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The Pentagon: A History: The Untold Story of the Wartime Race to Build the...
by Vogel, Steve | PB | VeryGood
US $6.04
ApproximatelyAU $9.26
Condition:
“May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend ”... Read moreabout condition
Very good
A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the cover, with the dust jacket (if applicable) included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. May be very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
5 available2 sold
- Buy It NowThe Pentagon: A History: The Untold Story of the Wartime Race to Build the...
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Estimated between Wed, 13 Aug and Sat, 16 Aug to 94104
Located in: Aurora, Illinois, United States
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eBay item number:375683854575
Item specifics
- Condition
- Very good
- Seller notes
- Binding
- Paperback
- Weight
- 1 lbs
- Product Group
- Book
- IsTextBook
- No
- ISBN
- 9780812973259
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-10
0812973259
ISBN-13
9780812973259
eBay Product ID (ePID)
63194610
Product Key Features
Book Title
Pentagon : a History
Number of Pages
672 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2008
Topic
Construction / General, Military / World War II, Buildings / Public, Commercial & Industrial, Military / United States, History / General
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Architecture, Technology & Engineering, History
Format
Trade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height
1.9 in
Item Weight
21.9 Oz
Item Length
8.3 in
Item Width
5.5 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
Dewey Edition
22
TitleLeading
The
Dewey Decimal
355.60973
Synopsis
The creation of the Pentagon in seventeen whirlwind months during World War II is one of the great construction feats in American history, involving a tremendous mobilization of manpower, resources, and minds. In astonishingly short order, Brigadier General Brehon B. Somervell conceived and built an institution that ranks with the White House, the Vatican, and a handful of other structures as symbols recognized around the world. Now veteran military reporter Steve Vogel reveals for the first time the remarkable story of the Pentagon's construction, from it's dramatic birth to its rebuilding after the September 11 attack. At the center of the story is the tempestuous but courtly Somervell-"dynamite in a Tiffany box," as he was once described. In July 1941, the Army construction chief sprang the idea of building a single, huge headquarters that could house the entire War Department, then scattered in seventeen buildings around Washington. Somervell ordered drawings produced in one weekend and, despite a firestorm of opposition, broke ground two months later, vowing that the building would be finished in little more than a year. Thousands of workers descended on the site, a raffish Virginia neighborhood known as Hell's Bottom, while an army of draftsmen churned out designs barely one step ahead of their execution. Seven months later the first Pentagon employees skirted seas of mud to move into the building and went to work even as construction roared around them. The colossal Army headquarters helped recast Washington from a sleepy southern town into the bustling center of a reluctant empire. Vivid portraits are drawn of other key figures in the drama, among them Franklin D. Roosevelt, the president who fancied himself an architect; Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall, both desperate for a home for the War Department as the country prepared for battle; Colonel Leslie R. Groves, the ruthless force of nature who oversaw the Pentagon's construction (as well as the Manhattan Project to create an atomic bomb); and John McShain, the charming and dapper builder who used his relationship with FDR to help land himself the contract for the biggest office building in the world. The Pentagon's post-World War II history is told through its critical moments, including the troubled birth of the Department of Defense during the Cold War, the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the tumultuous 1967 protest against the Vietnam War. The pivotal attack on September 11 is related with chilling new detail, as is the race to rebuild the damaged Pentagon, a restoration that echoed the spirit of its creation. This study of a single enigmatic building tells a broader story of modern American history, from the eve of World War II to the new wars of the twenty-first century. Steve Vogel has crafted a dazzling work of military social history that merits comparison with the best works of David Halberstam or David McCullough. Like its namesake, The Pentagon is a true landmark. "Among books dealing with seemingly impossible engineering feats, this easily ranks with David McCullough's The Great Bridge and The Path Between the Seas , as well as Ross King's Brunelleschi's Dome ." - Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) "Vogel artfully weaves architectural and cultural history, thus creating a brilliant and illuminating study of this singular (and, in many ways, sacred) American space." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) "An amazing story, expertly researched and beautifully told. Part history, part adventure yarn, The Pentagon is above all else the biography of an American icon." - Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize winning author of An Army at Dawn "This book, like the Pentagon itself, is a stunning and monumental achievement." -Andrew Carroll, editor of the New York Times bestsellers, War Letters and, Veteran military reporter Vogel reveals the remarkable story of the Pentagon's construction, from it's dramatic birth in the wake of World War II to its rebuilding after the September 11 attack.
Item description from the seller
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- b***2 (17)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchasethis book has tiny print (±3/16 inch) so I'd have to wear my 'Finest' reading glasses under a Very Bright light which is a major Pain..... if I'd known, I'd never bought it.
- c***m (423)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseWOW!; I cannot believe this 3 Days to Hawaii! ; AAA+++; Excellent Service; Great Pricing; Fast Delivery-Faster Than Expected to Hawaii!; Shipped 05/05, Mon, Received 05/08, Thu to Hawaii using free shipping; USPS Ground Mail, Book in Excellent Condition--Better Than Described ; TLC Packaging; Excellent Seller Communication, Sends updates . Highly Recommended!, Thank you very much!The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II (#146005407795)
- v***v (2063)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseAlthough this book was not as described, with no picture of it in the listing, the seller communicated well and quickly gave me a full refund while letting me keep it. The minimal packaging left the book a bit vulnerable (typical for ThriftBooks), but it did arrive safely and timely. As usual, it’s hit or miss with this seller, but often times you can get great values, and their customer service is always very good. Many other sellers with millions of transactions don’t even communicate.
- 2***j (113)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseI've ordered several items from this vendor now and they've always been what they were advertised as. This was no exception. Both discs were in great shape as well as their jewel cases. Delivery is good, packaging is simple but effective for what you're paying and I haven't had any get damaged. Will keep buying from this vendor because of the results so far and good prices, too.
Product ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- 25 Jul, 2025
this book has tiny print (±3/16 inch) so...
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: thrift.books
- 12 Oct, 2017
Perfect
Verified purchase: YesCondition: NewSold by: zuber
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Seller feedback (5,701,367)
This item (1)
All items (5,701,367)
- b***2 (17)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchasethis book has tiny print (±3/16 inch) so I'd have to wear my 'Finest' reading glasses under a Very Bright light which is a major Pain..... if I'd known, I'd never bought it.
- c***m (423)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseWOW!; I cannot believe this 3 Days to Hawaii! ; AAA+++; Excellent Service; Great Pricing; Fast Delivery-Faster Than Expected to Hawaii!; Shipped 05/05, Mon, Received 05/08, Thu to Hawaii using free shipping; USPS Ground Mail, Book in Excellent Condition--Better Than Described ; TLC Packaging; Excellent Seller Communication, Sends updates . Highly Recommended!, Thank you very much!The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II (#146005407795)
- v***v (2063)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseAlthough this book was not as described, with no picture of it in the listing, the seller communicated well and quickly gave me a full refund while letting me keep it. The minimal packaging left the book a bit vulnerable (typical for ThriftBooks), but it did arrive safely and timely. As usual, it’s hit or miss with this seller, but often times you can get great values, and their customer service is always very good. Many other sellers with millions of transactions don’t even communicate.
- 2***j (113)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseI've ordered several items from this vendor now and they've always been what they were advertised as. This was no exception. Both discs were in great shape as well as their jewel cases. Delivery is good, packaging is simple but effective for what you're paying and I haven't had any get damaged. Will keep buying from this vendor because of the results so far and good prices, too.