--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since I was a kid. I had this series by…" description: "\"Since I was a kid. I had this series by Ballantine Books about the history of World Wars I and II. In my 20s, it was the Vietnam War literature of nove..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/george-packer-2917_best-history_since-i-was-a-kid-i-had-this-series-by-b_1543095.jpg" --- # Since I was a kid. I had this series by Ballantine Books… ![“Since I was a kid. I had this series by Ballantine Books about the history of World Wars I and II. In my 20s, it was the Vietnam War literature of novelists like Tim O'Brien, Philip Caputo, and Tobias Wolff, and then nonfiction such as "A Bright Shining Lie" by Neil Sheehan and "The Best and…” quote by George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/george-packer-2917_best-history_since-i-was-a-kid-i-had-this-series-by-b_1543095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/george-packer-2917_best-history_since-i-was-a-kid-i-had-this-series-by-b_1543095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/george-packer-2917_best-history_since-i-was-a-kid-i-had-this-series-by-b_1543095.jpg) > “Since I was a kid. I had this series by Ballantine Books about the history of World Wars I and II. In my 20s, it was the Vietnam War literature of novelists like Tim O'Brien, Philip Caputo, and Tobias Wolff, and then nonfiction such as "A Bright Shining Lie" by Neil Sheehan and "The Best and Brightest" by David Halberstam . Those are the two best histories of Vietnam.” [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal reading journey shows how historical narratives shape perception of wars. **In simple terms:** Reading history changes how we view conflict. Key Takeaway Explore diverse war histories for deeper insight. Themes history war literature personal growth Mood thoughtful nostalgic Type literary historical When to use this quote - education - public discourse - museum exhibits - family discussions Key Concepts narrative framing memory cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - Which war narratives resonate most? - How do they affect current views? A Different Perspective Personal bias may color interpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Histories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-histories-5750593/) [Best history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-history-18791/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Histories Vietnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/histories-vietnam-5750592/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Nonfiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonfiction/) [Nonfiction Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonfiction-bright-5750594/) [Novelists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists/) [Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philip/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Tim o brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tim-o-brien-191344/) [Tim O'brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tim-obrien-224579/) [Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tobias/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Vietnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam/) [Vietnam war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-literature-2036791/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-i/) ## Related quotes > [I read a lot of war literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-stanford/i-read-a-lot-of-war-literature/) [Aaron Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-stanford/) > [“All of us, I suppose, like to believe that in a moral emergency we will behave like the heroes of our youth, bravely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/all-of-us-i-suppose-like-to-believe-that-in-a-moral-emergency-we-will/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [I'm very excited about some of the novels that I have adapted. I think they're equally as powerful, if not more. Going After Cacciato…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-polsky/i-m-very-excited-about-some-of-the-novels-that-i-have-adapted-i-think/) [Gabe Polsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-polsky/) > [Tim O'Brien's book about Vietnam, 'The Things They Carried', has won every award, is studied in college and is considered to be definitive. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/tim-o-brien-s-book-about-vietnam-the-things-they-carried-has-won/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [In fact, I always assumed that most everything I read was true, to one degree or another. I couldn't articulate this fact until after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keck/in-fact-i-always-assumed-that-most-everything-i-read-was-true-to-one/) [Kevin Keck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keck/) > [I love fiction. I like reading short stories. Cupcakes, pop songs, Polaroids, and short stories. They all raise and answer questions in a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/i-love-fiction-i-like-reading-short-stories-cupcakes-pop-songs/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [The best history is but like the art of Rembrandt; it casts a vivid light on certain selected causes, on those which were best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-best-history-is-but-like-the-art-of-rembrandt-it-casts-a-vivid/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The best portraits are perhaps those in which there is a slight mixture of caricature; and we are not certain that the best histories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-best-portraits-are-perhaps-those-in-which-there-is-a-slight/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Is Best 9 in history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo-brazil/is-best-9-in-history/) [Ronaldo Brazil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo-brazil/) > [I joined a gym recently. I don't have the best history in the world of sticking with my fitness regimens, but I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-joined-a-gym-recently-i-don-t-have-the-best-history-in-the-world-of/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [Of course, people will be partial, but I put myself among the best in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-aldo/of-course-people-will-be-partial-but-i-put-myself-among-the-best-in/) [Jose Aldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-aldo/) > [Bob marley best in history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bob-marley-best-in-history/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our