LOOKING FOR THE GOOD WAR American Amnesia and the Violent Pursuit of Happiness

Suzanne Toren gives a strong narration of Samet's ambitious look at how WWII is depicted and memorialized in our culture. Samet is a professor at West Point, and her work is an example of one's grasp exceeding one's reach. Its lack of focus makes her overarching idea difficult to follow. The author presents many detailed, and in themselves interesting, incidents from U.S. history but seems to lose the big picture because the details are not tied together well. Still, Toren's clear voice, excellent enunciation, and expressive tone are commendable. While her narration is wonderful to hear, the work itself may not be one that the listener wants to pursue in its entirety. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]