A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vahn and America in Vietnam is a book by Neil Sheehan, a reporter and friend of Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann, who criticized the United States' strategies in the Vietnam war. Vann criticized the U.S. military commanders, their support of a corrupt Saigon regime, and their ineffective attempts to defeat their enemies. After being transfered back to America after confrontations with the command, Vann returned to Vietnam and compromised with the military, failing to secure victory.
America is in the Heart is an autobiographical novel by Carlos Bulosan, published in 1946. The book chronicles Bulosan's emigration from the Philippines to the United States in 1930. Working at fisheries in the Northwest and later as a migrant laborer in California, Bulosan recalls the hardships, poverty and racism that he and many other immigrants suffered during the 1930s. Despite the oppression he found in the United States, Bulosan retains a strong idealism and finds hope in the America he loves.
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson is a historical book by Joseph Ellis, published in 1996. The book examines the personality traits of president Thomas Jefferson, who accomplished more in his first term in office than almost any other president. Ellis examines Jefferson's inconsistencies in opinion and how he presented himself differently towards different people. He also remarks on Jefferson's shyness from the public and his preference for writing over public speaking.