Echoes of Combat: The Vietnam War in American Memory FROM THE PUBLISHER
Between 1959 and 1975, more than a million Americans saw combat in Vietnam, a third of whom developed post-traumatic stress disorder. By examining movies, memoirs, political speeches, and even the backwoods rituals of the contemporary men's movement in light of the psychological experiences of veterans, Turner explores the ongoing legacy of the war in popular culture, politics, and national ideals.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Since the end of the Vietnam War, freelance reporter and critic Turner posits, Americans have been torn between two compelling desires: they want to put the war behind them; yet they also want to relive it in detail through magazines, books and movies. Arguing that this conflict is a symptom of psychological distress, Turner uses the framework of the trauma recovery movement to analyze our national post-Vietnam psyche, and to determine a course of healing. Reading at times like excerpts from a psychiatrist's notebook, this work is both provocative and entertaining. The men's movement, for instance, is couched as an attempt to recoup cultural masculinity that was damaged, if not destroyed, by Vietnam. Turner's conclusion on this topic-that our collective attitude toward Robert McNamara is the key to resolving our national "father longing"-may strike many as a stretch. But the material leading up to this conclusion successfully juxtaposes its anecdotes with analyses, drawing readers into the psychological examination. Throughout the book, Turner raises and takes sides on many controversial issues likely to stir old passions. Yet his presentation is nonconfrontational, resulting in a carefully considered and intelligent attempt to interpret the war's aftermath. (Nov.)
Library Journal
Turner, a contributor to Progressive magazine and an educator, offers a provocative assessment of the impact of the North Vietnamese victory on American culture. While the analogy he draws between personal combat trauma and the culture as a whole may be difficult for many to support totally, this psychological perspective on a frequently debated topic adds to the discussion. This new work should be of value to scholars, who are invariably interested in the means by which a nation copes with military defeat in the postwar era. Lay readers and students generally prefer reading about the battles, political decisions, and civil and military personalities of the war itself, but public libraries with strong Vietnam War collections should also consider.-John R. Vallely, Siena Coll. Lib., Loudonville, N.Y.
Home
