Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest

The Easy Company survivors describe the hell and confusion of any war: the senseless death of the nicest kid in the company when a souvenir Luger goes off in his pocket; the execution of a G.I. by his C.O. for disobeying an order not to get drunk. Despite the gratuitous horrors it relates, Band of Brothers illustrates what one of Ambrose's sources calls "the secret attractions of war ... the delight in comradeship, the delight in destruction ... war as spectacle." --Tim Appelo

Stephen Ambrose wasn't the greatest pure writer in the world - he won't dazzle you with his prose - but he was adept at giving the reader revealing glimpses of life as a soldier in World War II. That's exactly what he does here in Band of Brothers, which inspired the dazzling 10-hour HBO miniseries of the same name. The day-to-day life of the WWII soldier comes alive in the pages of this book.

Crisp and fast-paced, Band of Brothers does not get as bogged down in detail his other best-known works WWII, D-Day and Citizen Soldier. For the researcher that might not be a good thing, but for the general reader (especially the casual reader simply looking for some insight into WWII) it provides a good read that educates AND entertains. That's a valuable mix in bringing history to the masses.

Those who have read both Citizen Solider and D-Day might appreciate the brief dip back into Ambrose waters, but they might also be turned off by the anecdotes from those books repeated here. It appears much of the research that went into those books was also used for Band of Brothers. That's not to say there is nothing new here. There is. This is a book smaller in scope because the focus is on one company - Easy Company of the 101st Airborne.

Ambrose takes us from training to the end of the war, following the successes and failings of Easy Company. We experience their story in their own voice, as remembered by the actual men of Easy Company. The book is a great standalone read, and makes for a fabulous supplement to the miniseries.

Band of Brothers is a good, solid World War II read that should satisfy all save the most scholarly of WWII readers. They would be better off avoiding this in lieu of a tome more dense with information. This is history for mass appeal. At its core, Band of Brothers is a book that allows a group of WWII vets to recount old war stories. And that makes for some enjoyable reading.


Incredible book, read it if you get the chance   April 4, 2004
Stephen Ambrose is the most compelling historian ever and this book is proof. Because of this book I have read more into the 101st Airborne and actually more into WWII. The book is magnificent from cover to cover, from page to page. If you can buy this or even borrow it, do it. It will be a great book for decades to come.


informative, riveting, good story...   January 21, 2004
R. Newman (Orlando, FL, USA)
This book provides some great insight into the events surrounding the D-Day invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, and the fall of Germany, all from the perspective of the 101st Airborne. I learned a lot about the events and the people, mostly things you don't learn in history classes. The lengthy personal interviews of those involved brought new light to the infantry/paratrooper's plight during WWII.


American Heros   July 15, 2003
amc153 (Dallas)
This was my first W W 2 book to read and it set the bar for eney other book I have read . I even compare Vietnam books to this one. Mr.Ambrose has out done himself on this one. It's like he takes you ito the war with the men of easy company almost like you went to CURAHEE and beyond with them.