David Halberstam was an American journalist and historian renowned for his incisive reporting on pivotal moments in American history, from the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement to the inner workings of media and business. He possessed a remarkable talent for dissecting the paradoxes of power, exploring how exceptionally intelligent and well-connected individuals could nonetheless contribute to significant national failures. Halberstam's work is characterized by its deep investigative nature and a narrative style that uncovers the underlying forces shaping society and major historical events. His unique approach offered readers a profound understanding of complex issues and the human element within them.
Coldest Winter od Halberstam, David vyšla v roce 2009 a obsahuje 736 stran. A magisterial and compellingly readable history of the Korean War from the acclaimed author of The Best and the Brightest, the defining account of the Vietnam War číst celé
Exploring the intersection of sports and society, the book delves into how athletics reflect and illuminate broader societal themes. It highlights the entertainment value of sports while showcasing the dedication and talent of young athletes. Through their stories, readers gain insights into the passion and skill that drive these individuals, offering a deeper understanding of both the sports world and the society that surrounds it.
The Breaks of the Game focuses on one grim season (1979–80) in the life of the Bill Walton–led Portland Trail Blazers, a team that only three years before had been NBA champions. As Halberstam follows this collection of men through the months, through the losing streaks and occasional victories, the endless trips and the brutal schedules, we come to know them and their world--the other players, coaches, and owners; the competition, drafts, trades, and traditions; the wives, the fans, the media connections--a world of grand dreams, impossible expectations, and bracing realities. The tactile authenticity of Halberstam's knowledge of the basketball world is unrivaled. Yet he is writing here about far more than just basketball. This is a story about a place in our society where power, money, and talent collide and sometimes corrupt, a place where both national obsessions and naked greed are exposed. It's about the influence of big media, the fans and the hype they subsist on, the clash of ethics, the terrible physical demands of modern sports (from drugs to body size), the unreal salaries, the conflicts of race and class, and the consequences of sport converted into mass entertainment and athletes transformed into superstars--all presented in a way that puts the reader in the room and on the court, and The Breaks of the Game in a league of its own.
Up until now, the Korean War has been the black-hole of modern American history. This book changes that, giving readers a masterful narrative of the political decisions and miscalculations on both sides. It tells the individual stories of the soldiers on the front, who were left to deal with the consequences of such judgements.
In exploring the life and career of Ho Chi Minh, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam provides a window into traditions and culture that influenced the American war in Vietnam, while highlighting the importance of nationalism in determining the war's outcome.
Pulitzer-prize winning author David Halberstam's eyewitness account of the most critical political period of U.S. involvement in Vietnam--the Kennedy/Diem era--remains as fresh and stimulating today as when it was first published in 1965. In the introduction to this edition, historian Daniel J. Singal provides crucial background information that was unavailable when the book was written.
The narrative captures a nostalgic era in American history, emphasizing the profound impact of baseball on the nation's dreams and aspirations. Through the lens of Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam, the book explores the intertwining of sports and cultural identity, highlighting the skill and passion that defined this pivotal time. It invites readers to reflect on the significance of baseball as a symbol of hope and unity in a transforming America.
The most arresting photographic images in our history-all the way up to the World Trade Center tragedy and the 2002 war in Afghanistan-come to life in this complete compilation of Pulitzer Prize-winning news and feature photos, along with the stories behind them
"The Best and the Brightest" was David Halberstam's classic account of how America became involved in Vietnam. In "War in a Time of Peace", he brilliantly evokes the internecine conflicts, the untrammelled egos, and the struggles for dominance among the key figures in the White House, the State department, and the military in the post-Soviet period. He shows how in the last ten years the Vietnam war has shaped American politics and policy makers and especially the decisions of men who served in the war, such as General Colin Powell and presidential advisors Richard Holbrooke and Anthony Lake as well as those who did not. Sweeping in scope and impressive in its depth, "War in a Time of Peace" provides fascinating portraits of the main players including Clinton, Bush, Reagan and Kissinger and a stunning view of what lies behind the US government over which George W. Bush now presides. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand America in the twenty-first century. "Halbertsam's most important book, more ambitious and revealing than "The Best and the Brightest" Just as Vietnam was the test case for our elders, the Balkans and other tragic conflicts became the proving ground for the Bush and Clinton administrations. What Halberstam has written is nothing less than a "War and Peace" for our generation" - Leslie H. Gelb, President, Council on Foreign Relations.
"The freer we are … the stronger we are," writes David Halberstam in this probing compilation of original essays which distill the essence of America, an evergreen subject rendered even more timely by recent world events that highlight cultural clashes and prompt us not just to reconsider foreign attitudes and aspirations but to think anew about our own. Each chapter explores fundamental qualities, concepts and accomplishments that shape the American character: the sheer size of our country; the legendary events of our history; the heroes, villains, and icons of our national mythology; our enduring dream of a meritocratic society; and the unmistakable spirit that defines us both to ourselves and the rest of the world. Halberstam's keen observations introduce richly varied contributions by distinguished and eloquent commentators like Russell Baker, Ben Bradlee, James Fallows, Cynthia Gorney, Vartan Gregorian, and Janet Maslin, among others, who consider everything from Manifest Destiny to the McCarthy hearings and from Paul Revere's midnight gallop to John Wayne's classic cowboy riding tall through the American Century. Inspiring, enlightening, and enhanced by more than 300 photographs and illustrations, this wide-ranging collection provides thought-provoking, often surprising insights into how today's America took shape, who we are as a nation now, and where our country is headed.
