Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code… (vuoden 2012 painos)

As uncomfortable as history can be for us this is an important book to read. The history of the war filled with the personal history of the author was well put together and had a good pace to the reading. A good change from the usual US History class books that are assigned to students. ( )

Fascinating story that needs to be told, but by a better writer. Since it is Native American Heritage Month it seemed like a good idea to read this (I've also had it for several years, oops). It is the story of one of the Navajo Code Talkers from his childhood to military service and the formulation of the code. 
 
It seemed like a fascinating story but unfortunately the author is terrible. I wasn't sure if it was me perhaps not being in the mood for a book like but it appears from the other reviews I'm not alone. At best the book is extremely uneven. His beginnings (including his childhood, being sent to boarding schools and the like, etc.) were interesting and I was sad to see that yes, his experiences were pretty much what they were reported to be: children forced to speak English only, faced with bullying from both teachers and older students (although in Nez's case it appears it wasn't as terrible as it could have been), etc. 
 
Admittedly books about military service and history rarely excite me and that was the same here. The create of the code was probably among the more interesting bits for me vs. the battles and descriptions of wartime injuries and deaths (it's not graphic but it's obviously part of the story he's telling) but again, unfortunately the author is just not up to snuff in telling this tale. 
 
However, it is an important part of history (which Nez and his fellow Code Talkers were not allowed to discuss until 1968) and an interesting juxtaposition. The same country that took away their land, took advantage of his people (and other Native nations), and continues to have a bad record in treating Natives turned to Nez and fellow Navajos to save the country and the world during World War II. 
 
I'm not sure I'd really recommend this book except as a library borrow but it is a part of history and the contributions of Nez and fellow Code Talkers should not be ignored.  ( )

A fine personal history of the code talkers. I especially liked the part when he got home from the war and had to figure out how to assimilate himself back into American and Indian culture. ( )

First hand account of the Navajo Code Talkers of WWII. Excellent read! I had never heard of the Navajo Livestock Reduction done by our government in the 1930s, which Chester Nez lived through and still volunteered to serve. Amazing journey. ( )

Listening to the audio was very much like sitting at grandfather Nez' feet and hearing his life story. The story line is focused, but the language is repetitive and unoriginal, which made for some fidgitys.

But I was glad to have heard the bulk of it, as Nez' contribution to the war was significant, and he certainly deserves a respectful listen. So I didn't squirm or roll my eyes in his presence.

I learned a lot more about the Pacific war theater than I have been exposed to before, and that was also a good thing.

I will probably move on to other accounts of this aspect of the war, and sample some of the fiction as well.

PS: What a brilliant communication coding concept! ( )