A Rumor of War

By: Philip Caputo

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

When it first appeared, A Rumor of War brought home to American readers, with terrifying vividness and honesty, the devastating effects of the Vietnam War on the soldiers who fought there. And while it is a memoir of one young man's experiences and therefore deeply personal, it is also a book that speaks powerfully to today's students about the larger themes of human conscience, good and evil, and the desperate extremes men are forced to confront in any war.

A platoon commander in the first combat unit sent to fight in Vietnam, Lieutenant Caputo landed at Danang on March 8, 1965, convinced that American forces would win a quick and decisive victory over the Communists. Sixteen months later, and without ceremony, Caputo left Vietnam a shell-shocked veteran whose youthful idealism and faith in the rightness of the war had been utterly shattered. A Rumor of War tells the story of that trajectory and allows us to see and feel the reality of the conflict as the author himself experienced it, from the weeks of tedium hacking through scorching jungles, to the sudden violence of ambushes and firefights, to the unbreakable bonds of friendship forged between soldiers, and finally to a sense of the war as having no purpose other than the fight for survival.

Most troubling, Caputo gives us an unflinching view not only of remarkable bravery and heroism but also of the atrocities committed in Vietnam by ordinary men so numbed by fear and desperate to survive that their moral distinctions had collapsed.

More than a statement against war, Caputo's memoir offers readers today a profoundly visceral sense of what war is and, as the author says, of "the things men do in war and the things war does to men".

©1996 Philip Caputo (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

The Reality of the U.S in the Vietnam War

What made the experience of listening to A Rumor of War the most enjoyable?

The narration by L.J. Ganser convinced me I was listening to Philip Caputo. Caputo's story is believable and frank. It does not gloss over or dwell on the mistakes of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war nor does it dwell on them. This is a story of political naivety and the reality of being a professional soldier.
As a former soldier of the Vietnam era I could identify with his experiences and empathized with the changes he went through from enlistment to his days of being a war correspondent.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Rumor of War?

The near mental breakdown when Philip Caputo started to visualise all around him as corpses.

What about L. J. Ganser’s performance did you like?

He sounded like what I would expect Philip Caputo to sound like. He had peculiarities of military jargon down pat. His range voices was true to the individual characters and allowed the listener to immerse themselves in the story and kept the characters different and distinctive.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Caputo realises that his classmate was one of the statistics that he had to record.

Any additional comments?

A fantastic listen and a true to life account of Marine officer's experience in early Vietnam.

Excellent First Person Narrative

Wonderfully read first person account of a young Marine officer in the early days of the Vietnam War. For us history/military fans, it is a nice break from the dry Generals perspective, to what it is like to be a grunt in the field. Worth the buy.

You have to stay with it

The first half of the book documents the boredom of the war in painful detail and makes it difficult to stay with the book. The second half is much better as more incidents and action occurs. Philip's insightful commentary about the limits of man's endurance and the uselessness of the war is quite unique and while the concepts are far from new, he presented them in a unique & honest perspective of someone who lived the experiences.

I was less than impressed with the narration and, while his delivery was good, the tone of L.J. Ganser's voice was not appealling for me. Others may not share my view and I suggest you sample it first. Finally, the frequent, silly, vocal war noises do not help the book and are distracting.

Want Vietnam? You got it

The events within this book will stay with you for quite a long time. Vivid descriptions of jungle life and what the soldiers felt are told in easy to understand ways. However, I cannot say that this beats "Dispatches." Yes, you do get a first hand account of how hard soldiers had it, BUT, I have to say I felt more "emotion" with Dispatches. A Rumor of War is a good book, although not my favorite Vietnam book. It's definitely worth a try if you're searching around for a good wartime novel. I swear I've heard the narrator on some voice over on goofy blooper shows and commercials. I just didn't feel he "fit" the overall message the story was trying to portray.

Excellent

An enthralling account of life as a soldier in Vietnam, told with an honesty that endears you to the author despite the sometimes graphic nature of the details. By his own admission, Caputo wanted to shock people with this book and there were a lot of occasions where he succeeded for me. There is no sugar coating, nor tales of his own heroics, just a decent account of a soldier and his comrades and the events that contributed to the deterioration of their mental state.

Very powerful. Really tells it as it was.

I was blown away by this book. The text was incredibly strong. Everything was described fully and with precision. It was gripping and fascinating. I really felt that I was hearing the whole truth, because he includes many incidents that sound like war crimes, including incidents that he was involved in and put on trial for. In some ways it was difficult to listen to, but I felt that as an American who was a young child during that war, I needed to know.

The war, as Caputo tells it and I understand it, was a terrible mix of good intentions on the part of some, and arrogance, foolishness and dreadful judgment by many. It is hard to come to terms with the waste and loss. I wish it hadn't happened... yet on a personal note, my sister-in-law's father was an officer in the South Vietnamese army and they fled to the US in the early 1970s. If not for this stupid and tragic war, she, and hence my nephew and niece, would not be part of my family. So I can't wish it hadn't happened and anyway, of course, my wishes regarding past events are meaningless. It did happen.

