beginning student. This is an instructive. highly revealing synthesis of an American, as well as the Americans' "client state's," tragedy.

- Walter LaFeber, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University and author of America, Russia, and the Cold War

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson Higher Education
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0205744273
• ISBN 13: 9780205744275
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 224