Ho Chi Minh: A Life
by William J. Duiker
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Book Summary Information
Author: William J. DuikerEdition: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2001-10-31
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 695
Book Reviews of Ho Chi Minh: A Life
Book Review: A good start
Summary: 4 Stars
No matter what country or area they represent, political leaders typically have an aura of mystery about them, and they usually cultivate this without hesitation. The media seems to be delighted to help them in this goal, sometimes deliberately and at other times inadvertently. The truth is an anathema for these individuals, and ironically the same is true for the people over which they rule, who feel that it is "practical" or "pragmatic" to do so, and that doing otherwise would threaten the "natural order of things." This situation makes it difficult for those who want to obtain information on the life and opinions of these leaders, with the goal of course in putting them in historical context and to possibly learn from their accomplishments and their mistakes. Obtaining accurate information on political leaders is therefore very difficult, sometimes taking a lifetime of effort, or at least periods of time that are prohibitive for the average citizen. Thus one must depend in large measure on historians, professional or otherwise, for this information and considering their track record one must still be in a mindset of extreme skepticism.
The same level of skepticism must be applied to his book, not because the author cannot be trusted to remain objective, but rather with the realization that he too is subject to the same biases and paucity of information that everyone is. Ho Chi Minh has been described as a humble leader of the Vietnamese resistance against French occupation of Vietnam and the American intervention some years later. If by leader one means he occupied the top of a social hierarchy then this indeed may be true, but if one means that his orders were carried out to the letter by his subordinates then this assertion needs far more evidence than is available. "Uncle Ho" as he was called by some, certainly played a role in the conflicts in Vietnam, and by his own admission he cultivated the aura of mystery referred to above. But the fighting and dying were done by those who were not motivated by the need for this aura, and history does not record their deeds.
The author endeavors to chronicle the life of Ho Chi Minh based on the information that publicly available (official archives in Vietnam are forbidden to researchers). He is quick to point out that information is difficult to come by, but he does allude to the fact that this has changed in recent years, and he gives source notes at the end of the book. With this in mind the reading is fascinating, and has many surprises for those who are curious about the history of Vietnam and the Vietnamese resistance to foreign occupation and intervention. It is highly doubtful that those who supported the American intervention in Vietnam will change their minds solely by reading this book, and a similar thing can be said for those who were against it, but by reading it both groups have expressed a willingness to plug through a very sizeable book. The significant block of time needed to read it is well worth it, and may cause many to change their perspectives after further investigation with other source materials.
It is easy throughout the book to at times paint Ho Chi Minh as a war criminal, and at other times a hero, but his life was complex enough to warrant a dropping of labels. It is perhaps natural to feel some admiration for him and all the individuals who faced up to the awesome power of both the French and American military, but at the same time one wonders if perhaps they should have concentrated more on building up their country in the North rather than engage in the liberation of South Vietnam. Certainly their energy would have allowed them to be successful, and leave their compatriots in the South to join them when ready. With two million casualties and climbing due to unexploded ordinance, one cannot help but engage in some degree of speculation in this regard.
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