A Bright Shining LieA Bright Shining Lie
Score Classic
What it's about
John Paul Vann was an Army officer who arrived in Vietnam in 1962 as an adviser, quickly saw that the war was being lost and lied about, and secretly fed the truth to young reporters, among them Neil Sheehan. He left the Army, returned as a civilian and became one of the most powerful Americans in Vietnam until his death in 1972. Through his life, Sheehan tells the whole story of America's war in Vietnam.
Why it's worth reading
It's widely considered the greatest book about the Vietnam War, winning both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Vann's complicated, contradictory life mirrors America's own.
You'll love it if you liked
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
The Making of the Atomic BombGood to know
It's nearly 900 pages, and the long section on Vann's earlier life surprises some readers. The war descriptions are graphic.
By the numbers
- Readers86 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics98 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller3 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #19 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #27 of the 762 classics we rank
- #102 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Dark, Epic
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Quick answers
Is A Bright Shining Lie worth reading?
Yes. It's widely considered the greatest book about the Vietnam War, winning both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. It ranks #102 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Bright Shining Lie about?
John Paul Vann was an Army officer who arrived in Vietnam in 1962 as an adviser, quickly saw that the war was being lost and lied about, and secretly fed the truth to young reporters, among them Neil Sheehan. He left the Army, returned as a civilian and became one of the most powerful Americans in Vietnam until his death in 1972. Through his life, Sheehan tells the whole story of America's war in Vietnam.
How long does it take to read A Bright Shining Lie?
About 23 hours (930 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has A Bright Shining Lie won?
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) winner (1989); National Book Award (Nonfiction) winner (1988).
What should I read after A Bright Shining Lie?
If you liked it, try The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright, Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson or The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.