Anatomy of War: Vietnam, the United States and the Modern Historical Experience by G. Kolko
This is one of the most comprehensive accounts of the Vietnam war. Gabriel Kolko balances the three sides in the protracted struggle: the Communist Party, the Republic of Vietnam and the United States and explores the underlying political and social structures that determined significant elements of the war - social structures that the US government chose to ignore. An essential book for anyone wanting to understand the Vietnam War and the role of the United States in the world today.