best history is still poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-best-history-is-still-poetry/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by George Packer > [I don't think they need to be nice to reporters, but the White House seems to imagine that releasing information is like a tap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-don-t-think-they-need-to-be-nice-to-reporters-but-the-white-house/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [So many writers grew up in tortured isolation, in revolt against their families. I and my sister were in a house where writing was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/so-many-writers-grew-up-in-tortured-isolation-in-revolt-against-their/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Afghanistan can't police its borders, and its neighbors give sanctuary and assistance to insurgents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/afghanistan-can-t-police-its-borders-and-its-neighbors-give-sanctuary/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Hillary Clinton's such a classic Democratic political figure and believes so much in institutions and in gradualism in the old way of reaching compromises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/hillary-clinton-s-such-a-classic-democratic-political-figure-and/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [“In other words, Foxx represented what Sarah Palin (speaking at a campaign fundraiser in Greensboro three weeks before the election) called “the real America,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/in-other-words-foxx-represented-what-sarah-palin-speaking-at-a/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [America's vast population of working poor can only get so poor before even Walmart is out of reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/america-s-vast-population-of-working-poor-can-only-get-so-poor-before/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [The Olympics are never just about sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/the-olympics-are-never-just-about-sports/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > ['The Assassins' Gate' is a very tightly controlled story of the ideas that led to the war and the consequences of those ideas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/the-assassins-gate-is-a-very-tightly-controlled-story-of-the-ideas/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Amazon's identity and goals are never clear and always fluid, which makes the company destabilizing and intimidating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/amazon-s-identity-and-goals-are-never-clear-and-always-fluid-which/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Ideology knows the answer before the question has been asked. Principles are something different: a set of values that have to be adapted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/ideology-knows-the-answer-before-the-question-has-been-asked/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Everything seems set up for success in digital journalism - money, eyeballs, software, brands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/everything-seems-set-up-for-success-in-digital-journalism-money/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Climate change joined immigration, job creation, food safety, pilot training, veterans' care, campaign finance, transportation security, labor law, mine safety, wildfire management, and scores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/climate-change-joined-immigration-job-creation-food-safety-pilot/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Much of the international unease with the Sochi Games has focused on the threat of terrorism, Putin's domestic repressiveness, and the Russian campaign of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/much-of-the-international-unease-with-the-sochi-games-has-focused-on/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [I've been interested in American politics since I was eight. That was in 1968. It was an interesting year. I was a huge Eugene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-ve-been-interested-in-american-politics-since-i-was-eight-that-was/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [When I interviewed Paul Bremer in his office, he had almost no books on his shelves. He had a couple of management books, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/when-i-interviewed-paul-bremer-in-his-office-he-had-almost-no-books/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) [Explore all 144 George Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) ## More Best history quotes > [Bob marley best in history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bob-marley-best-in-history/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course, people will be partial, but I put myself among the best in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-aldo/of-course-people-will-be-partial-but-i-put-myself-among-the-best-in/) [Jose Aldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-aldo/) > [I joined a gym recently. I don't have the best history in the world of sticking with my fitness regimens, but I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-joined-a-gym-recently-i-don-t-have-the-best-history-in-the-world-of/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [Is Best 9 in history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo-brazil/is-best-9-in-history/) [Ronaldo Brazil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo-brazil/) > [The best portraits are perhaps those in which there is a slight mixture of caricature; and we are not certain that the best histories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-best-portraits-are-perhaps-those-in-which-there-is-a-slight/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The best history is but like the art of Rembrandt; it casts a vivid light on certain selected causes, on those which were best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-best-history-is-but-like-the-art-of-rembrandt-it-casts-a-vivid/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Our best history is still poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-best-history-is-still-poetry/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 8 Best history quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-history-18791/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since I was a kid. I had this series by Ballantine Books about the history of World Wars I and II. 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