Vietnam

A New History

By: Christopher Goscha

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Length: 23 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

In Vietnam, Christopher Goscha tells the full history of Vietnam, from antiquity to the present day. Generations of emperors, rebels, priests, and colonizers left complicated legacies in this remarkable country. Periods of Chinese, French, and Japanese rule reshaped and modernized Vietnam, but so too did the colonial enterprises of the Vietnamese themselves as they extended their influence southward from the Red River Delta.

Over the centuries, numerous kingdoms, dynasties, and states have ruled over what is now Vietnam. Trinh and Nguyen military lords led competing states in the 17th century. French colonizers grouped Vietnam with Laos and Cambodia in an Indochinese Union, but governed Vietnam itself as three separate territorial units. The bloody Cold War-era and the American-backed Republic of Vietnam was only the most recent instance when war divided and transformed Vietnam.

A major achievement, Vietnam offers the grand narrative of the country's complex past and the creation of the modern state of Vietnam. At a time when more and more visitors come to Vietnam and Southeast Asia is again at the center of intense global rivalries, this is the definitive single-volume history for anyone seeking to understand Vietnam today.

©2016 Christopher Goscha (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

“A vigorous, eye-opening account of a country of great importance to the world, past and future." ( Kirkus)

Informative history of modern Vietnam history

Informative modern history of Vietnam. It is quite disappointing with the lack of use of proper vietnamese terminologies and names, which is a no excuse... Just look at other Việt Nam history book by Ben Kiernan, proper vietnamese was used. Some other reviews mentioned that the narrator butchered the Vietnamese names and terminologies, I think the author was the problem not the narrator.

A great overview of the fascinating nation

I appreciate the author giving different views of Vietnam and it's history! past/present - future

Great Book

After having read many books on Vietnam through a French or American lens, I was delighted to get a more local perspective.

interesting but difficult emotionally

The history is eye opening but sometimes it’s difficult to handle more than 15 minutes at a time because of the charged nature.

The narrator was ok but mispronounced all Vietnamese words. He even calls Viet Nam Viet Nom. Every name was butchered.

So this is best if you have the book as well as the audible. They should have gotten a Viet person to read it.

Great modern history of Vietnam

Christopher Goscha creates an impressive modern history of Vietnam, albeit one with a very sloppy structure. It should be noted that he focuses primarily on the twentieth century with only two chapters on the nineteenth century and one on Vietnams history before that. One of the greatest strengths of his book is acknowledging Vietnam’s diverse ethnic make up and the history which it reflects. The problem of the structure is shown here however, since his chapter on it is the last before the epilogue. With that said, it is still an excellent and eye opening book which challenges old stereotypes and notions about Vietnam’s past while remaining objective and respectful. 4.5 Stars.

Excellent material, excellent presentation.

Excellent material and excellent presentation. I appreciate the wealth of information and a very engaging reading. Thanks!

Enlightening

For me it was an enlightening book, the take freedom was slanted, French rule and American invasion, just a fact, but communists what about freedom?

Bad pronunciation

This person is not suitable to read Vietnamese names. At least spend some time to do research on how to pronounce the names correctly. Some of the names sound offensive like Phuc needs to be read correctly. Such a nice name should not be made fun by listeners just because the reader is ignorant.

Narrator in over his head

Can we please make a rule that the narrator of a historical work must speak at least one of the languages that is prominent in the historical work? This narrator has no sense of Vietnamese or Chinese and pronounces things so poorly it is grating.
The book itself is solid. It’s a thoughtful modern take on Vietnamese history that try’s to view a broader Vietnamese history not just in the context of various colonizations. Bravo for that.
If you don’t have a sense of Chinese or Vietnamese pronunciation you will probably think the narrator is fine.

Ponderous Introduction/Forward

Gotcha almost looses me out of the gate with the intellectual but highly ponderous background. However, I am a patient man. I forged through it and have been rewarded by a throughly good read. (I enjoy reading and listening simultaneously.) I just got back from a long over due trip to Da Nang and Hue and settled into this book. I really enjoyed the audio book. It is complete, comprehensive and compelling. I highly recommend it.

RLH