56 pages • 1 hour read •
“The Good War”: An Oral History of World War II
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
608
Biography • Nonfiction
World War II
•
Military & War•
World History1984
The New Press
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Good War by Studs Terkel is an oral history of World War II that compiles the experiences of a diverse range of individuals, including military personnel and civilians from various national, racial, class, and gender backgrounds. The book challenges the conventional notion of World War II as "the good war" by presenting its devastating impacts and subsequent global tensions, such as the Cold War and the Vietnam War. The book discusses topics of extreme violence, trauma, and atrocities.
Informative
Contemplative
Emotional
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
5,483 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Good War by Studs Terkel offers a compelling oral history of World War II, capturing diverse perspectives from soldiers to civilians. Reviewers praise the book's depth and emotional resonance, although some critique its sprawling structure and narrative inconsistency. Despite these, it's lauded for providing a multifaceted view of the war's impact.
Who Should Read The Good War?
A reader who would enjoy The Good War by Studs Terkel is likely interested in oral histories, personal narratives, and the multifaceted experiences of World War II. Comparable readers might appreciate Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand for their compelling and firsthand wartime accounts.
5,483 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Studs Terkel’s The Good War received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1985, highlighting its significant impact and contribution to literature about World War II.
The structure of The Good War is notable for its use of oral histories, capturing diverse personal experiences and reflections from a wide array of voices including soldiers, civilians, and politicians.
Studs Terkel is renowned for his ability to capture the essence of American life and history, and The Good War is part of his larger body of work that includes other celebrated oral history books like Working and Hard Times.
Studs Terkel’s The Good War received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1985, highlighting its significant impact and contribution to literature about World War II.
The structure of The Good War is notable for its use of oral histories, capturing diverse personal experiences and reflections from a wide array of voices including soldiers, civilians, and politicians.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
Studs Terkel is renowned for his ability to capture the essence of American life and history, and The Good War is part of his larger body of work that includes other celebrated oral history books like Working and Hard Times.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
608
Biography • Nonfiction
World War II
•
Military & War•
World History1984
The New Press
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 9,100+ additional titles.