Summary of A Bright Shining Lie

"A Bright Shining Lie" is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of John Paul Vann, an American military advisor in Vietnam, by Neil Sheehan. It chronicles Vann's career, from his time as an Army paratrooper in World War II, to his role in the massive U.S. military effort in Vietnam, to his eventual suicide at age fifty-two. Along the way, Sheehan paints a vivid picture of the Vietnam War, and of the men and women who served in it. He also examines the American military's failure to understand the nature of the conflict, and its disastrous consequences. The book is a powerful exploration of the tragedy and heroism of war, and a testament to the courage and dedication of those who served.