Excellent book about soldiers of E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne in WWII. People will appreciate what some men went through for our great country.

The Band of Brothers HBO mini-series had me waiting in anticipation for each new episode to come out. Reading the book it was based on was a definite thrill. As I read through chapters, pictures would erupt from my memory from the mini-series even though I hadn't seen it in a couple of years. Steven Ambrose has the ability to insert the reader into events like you were one of the participants. Ambrose maintains the excitement and momentum from the rigors of training and R&R to the high action combat sequences. Even if you hate to read, you would enjoy this book.

If you have not watched the mini-series, this book is about the actions of E (easy) company of 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. The book covers a collection of stories from Easy company's founding in Camp Toccoa, Georgia through their training to their drops and combat actions in Europe through the 101st inactivation in November 1945. The story tries to explain why the men of the airborne volunteered and how they were able to survive the war. The source of the story is mostly from interviews with men of Easy company.

To read the book or not. Honestly, there was not a lot from the book that was not captured in the mini-series. This actually made me appreciate the quality work done by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg in the mini-series. But, there are a few parts left out and more information about the men of E company after the war than in the mini-series. I thought the book was a good companion to the mini-series. Reading the book will definitely rekindle some good memories and encourage you to watch the mini-series again.

If your new to reading about World War II, I would also recommend A Bridge Too Far: The Classic History of the Greatest Battle of World War II by Cornelius Ryan.

This was a great book. If you have watched the HBO series and loved that then get the book and love it more.

This is really good. I picked it up due to the mini-series and the book was far better, although I can't knock the show. Insightful and deep, it makes the younger generaton realize the comraderie that often forms during the worst of times

I've enjoyed other books by Stephen Ambrose and this one didn't disappoint. I read it on a pair of trans-Atlantic flights and it kept me entertained the whole way. I just recorded the HBO show based on the book and am working my way through that also. Highly recommended.