The narrator was excellent. Something about his voice-- the confident and controlled delivery, I think-- suited the material to a T.

I only came across this book because it was included in one of Audible's promotions. I'm grateful because it made a huge impression. One of the more memorable books I've experienced in the past several years.

Howie

After listening to Mr.Caputos' book I have only one word, which is used in the Marine Corps.
That word being "OUTSTANDING"!

You need to read this book.

As most wars are not as pointless as Vietnam was, I would be remiss to suggest this as an antiwar novel. But for just how profoundly useless it was, and the effect it had on the people in the bush and at home, this book is powerful. The writing is superb, the accounts unflinching, and is powerful even to a guy born in 98, where the Afghanistan war is most comparable. It is a stunning chapter of American history that I'm glad my US history professor made us read. If the author is in Heaven, he'll be happy as an angel that his work is still prominent and powerful today as much as it was back then.

Impressive first hand account

It's a first hand account of a Marine in Vietnam, from the first months to heavy combat action. He served multiple times and had many different roles. It's about anecdotes, processes and psyche. It's diary style focussed on micro developments. Very, very impressive. The fast pace style of writing is brilliantly met by the narrator.

If you are looking for a story on first hand experience in Vietnam, this is the one to read. If you want the overall picture of the USA in Vietnam you need a different title.

Couldn't stop listening

What did you love best about A Rumor of War?

Gritty realism of combat

What did you like best about this story?

Transformation of Caputo's view on war

Which scene was your favorite?

Many were memorable, none stand out

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

None

Must read

I've read many books on Vietnam War. My favourite being 13 th Valley. However Rumour of War is easy a close second. Fields of Fire comes next. Recently I have been listening to audible books and highly recommend this book either audible or to read.

Normally WW1 and 2 have been my obsession these days. Yet In pleased I decided to try Rumour of War. So go for it you won't be disappointed.

Vietnam war classic, a must read for the genre

What did you like most about A Rumor of War?

The different perspectives of soldier and combat correspondent bring a different dynamic to this Vietnam war book

What did you like best about this story?

First person narrative, the detail of each encounter was just so real

What does L. J. Ganser bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Everything, he completely makes the book come alive, the best narration of a book I've heard in a very long time, very apt casting, very believable

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, after a slower start, I didn't want to stop

Any additional comments?

A must for anyone interested in the Vietnam war, I would put this up there with Tim O'Briens "If I Die in a Combat Zone" which sadly isn't available on Audible yet, nor is the other must read from this Genre - Michael Herr's "Dispatches" , please Audible add these two literary classics to the library !!!

Just great.

I first read this book as a teenager many years ago and seeing it on audible I decided to listen to a story I once knew but had forgotten. And how glad I was. The story is brilliantly brought to life by the narration of LJ Ganser. As we all know an audible book stands or falls on it's narration and Mr Ganser nails this most stirring war memoir perfectly bringing to life Lt Caputo's time as a marine in Vietnam. I'm glad I chose this book. It stands as one of the best in my collection.

A Marine's experiences on War in Vietnam

Always been fasinated by the Vietnam conflict, in how a superior force is beaten back by unseen "Yellow Men" beaten by the environment, politics and the fogness of war, This has become my second favourite book of the conflict. Chicken Hawk by Robert Mason being the what I think the best written encounter of the War.

I'm not a fan of American Narrators in audible books but L.J Ganser does a fantastic job of putting you there, in fact couldnt imagine another accent or person to do this, At first I thought it was the Author narrating.

I highly recommed this book.

I feel I was born 20 years to late and 3000 miles away.

The best military book I've ever read!

To call Philip Caputo a wordsmith would not do the man justice. What a book!

rumour of war (Vietnam through the eyes of a vet )

bought this book years ago but never got round to reading it. great read. entertaining.

Puts you in the jungle

I've read quite a few memoirs from the Vietnam War and I have to say this is among the finest. From the optimism and bravado of training and the early months in-country, through to the horror and tragedy as the body count rises and Caputo and his Marines realise this is a war that cannot be won - this book packs an emotional punch. I always feel audio books lend themselves to the first person narrative and the narrator does a good job here. Moments of laughter, despair, terror, confusion, frustration and gallows humour are brought to life. At times you feel like you're in the fox hole with them. Recommended.

The Best

This really is one of the best books I've read. Just incredible. A real good narrator as well.

a topic I loved at school...

told by an ex nam vet that gives gritty insight to the savagery and evil of men, the conditions and situations they faced and were put through as the author states, pointlessly, much like ww1. it's got my thirst for more Vietnam books as an adult! as good a place to start your Vietnam interest piqued as any!

Good addition to the Vietnam story.

A good addition to the Vietnam story but not the best I've listened too. It adds to the picture but I would suggest starting somewhere else.

Not bad just not as gripping a story as others like "To The Limit" and sometimes I drifted off and just wanted to get to the end so I could start a new book.

Having said that the final chapters are the best and were worth waiting for and the author poses some great moral questions about the conflict.

So very good and happy I listened to this, but not 5 stars from me.