Here’s a list of the all time top 10 books written on the Vietnam War. All the genres are covered here including visceral first-hand battle memoirs, life in Vietnam as a Huey pilot, the strange and terrifying world of the marine scout sniper and other works dealing with reportage and history.
Dispatches – Michael Herr
An almost perfect book on the Vietnam conflict – captures the moral quagmire perfectly, painting a crazed and vivid portrait of men and war in a jungle environment where nobody knows what is right or wrong. Read full review
Chickenhawk – Robert Mason
Enthralling autobiography of a young man’s journey learning to fly one of the iconic Huey choppers that came to define America’s ‘Air Cav’ war in Vietnam. From training school rookie to hardened Vietnam pro, Mason’s stories are as terrifying and awe-inspiring as he is humble and brave. Read full review
Matterhorn – Karl Marlantes
Although this is a Vietnam novel rather than non-fiction, few books will ever capture the Vietnam soldier’s experience as realistically as Matterhorn. The book follows a group of Marines through a terrifying journey through the jungle hunting a spectral North Vietnamese unit of unknown size. Read full review
Blackjack 34 – James Donahue
The real life account from a black ops soldier of one mission, Blackjack 34, gone horribly wrong. Far from help and surrounded by enemy the hunter patrol fights a battle for survival in a story that cannot help but blow you away. Read full review
Dear Mom: A Sniper’s Vietnam – Joseph T Ward
Here is the tale of a marine scout sniper, one of the best shots in the US army, as told in the form of letters home to his Mom. Ward is thoughtful and compassionate and yet the stories he tells reveal the brutality of combat from a distance and the stunning technical aspects of military sniping. Read full review
A Rumor of War – Philip Caputo
One of the classics to come out of Vietnam, Caputo was a marine and moulded his experiences into this literary masterpiece on men at war. Rightly placed alongside the greats The Naked and the Dead and All Quiet on the Western Front. A Rumor of War is a much acclaimed and timeless read. Read full review
A Bright Shining Lie – Neil Sheehan
John Paul Van was a US military adviser to the South Vietnam regime. Becoming bitterly disillusioned he secretly briefed journalists on the corruption of the regime and of their allies, the US. Sheehan was one of these and writes a striking critique of America’s Vietnam debacle. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Read full review
Vietnam: A History – Stanley Karnow
The best and most accessible history on the Vietnam conflict. More than just a factual book, Karnow explains the roots of nationalism in Indo-China before the war and makes interesting parallels with other world conflicts. An easy to read history of the war. Read full review
The Girl in the Picture – Denise Chong
This is the true story of what became of the little girl whose photo became synonymous with the Vietnam war. Kim Phuc was pictured after a napalm attack running from her village, her clothes burned off. Denise Chong tells her fascinating story of survival and subsequent life. Read full review
Platoon Leader – James R McDonough
A superb all-action first-hand account of leadership in battle. McDonough lead a platoon in the 173rd Airborne brigade through some tough encounters with the enemy. Well written and vivid, this is a highly-rated battle story. Read full review
