Korean War: A History From Beginning to End by Hourly History

Korean War: A History From Beginning to End Reviews

• 
  Thom Swennes

  The Korean War officially started in June 1950 and saw the armed forces of the United States and a coalition of world countries, under the auspices of the United Nations, against the Soviet Union, China and the communist regime governing Korea north of the 38th Parallel. This war lasted until July of 1953 when an armistice was reached. This war was the first to deploy troops under a United Nations mandate. It was also the first of many Cold War conflicts that would ravage the latter half of the Twentieth Century.
  While reading this short history, I was surprised at the lack of military readiness in which the United States was in, just five years after the end of World War II. I’ve always considered the Second World War and the Korean War as my father’s wars (I was born in the year this conflict started). Like so many others, my memories of the Korean War are wrapped up in all those episodes of M*A*S*H.
  With all of the tension emanating from the Korean Peninsula, I think that it is a good time to reacquaint with this history and this book is a very good place to begin. The Korean War is not much different than so many other wars as, when the guns fall silent and the combatants go home, nothing has really changed. The 38th Parallel was the division of Korea before the war and it has remained so to this day.
  
• 
  Murray

  the forgotten war
  
  A conflict that still has lessons to teach us about the West’s relationship with North Korea and China. This book/essay helps with that. It would take a great deal of change from all parties to see reunification in Korea. It’s difficult to conceive of at this point in history.
• 
  Dee Arr

  Once again, Hourly History has succeeding in creating a book that educates the reader in the chosen subject, and accomplishes this in less than an hour. This offering on the Korean War begins with a quick overview of the last two thousand years. Japanese subjugation ended in 1945, and the two governments of North and South Korea were established. The Cold War between the East and West provided the background and impetus for another war to begin, although the major powers exercised caution, as no one wished to cause another world war so soon after the last one.
  
  This is an educational read, allowing one to gain enough knowledge to understand why the war happened. It is written in an easy to read manner, yet contains enough facts to have validity as a short history book. Four stars.
  
• 
  Ashwin

  Korean War and the 38th parallel. Policy of containment and Domino theory.
  
  Another good ebook by hourly history on the Korean War. The war lasted for almost three years and resulted in atrocities across the peninsula. In the end it was capitalism that prevailed against communism.
• 
  Anil Swarup

  Apart from the details about what happened during the Korean War, the book provides some fascinating insights into the relationship between General McArthur and President Truman. This war was different from any other war as it was the first instance of a proxy war being fought between the super-powers post second World War.
• 
  Bonnie Gleckler Clark

  You are there….
  
  Reading this, albeit brief, history of the Korean War was most insightful for me. My brother-in-law was called up by the US to Korea and assigned to maintenance and Supply during this uprising. By husband, though 15+ years later, while in the Army was sent to Uijeongbu (approximately 12 miles south of the 38th Parallel) in 4th Finance (to support those who continue the defense of South Korea. He spent 14 months and 1 day there.
  What was actually a Cold War event (based on political gains and losses), still has an impact on our World today. The North Koreans, backed by the Chinese and Soviets, wanted the entire country reunited under Communism. While the South Koreans wanted the country reunited under Capitalism. After fighting the 3 year war, nothing was settled. Korea still remains divided.
  If you are a war buff, or simply want to understand just what happened there, this is a good summation of the events that took place there.
• 
  MrsIcarusPain

  A good starting point.
  
  I knew nothing the Korean war before reading this. Although it's not fully detailed it gives a good outline of what happened during the war. It even warns the readers of some of the gruesome atrocities committed that they will learn in detail in other readings. I also liked how it didn't romanticize the American side and talked about some of their shortcomings and motives.
• 
  Molly

  Brilliant
  
  I am ashamed to say that all I knew about the Korean War was what I saw on TV. Then I read this. What an incredible introduction to a pivotal time in history. This is something the current American government should read, as it seems to be gearing up to repeat history.
• 
  Netanella

  I'm up to the Cold War in my APUSH class, so this 50-page summary of the key ideas surrounding the Korean War was brilliant way to spend an hour on a Sunday evening before class on Monday morning. I'm glad that the author, anonymously named "Hourly History," took a balanced approach to the Cold War, and not a regurgitated, Westernized, whitewashed view of events. Nicely done.
• 
  Vivek Priyadarshi

  So precise and to the point
  
  Pardon my ignorance, but I had never read about the Korean War. The book, though a short read, has just enough details for you to know what you should know about the Korean War. After reading A River in Darkness, I wanted to know more about North Korea and the book just had enough of the history. Very nice short read.
• 
  Aditya Nagar

  Very well defined
  
  In less words writer has described the scenario of Korean peninsula. Just want to say that this book worth time and money. I don't know what could be added in this book but it really give us info about Korea.
• 
  Mark Hanford

  A pretty good and easy read that provided a casual overview of the whole war.
  
  
• 
  Sean Talbot

  While it was okay it really didn't assist me in learning more about the culture or war
• 
  Huy Tran

  A brief and wonderful overview of an unpopular war. I think the book did a good job of delivering the essensce of the war and its impact.
• 
  CaitlynAnne Clark

  This series is great for a brief overview of events. Not for history buffs that already have a deep understanding.
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  Nihal Lele

  The war was explained briefly but was written from the Americans' point of view.
• 
  Rick Granger

  A quick read and a brief overview of the war. Thank you.
• 
  Kuo Loon Loh

  One of the better books in the Hourly History series. The English was grammatically correct and there were much fewer typos than usual. More importantly, the narration was coherent and gave a fair overview of the Korean War. As usual, this serves better as an intro - think of it as reading a Wikepedia entry.