BKMT READING GUIDES



 
Informative,
Interesting,
Insightful

2 reviews

When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II
by Molly Guptill Manning

Published: 2014-12-02
Hardcover : 288 pages
2 members reading this now
9 clubs reading this now
1 member has read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members

When America entered World War II in 1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned over 100 million books and caused fearful citizens to hide or destroy many more. Outraged librarians launched a campaign to send free books to American troops and gathered 20 million hardcover ...

No other editions available.
Add to Club Selections
Add to Possible Club Selections
Add to My Personal Queue
Jump to

Introduction

When America entered World War II in 1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned over 100 million books and caused fearful citizens to hide or destroy many more. Outraged librarians launched a campaign to send free books to American troops and gathered 20 million hardcover donations. In 1943, the War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 million small, lightweight paperbacks, for troops to carry in their pockets and their rucksacks, in every theater of war.
 
Comprising 1,200 different titles of every imaginable type, these paperbacks were beloved by the troops and are still fondly remembered today. Soldiers read them while waiting to land at Normandy; in hellish trenches in the midst of battles in the Pacific; in field hospitals; and on long bombing flights. They wrote to the authors, many of whom responded to every letter. They helped rescue The Great Gatsby from obscurity. They made Betty Smith, author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, into a national icon. When Books Went to War is an inspiring story for history buffs and book lovers alike.

Editorial Review

An Amazon Best Book of the Month, December 2014: The image of the Berlin book burning in May of 1933 is a common photo in history books. Whatâ??s less common is how books became a strategy to undermine the Nazi propaganda that had been proving surprisingly effective throughout Europe. While re-telling the history of the war, Manning threads through the impact that books had in fighting the Nazis, providing a narrative of their influence on the war that has previously been left out of most history books. Book lovers and history buffs should enjoy this new perspective. â?? Amy Huff

Excerpt

No Excerpt Currently Available

Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

How can we use books today to fight terrorism, discrimination, and poverty?
by Poppy81 (see profile) 06/01/15

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

War on Terrorism
by Poppy81 (see profile) 06/01/15
Is now the time to start another war of ideas--even if the people of the world have differing beliefs, cultures, education levels, and ways of life, by reading and learning about one another, we can coexist.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Kathy H. (see profile) 05/11/20

 
  "Pocket Books changed our society"by Kelley D. (see profile) 06/01/15

When the Army and Navy decided during WWII to provide books to the troops, they ignited a love of reading even in people who had not been readers.

In addition, the force of information, i

... (read more)

Rate this book
MEMBER LOGIN
Remember me
BECOME A MEMBER it's free

Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.

SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES Search
Search




FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Please wait...