When Books Went to War

During World War II, American librarians and publishers launched a campaign to get books into the hands of U.S. troops serving overseas. This effort grew into the largest book distribution program in history, with millions of small-format paperbacks shipped to soldiers on the front lines. The program began as a grassroots book drive organized by librarians collecting used hardcover books for military training camps. It evolved into the Armed Services Editions program, which produced compact paperbacks designed to fit in soldiers' uniform pockets and withstand battlefield conditions. Manning reconstructs this initiative through letters, military records, and accounts from the servicemen who received these books. She examines the political and logistical challenges faced by the program's organizers, including Nazi book burnings and paper shortages. The book illustrates how literature served as both entertainment and psychological armor for troops, while highlighting the power of books to preserve democratic ideals in the face of totalitarianism. It reveals an overlooked chapter in the intersection of American military and cultural history.

Readers note this book reveals a lesser-known part of WWII history - how millions of pocket-sized books were distributed to American troops. Many reviewers highlight the impact of these Armed Services Editions (ASEs) on soldiers' morale and post-war education. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of the logistics behind printing/distributing ASEs - Personal stories and quotes from soldiers' letters - Details about censorship battles and book burning - Connections between wartime reading and the GI Bill Common criticisms: - Repetitive content, especially in middle chapters - Limited coverage of specific titles/genres that soldiers read - Focus on administrative details rather than troops' reading experiences Ratings: Goodreads: 3.95/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (580+ ratings) "A fascinating slice of history that deserved to be told," wrote one Amazon reviewer, while another noted "becomes bogged down in publishing minutiae rather than human interest."

The Library Book by Susan Orlean This investigation into the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire expands into a history of libraries as centers of American culture and democracy.

Information Hunters by Kathy Peiss The account follows American librarians who gathered intelligence and saved books in Europe during World War II.

The Book Thieves by Anders Rydell This chronicle documents the Nazi regime's systematic plunder of Europe's libraries and the postwar effort to return the stolen books to their rightful owners.

America's Library by Jane Aikin The history of the Library of Congress reveals its role in shaping American democracy and preserving cultural heritage through wars and social changes.

Books as Weapons by John B. Hench This examination details how American publishers helped win World War II through the distribution of books to troops and the reconstruction of war-torn publishing industries.

📚 Many of the Armed Services Editions (ASEs) were specially redesigned to fit in a soldier's pocket, measuring just 5.5 x 3.875 inches, with thin paper and small print to maximize portability. 🔥 German students and Nazi supporters burned an estimated 100 million books during their various book-burning campaigns, destroying countless irreplaceable manuscripts and first editions. 📖 By the end of WWII, American publishers had printed over 123 million copies of Armed Services Editions books, with titles ranging from classics to contemporary bestsellers. ✉️ Soldiers often tore their ASE books into sections to share with fellow servicemen or to lighten their load, passing the separated portions around until the entire unit had read the complete book. 🏆 Betty Smith's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" became one of the most beloved ASEs among servicemen, who wrote countless letters to the author describing how the book helped them maintain their humanity during wartime.