The Greatest Generation
By: Tom Brokaw
Publisher: Random House (now Penguin Random House)
Year of Publication: 1998
Genre: American history, World War II, Biographical Portraits/Non-Fiction
Reconsidering “The Greatest Generation”: A Reflection on Tom Brokaw’s Timeless Tribute
There was a time I questioned the phrase Greatest Generation—it sounded too sweeping, too sentimental, maybe even a little jingoistic. But the deeper I immerse myself in the works of Stephen E. Ambrose, and the more I revisit World War II documentaries—especially during poignant stretches between Memorial Day and the anniversary of D-Day—the more I find myself echoing Tom Brokaw’s conviction. The men and women who came of age during the 1930s and ’40s truly shaped the spine of modern America.
Brokaw, who coined the term while anchoring NBC’s Nightly News, captured something vital in his collection The Greatest Generation. It’s not merely a historical document; it’s a mosaic of lived resilience and quiet heroism. He profiles 50 Americans—from political figures like Bob Dole and George H.W. Bush to culinary icon Julia Child and unsung heroes like Leonard Lomell and Jeanette Gagne Norton. Some fought on battlefields, others supported the war effort at home, and many endured private sacrifices that history books often overlook. What binds them is not fame, but fortitude.
With the economy of language honed by years in broadcast journalism, Brokaw renders these lives vividly. Take Art Buchwald, the satirist whose wartime assignment began with loading ordnance onto Corsair fighter planes—a job for which he was comically ill-suited. Fortunately, he was reassigned to truck-driving and newsletter duties, yet still honored later with a parade led by General Colin Powell. Brokaw manages to distill Buchwald’s wit and humanity into just a few pages, and that’s the magic of this book: every story becomes a mirror of the larger national story.
Not all tales are about valor. Some speak of grief, like Jeanette Gagne Norton, whose husband Camille was killed during Operation Market-Garden. And yet, there is no bitterness here, no indulgent nostalgia. These profiles are stitched together with laughter, sorrow, pride, and grace.
Ultimately, The Greatest Generation reminds us that greatness isn’t born from perfection—it’s shaped by perseverance, compassion, and the willingness to carry on. These are the people who saved the world from tyranny… and built the foundation we now stand on.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
You must be logged in to post a comment.