When Books Went to War Audiobook By Molly Guptill Manning cover art

When Books Went to War

The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II

 Preview

$0.00 for first 30 days

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

When Books Went to War

By: Molly Guptill Manning
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.58

Buy for $14.58

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

When America entered World War II in 1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned over 100 million books and caused fearful citizens to hide or destroy many more. Outraged librarians launched a campaign to send free books to American troops and gathered 20 million hardcover donations. In 1943, the War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 million small, lightweight paperbacks for troops to carry in their pockets and their rucksacks in every theater of war.

Comprising 1,200 different titles of every imaginable type, these paperbacks were beloved by the troops and are still fondly remembered today. Soldiers read them while waiting to land at Normandy, in hellish trenches in the midst of battles in the Pacific, in field hospitals, and on long bombing flights. They wrote to the authors, many of whom responded to every letter. They helped rescue The Great Gatsby from obscurity. They made Betty Smith, author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, into a national icon. When Books Went to War is an inspiring story for history buffs and book lovers alike.

©2014 Molly Guptill Manning (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Literary History & Criticism Military Wars & Conflicts Words, Language & Grammar World War II Writing & Publishing Veteran War Inspiring Imperial Japan
Fascinating History • Engaging Storytelling • Easy Listening Voice • Thorough Research • Inspirational Content
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
I love war histories and of course WWII, but this particularly story hits me pretty deeply. As an educator and a lifelong reader, I felt inspired beginning to end.

Perfect for the bibliophile and/or history reader

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
as a reader, and someone interested in history, I chose this originally because it was one of the included in membership. turns out, I found myself fascinated and listened all the way through in just two large chunks

better than I'd hoped

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Covering consequential, engaging, and now almost-unknown history, I was stunned that, as an ABD PhD candidate in American History (with a Master’s in Library and Information Science), I had never heard of this aspect of World War II. I actually couldn’t stop listening and ended up staying up until well past daybreak to finish it, and now I want to hunt down some of these books myself. I wish I’d known about this a long time ago, as I would have asked friends and family from that generation of soldiers and sailors about them. Regrettably, they are now nearly gone - but I’m so glad for this chronicle. Could it be that books helped win the war? I’d like to think so!

Wow! I wish I’d known about this a long time ago!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well researched! I had no idea how this genius idea was brought to fruition first by librarians, then funded by the military and facilitated by a coalition of publishers. It did so much more than combat book burning. It created a generation of readers of quality works, mass produced and portable, that later went on to college under the new GI bill.

Herculean effort and societal impact

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a wonderful story. I did not know about ASEs, as I was born in 1945, just as the war ended. It’s worth a listen. I heartily recommend.

Fascinating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Was a bit long but glad I pushed though to the end to learn something previously unknown.

Interesting Information

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
My husband and I found this to be a fascinating and, to us, previously unknown chapter of WWII history. Sincere thanks to Molly Manning for her excellent work. We have visited many a WWII museum and yet knew nothing of this, and have never seen an ASE on display. Would love to see this story told by a skilled cinematographer like Ken Burns.

Movie, Please

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What did you love best about When Books Went to War?

Not put in boring tearms

What does Bernadette Dunne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Perfect towen

Any additional comments?

This book was done in a way I loved and understed it. Thanks

Becka Mar

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is just a wonderful book. Meticulously researched, a great story, and nicely written. two thumbs up.

Excellent book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book delves into the impact Books had on US soldiers during WWII. It details how the idea of sending books over to the soldiers came to be. It describes how the effort of librarians, book publishers and the armed services working together got the books printed and published in a format that soldiers could carry them in their back pockets. It also includes personal stories on how having books to read impacted soldiers, many of whom weren't regular readers. The narrator did a great job in keeping the story interesting without overwhelming the listener to a variety of voices which weren't needed. Well worth the read!

Fascinating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews