William L. Shirer - Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany

Pros: Well-written, comprehensive overview of Nazi Germany. Illustrated with photographs and maps

Cons: Lengthy

The Bottom Line: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is the best overall book I've read on the Nazi era. Recommended for those who think "it can't happen here."

Review: Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William L. Shirer “Our Reich will endure for a thousand years. Adolf Hitler Nazi Germany has held a fascination for nearly every fan of history. In a brief period between 1933 and 1945 the German ...

Pros: Thorough, comprehensive, thorough, comprehensive! Extremely engrossing ride through the life of the Reich.

Cons: Extremely lengthy for most, can drag on for all but the most avid WW2 buff

The Bottom Line: This is a book that should be in any collection. There is no question of this for the history/WW2 reader.

Review: I think that the limited number of reviews available at Epinions on this book is due to the fact that its brilliance simply goes without saying. Indeed, it has certainly had no lack of readers in the nearly half-century that it has been available. ...

Pros: The ultimate WWII saga...

Cons: Marathon course for hardcore readers...

Review: Shirer's immortal tale of the Nazi Empire is a must for any serious history buff, as well as any avid reader looking for something to bury their nose in for the summer, or any other season, for that matter. Truth is often stranger than fiction, and this...

Pros: An Excellent, Readable History Of Nazi Germany

Cons: A Few Historical Inaccuracies (After 40 Years)

The Bottom Line: Still An Essential Work On The Nazis. Written By A Man Who Knew Them Up Close And Personal.

Review: War. Mankind's Greatest Endeavor. If you're interested in understanding how the most devastating, horrendous war in history came about, Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich is an excellent place to start.

Overview.
Originally...

Pros: As Shirer pointed out, Hitler did not act alone; he had plenty of help.

Cons: A bit dated, but still good.

The Bottom Line: Unlike other Nazi books, which focus mostly on Hitler, Shirer’s masterpiece focuses more on the entire Third Reich, and the countless thousands who took part in it.

Review: As a former US army officer turned journalist, William Shirer knew his stuff even before he was assigned to cover events in World War II. During the war, Nazi Germany gave him permission to cover the military offensive against France despite his personal ...