"Backfire" - A Book Report

Paper Summary:

The writer states that there have been many books written about America's role in the Vietnam War, however, most of these books have a general focus on the war from either a political or military perspective. In contrast, "Backfire" examines the visceral dimensions of the war. The writer explains that Baritz relentlessly pursues the truth, no matter how painful or disturbing it may be. The writer shows how Baritz divides the book into three parts, somewhat like the acts of a theatrical production. In conclusion, the paper states that "Backfire" challenges readers with soul-searching issues and lessons to ponder with regard to the war and its aftermath.

From the Paper:

"Baritz cleverly divides this book into three parts, not unlike the parts of a theatrical production. In doing so, perhaps Baritz is attempting to portray the war as a "stage" of sorts on which several "acts" are presented as integral pieces of a whole, to help readers to understand the complex tapestry that was intricately woven into the fabric of the Vietnam War.
"In Part I, Tinder, he takes readers on a surreal exploration of the deepest depths of Americana and tells us in no uncertain terms, that we never understood the Vietnamese - and why we never understood them, and how this was one of the essential elements of the war that ultimately contributed to fatal miscalculations and misconceptions that profoundly affected the Americans and the Vietnamese. (Backfire, p. 3)"

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