A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam (1988) by Neil Sheehan is a detailed nonfiction account of John Paul Vann, a controversial American advisor during the Vietnam War. Sheehan follows Vann's evolution from an idealistic officer to a vocal critic of U.S. military strategies. Through Vann's personal and professional life, the book explores the complexities of the war, including the flaws of American leadership and the tragic consequences of a paternalistic, misguided approach to the conflict. The narrative weaves Vann’s military career with the broader history of Vietnam and the United States’ involvement, providing a comprehensive view of the war’s folly and its human cost.
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