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nelsta's review
3.0
I don’t remember what I wrote for my review. Goodreads deleted my review somehow. I remember being disappointed with this Audible selection because I felt it should have been titled “Struggles on the Homefront with Disadvantaged Groups” or something similar. Martin Sheen’s performance was great as always, but it couldn’t make me like this any more.
audraelizabeth's review
5.0
This was great. It was enlightening and heartbreaking. I learned a lot more about ww2 than i probably did in school. Some was disturbing and it does come with a disclaimer.
dstarrb's review
4.0
This is a series of podcasts strung together as an Audible Original. I enjoyed the content, especially the archival material. I have a greater appreciation for the societal changes that became normal in our country.
The intro and outro to each “chapter” was annoying and should have been edited out.
The intro and outro to each “chapter” was annoying and should have been edited out.
agnexperience's review
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised. At first, it seemed a superficial treatment of a few home front issues (which it still is for those more knowledgeable), but I found the glimpses it gave into especially the female and African American experience increasingly gripping. Recordings were used well. The emotional side that you can't get from a textbook was included. Martin Sheen is a great narrator.
More like a radio show than an audiobook, though.
More like a radio show than an audiobook, though.
smcscot's review
4.0
This is going to be a difficult one to review, because its cheating a little. When I got it, I didn't realize it was actually more of a podcast than a book. This was one of the free Audible downloads I got a few months ago, which are surprisingly well produced. I liken these to the self publishing that people do on Amazon (even though I hate amazon, and now I'll be blocked because Amazon owns both Audible and Goodreads), where they give away their work free for a limited time. Some of it is spectacular, and some of it is...well...don't bother.
This audio book is about the home life before, during, and after World War II. It is a scathing rendition of what everyone seems to think as the golden age. Where soldiers were perfectly well adjusted when they got back, there were no issues with class or race, and the government told everyone the truth. It shows that we, as a society, tend to view things through a rose colored lens, and just because the war skyrocketed us into being the biggest power in the world, that power came with a price. The US changed during that time period, about half for the good and half for the bad and we are in the midst of coming to that realization now. There is some brutal language, and some vivid imagery so if that bothers you, please stay clear, but otherwise it is a wonderful story, narrated beautifully with many first hand experiences.
This audio book is about the home life before, during, and after World War II. It is a scathing rendition of what everyone seems to think as the golden age. Where soldiers were perfectly well adjusted when they got back, there were no issues with class or race, and the government told everyone the truth. It shows that we, as a society, tend to view things through a rose colored lens, and just because the war skyrocketed us into being the biggest power in the world, that power came with a price. The US changed during that time period, about half for the good and half for the bad and we are in the midst of coming to that realization now. There is some brutal language, and some vivid imagery so if that bothers you, please stay clear, but otherwise it is a wonderful story, narrated beautifully with many first hand experiences.
pharmakisbookshelf's review
4.0
Before WWII, the American military force was ranked 19th in the world. When the president of Chrysler was asked if they could build tanks for the army he responded, "I don't see why not. What's a tank?"
I enjoy historical fiction and many are set in this era, so I decided to give this a listen.
For me, this was a good refresher of American history during this time period, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I learned while exploring the dramatic impact the war had on American culture. The early chapters are a bit slow, but I really appreciated the context they gave for later chapters.
The mix of narration, expert interviews, and historical recording was a unique and enjoyable format. The radio recordings of Americans sharing their views on the war were a treat. Now that we have access to platforms like Twitter, this may seem mundane, but this was the first time in history citizens were able to communicate with the President in this way. Listening to their views and President Roosevelt's fireside chats was an interesting perspective that I didn't read about in a history textbook.
I was surprised just how many changes the war led to that can be connected to American culture today. Martin Sheen's narration is a perfect fit. I recommend giving this a listen!
I enjoy historical fiction and many are set in this era, so I decided to give this a listen.
For me, this was a good refresher of American history during this time period, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I learned while exploring the dramatic impact the war had on American culture. The early chapters are a bit slow, but I really appreciated the context they gave for later chapters.
The mix of narration, expert interviews, and historical recording was a unique and enjoyable format. The radio recordings of Americans sharing their views on the war were a treat. Now that we have access to platforms like Twitter, this may seem mundane, but this was the first time in history citizens were able to communicate with the President in this way. Listening to their views and President Roosevelt's fireside chats was an interesting perspective that I didn't read about in a history textbook.
I was surprised just how many changes the war led to that can be connected to American culture today. Martin Sheen's narration is a perfect fit. I recommend giving this a listen!
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