A Great Story

Robert Timberg's book covering the lives of five men and how they reacted to their shared experience at the Naval Academy, in Vietnam, and during the 1980s serving or supporting the Reagan Administration is an outstanding example of capturing a certain aspect of American life since the end of the Vietnam War.

Recall McCain, Webb, North, McFarlane and Poindexter

This book follows the Naval Academy experiences and careers of John McCain, James Webb, Oliver North, Robert McFarlane, and John Poindexter culminating in the Iran Contra scandal of the 1980's. With McCain and Webb currently in the forefront of American politics, the book gives insight into their personalities and character. Of the five principals, only Oliver North is presented negatively. This is an excellent read for those interested in the politics of the Reagan administration and the influence of the Vietnam War on the thinking of these five men.

A True Story That Reads Like A Superb Novel

Robert Timberg, a Marine by way of Annapolis, tells the incredible story of how the Naval Academy, the Vietnam War, and service in the Marines and the Navy, led five fellow Annapolis graduates to heights and depths usually found only in fiction. Highly recommended even if you have no specific interest in the Iran-Contra scandal. This insightful book says a lot about what it means to be an American, and what it sometimes costs to be a patriot. A rare book that is both literary art and rigorous historical analysis.