Ho Chi Minh: A Life

I love it, i think that is a obligated lecture to anyone who wanted to be a real revolutionary not only a gutless communist who think all revolutions are like Cuba

A brilliant bio that improved my understanding of the other side's viewpoint. A war that didn't need to happen!

After a 35 year journey of discovery I am thrilled to have the opportunity to read and study several works of William J Duiker, including this excellent compilation and exhaustive study of Ho Chi Minh, perhaps one of the stellar figures of the 20th Century. Ho Chi Minh was a Political Warrior and a master clandestine agent among many things however perhaps his most characteristic role was that of teacher. Duiker takes the detailed path in understanding the man and the history that many Americans, due to our typical xenophobic outlook on the world, often disregard. When Stalin responded to Sun Yatsen's request for help in casting off Colonialism in China, he sent two teachers, Mikhail Borodin and his Deputy, Ho Chi Minh. Druiker weaves the web of the fabric of the 20th Century in the world as he follows the footsteps left by this enigmatic figure. Born in Central Vietnam, Annam to a minor level Confucian. Ho was educated and literate with the fire of youth in a time when colonialism was ravaging Indochina. In response he chose a path of learning and teaching to build and develop political warfare into the most devastating form of political action the world has yet seen or will likely ever see. To accomplish this in a single lifetime Ho's exploits stand alone as an exceptional man contributing significantly to the causes, he most pursued. However, it is not nearly as simple as declaring Ho a superman. Druiker digs through the incredibly dense propaganda, cover stories, conflicting accounts of events, and the context of Ho's actions to reveal the intellectual depth that far exceeded those of his contemporaries and rivals alike. Consider that for well over 30 years Ho, as Nguyen Ai Quoc, eluded capture and almost certain execution by not just the French, but quite literally every secret police force in the entire world. He travelled the world meeting with the most significant leaders of the 20th century developing and perfecting his approach to bring about results from a situation considered hopeless. His presence in these key world forums did much to alter the course of history though in small steps. the Successful conclusion was built over a lifetime ending in a result he was not present to witness but which his devoted followers and students carried through to the final victory. Often overlooked was Ho's participation in the early Soviet Revolution's system of education wrought by Lenin to solidify and unite the Revolutionary factions that had come together to create the Soviet Union. Ho took the lessons from that intellectual pursuit to China where he helped lay the seeds of the success of the Kuomintang, the Communist Chinese Party, the Korean Communist Party, and a number of other growing revolutionary organizations in the factionalized colonial empires. Frequently, researchers disregard Ho's ability to move within the top levels of the circles of the Comintern. Such conclusions do not bear out when a study of Druiker's work is taken into the context. Druiker's work is a must for any serious scholar's bookshelf and as a source of reference for any serious discussion on the times and events of the 20th Century in Asia.

...die bereits bekannten geschichtlichen Geschehnisse wurden in einer fast durchgehenden Geschichte niedergeschrieben, von der Geburt bis zum Tod Ho Chi Minh's. Man lernt vieles zu verstehen und erkennt die politischen und persönlichen Hintergründe aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht.

The size of this book may appear daunting at first, but the easy style of writing and the exacting detail of the research made it one of the best books I have had occasion to read. Mr. Duiker provides us with meticulous detail on the life of this enigimatic figure, I am amazed that so much information on a life can be gleaned at such a distance in time and from so many countries. Never did I feel lost or ever loose track of the salient character in the twists and turns of the history of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh's persistence in his ulimate goal, the independence of Vietnam always at the forefront of his actions, his dealings with the major players on the international scene, his unique travels, so well documented, and the authors interpretations of Ho Chi Minh's actions kept to a minimum, because of the detail in which his work was described. One very small critisim I would have liked a few more dates especially the years of events in the last part of the book when events moved very quickly. I came away from Ho Chi Minh with great admiration of his patience, tolerance and vigilance, qualities of which I suspect his biographer also pocesses.