30 pages • 1 hour read
With the Old Breed
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Book Brief
352
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Pacific Islands • 1940s
1981
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge recounts his experiences fighting in the South Pacific during World War II with the First Marine Division, covering brutal battles like Peleliu and Okinawa. The memoir vividly details the physical and psychological toll of combat, portraying the realities of war while celebrating the camaraderie among Marines and critiquing the destructive nature of warfare. The book includes graphic depictions of violence, death, and the dehumanizing effects of prolonged conflict.
Gritty
Dark
Unnerving
Emotional
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
48,833 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge is widely praised for its harrowing and unflinchingly honest portrayal of combat in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Reviewers commend Sledge's vivid and gruesome detail, deep emotional impact, and the authenticity derived from his firsthand experience. However, some readers find the brutality overwhelming. Despite this, it remains a seminal work on war's realities.
Who Should Read With the Old Breed?
Readers who are fascinated by detailed firsthand accounts of war, especially World War II, will cherish With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge. This book will appeal to fans of Stephen E. Ambrose's Band of Brothers and Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front for its gripping, unfiltered depiction of combat and its profound human insights.
48,833 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
352
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Pacific Islands • 1940s
1981
Adult
18+ years
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