Matthew Gleason's Reviews > The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam

A phenomenal look at the life of an extraordinary American whose work in the Philippines and Vietnam must not be lost in the expansive writings on those regions. Max Boot expertly weaves his narrative of Lansdale’s career with the political machinations of the time, and delivers a thought provoking read that is germane to the low intensity conflicts of today. I rank this alongside Bernard Fall’s seminal work, “A Street With No Joy,” in its ability to define the nature of the Indochina/Vietnam Wars. This book leaves one wondering what might have been, and produces a blueprint for understanding current and future friction points in Asia.