The Best and the Brightest

By: David Halberstam

Narrated by: David Clennon

David Halberstam’s masterpiece, the defining history of the making of the Vietnam tragedy, with a foreword by Senator John McCain.

"A rich, entertaining, and profound reading experience.” (The New York Times)

Using portraits of America’s flawed policy makers and accounts of the forces that drove them, The Best and the Brightest reckons magnificently with the most important abiding question of our country’s recent history: Why did America become mired in Vietnam, and why did we lose? As the definitive single-volume answer to that question, this enthralling book has never been superseded. It is an American classic.

Please note: This is the abridged edition. An unabridged audiobook is also available.

©1973 David Halberstam (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A fascinating tale of folly and self-deception... [An] absorbing, detailed, and devastatingly caustic tale of Washington in the days of the Caesars.” (The Washington Post Book World)

“Seductively readable... It is a staggeringly ambitious undertaking that is fully matched by Halberstam’s performance....This is in all ways an admirable and necessary book.” (Newsweek)

“A story every American should read.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Excellent history of the politics which led to war

Where does The Best and the Brightest rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Revealing history of the politicians and bureaucrats which led the U.S. into war in Vietnam. Halberstam ferrets out the gross assumptions and motivations which can lead to disastrous policy and decision making.

enjoyed it

A good overview. An excellent book well read and recommended. I found the quote 'a man of compelling mediocrity' to be worthy of keeping handy for my future needs.

the first and still the best

definitive account of our most disastrous military venture. the first, and still the best account of where we went wrong.

Unabridged, please

This audio is really only a brief overview of this completely absorbing book. After listening to this abridged version (why abridge a good book?) I had to run to the library for the real thing. A must read (the book, unabridged) for any one interested in politics. Abridged audio will hook you to the book.

Brightest and Briefest

Obviously one of the great books George W. Bush never read during his goof time at Yale. Great book, okay reading, but I agree with others, too brief.

forwards & intros missing from Audible version

I had read this decades ago. I would have been interested in the "new" John McCain forward as advertised. But it is missing from the Audible version as is the original forward and original introduction. These perspectives are essential to understanding the reason for this book. Otherwise it is a mere listing of barely integrated facts and personalities that amounts to pointless diatribe separate from the emotion of the historic moment.

Did not live up to my expectations

Disappointing. Halberstam's a great writer, but I was disappointed with this audible book, which is a superficial discussion of a complex history. Maybe the book is better.

Abridged

Disappointed this is abridged. It should state the abridgment more clearly especially considering the cover is the Everyman version, which suggests it is the real deal. Also does not contain an introduction by John McCain as the cover states. Very misleading.

Abridged version

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I did not realize that this was an abridged version of the book. I'm very disappointed.

What was most disappointing about David Halberstam’s story?

Not the story, the Audible is abridged.

Brutally abridged. Fascinating book, however.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

More of the text! It's not a pocketbook. It's like they decided to read every 8th page.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Best and the Brightest?

Hard to tell. The abridgement is very brutal.

What about David Clennon’s performance did you like?

Clear, fluid, slightly irritating attempts at accents (hint of Kennedy when it's quoting Kennedy, insulting French accent when quoting a Frenchman, etc. etc.)

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Best and the Brightest?

None! Give me the text!

Any additional comments?

I want all the detail. The book is five hundred pages long. The audiobook is about as long as The Great Gatsby.