Aug 21, 2022shanecj rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Despite the long-standing interest in the history of World War II and America’s involvement, I doubt if many people today know about this amazing project. Guptill gives us the context first, which was that the Nazis were quite busy banning…
Sep 25, 2020bibliosara rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Filled with intrigue and insight, Manning's When Books Went to War is an unexpected glimpse into the development of the Armed Services Editions, a series of unique paperbacks published during World War II for soldiers serving oversees.…
Feb 03, 2020RandomLibrarian rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This book is a fascinating look at the role of books and libraries in WWII. Cheap ASEs (Armed Service Editions) made literature accessible and a way to pass the time for soldiers and sailors alike. It also helped save books like "The Great…
Nov 02, 2019Brontina66 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
What a moving book! I knew that books had been considered instruments to win WWII, but I had no idea to what extent. The image of soldiers or sailors holding on to their ASEs is so powerful! This book describes the story behind the Armed…
Aug 29, 2019EmilyEm rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Manning writes about a group of specially published books, Armed Services Editions—known as ASEs—that were light weight and sized right for servicemen in the field. Appendix lists all 1200 published; publishing that renewed interest in F.…
Oct 13, 2018FairhavenLibe rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Reading played a needed role for American servicemen during WWII, and it plays a vital role today. There is just nothing that can replace holding a book, turning a page, or reaching "The End." The Armed Services Editions helped countless…
Sep 09, 2016mammothhawk229e rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Service men get to read banned books in certain cities back home thanks to committee was so ironic.
It made sense for committee to distribute wide selection of paperback to the jittery & bored troops given hardcover too bulky.
Not…
Jul 06, 2016grandmaster1wf rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This is an exhaustive report on how different groups teamed with the government to provide U.S. soldiers and sailors books to read during and after World War II. The cooperative efforts helped boost morale for the armed services at a time…
Jul 02, 2016herpwop1 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book introduced me to a part of WWII history that I had only heard about in passing. As a book lover, Manning's story of the ASE books that were published for the soldiers reminded me that reading could indeed open up new vistas to…
Oct 22, 2015IV27HUjg rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
LP, e-book, AD formats. The audio is excellent (IMO). 1933 the German gov't had one night celebration to burn more than a million books that were not 'good German' thinking. The ASEs Armed Service Editions were specifically made for US…
Aug 25, 2015pattypi rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This book was very interesting and at times poignant. I learned a lot about the cultural battle of WWII that the US waged from reading it. Who'd have thought librarians and publishers would have such an impact on service men and women's…
Jan 08, 2015KCLS_Gerry rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This tells an amazing story about sending books to the soldiers and sailors during WW2.
They read in foxholes with bombs falling around them. They read on ships out at sea.
And many wrote letters to the authors expressing love for their…
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When Books Went to War