Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War Kindle Edition
Author: Steve Sheinkin ID: B00V39P8Z4
Done.
File Size: 8171 KBPrint Length: 385 pagesPublisher: Roaring Brook Press (September 22, 2015)Publication Date: September 22, 2015 Sold by: Macmillan Language: EnglishID: B00V39P8Z4Text-to-Speech: Enabled X-Ray: Not Enabled Word Wise: EnabledLending: Not Enabled Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled Best Sellers Rank: #121,890 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #15 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children’s eBooks > History > United States > 1900s #16 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children’s eBooks > History > Military & Wars #47 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Children’s Nonfiction > History > United States
I love non-fiction, but it is a rare event that I can’t stop reading a non-fiction book. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin is the exception to that rule. I started reading Most Dangerous over the weekend and was entirely unproductive until I turned the last page of this book.
Marketed as a young adult book, this book was totally fascinating to me as an adult, and my husband is now enjoying it as well.
Sheinkin is a master of making non-fiction books come to life. His book Bomb:The Race to Build- and Steal- The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon has received many awards. Most Dangerous is a book of that caliber.
Daniel Ellsberg is a name that was new to me. However, as soon as I was done reading I called my mother, who recognized his name but no longer remembered the specifics of his role in Vietnam.
My brief summary will not do justice to this book, but Sheinkin very easily breaks down what led to the war and the United States’ role in it, and to Ellsberg’s role in the war. At first Ellsberg supports the war, but after traveling to Vietnam and seeing the devastation done to innocent citizens his stance changes. His connections in Washington allow him access to highly confidential documents- and after he reads them he is even more certain of the need to end the war in Vietnam.
Ellsberg also believes American citizens have a right to know what their government has been hiding. But sharing the documents is against the law, and may eventually lead to Ellsberg’s arrest.
Sheinkin was able to create suspense as to how this story will end, despite the fact that the ending already occurred several decades ago. I found myself racing to the end as quickly as I could.
Daniel Ellsberg is an important person in American history. However, I have no recollection of hearing about him when I was in school (I am a child of the 80’s). Now that I am a teacher, I have my students learn about him when we discuss whistleblowers as critical thinkers.
For those that do not know, Daniel Ellsberg blew the whistle against the United States government by giving newspapers access to the Pentagon Papers, which was a top secret study of nearly 30 years of decision making and foreign policy analysis involving the United States and Vietnam. The file was so secret, it is assumed that even the President had not read it. While working for the Rand Corporation, Ellsberg photocopied nearly 7,000 pages and disturbed the documents to newspaper around the country towards the end of the Vietnam War when it became apparent that the U.S was not going to reverse their failed strategy.
This book, by Steve Sheinkin, tells the story of how Ellsberg became active in politics, Ellsberg’s trips to Vietnam and what he saw there, and the events that led to Ellsberg’s trial and eventual release by the courts. The book also includes the stories of President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and those involved with the Watergate scandal (as it turns out, before they went after Watergate, the same people attempted to run a smear campaign against Ellsberg by stealing documents from a psychologist).
Vine labeled this as a “Children’s Book,” and ’s page says 10-14 years old. I am guessing that this book is designed for the higher age limit in that range. I cannot imagine many 10 year olds reading this book (but then again, I do not know many 10 year olds, so maybe I am wrong here).
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