Super Short Summary

Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War by Viet Thanh Nguyen analyzes the ethics of creating and preserving public memories, focusing on the Vietnam War and its aftermath. He critiques common methods that invite bias and proposes an ethical model called "ethical forgetting." Nguyen argues that traditional narratives dehumanize opponents and that industries of memory, such as Hollywood, perpetuate these biases. The book suggests that more inclusive education systems could help develop improved ethical memories, highlighting the complexities of human nature and the dual capacity for good and evil. The book discusses sensitive topics including experiences of war and mass atrocities.