Review: Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose

This is one of those rare instances when the movie/TV adaptation is superior to the book. This book tells the remarkable tale of Easy Company during World War II, capturing, as much as any text can, the tales of what these men did, the sacrifices they made, and the debt we owe to them. What it doesn’t capture well is the general historical context of the war, which is forgivable, but far worse, the camaraderie between the men doesn’t come through at all.

For a book titled “Band of Brothers”, Ambrose does a poor job of making you feel the connection and bond between the soldiers. It’s not for lack of trying. He says dozens of times that the men of Easy Company developed incredible friendships. But that’s just the problem; he ignores the advice “show, don’t tell” of the high school teacher, and just spends a lot of time telling you about the bonds. As a result, you feel it much less than in the TV show, where you see the characters training together, joking with each other, fighting with each other, and so on. In the show adaptation, even you feel a bond with the characters. The book doesn’t quite reach those heights.

Nevertheless, it’s an important story to tell, and I’m thankful to Ambrose for sharing it with us, and even more thankful to the men of Easy Company for living that story so the rest of us could read about it in safety and comfort.

Rating: 3 stars