All Quiet on the Western Front

This book is best understood in its quotes.

“We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men, we are crude and sorrowful and superficial—I believe we are lost.” (p123)

“But you were only an idea to me before, an abstraction that lived in my mind and called forth its appropriate response. It was that abstraction I stabbed. But now, for the first time, I see that you are a man like me.” (p223)

This book reminded me of Steinbeck's The Moon Is Down. It gave an interesting and what I perceive to be a realistic account of the German experience of WWI. I'm glad to have finally read this classic book!

Paul and his classmates enlist in World War I. As they move through the days, the trials and the heartaches that they endure are something that will define them for the remainder of their lives, however long or short they might be.
As the war progresses, the shortfalls that the army is suffering become more apparent. The lack of men, ammo and other necessities. Paul notates as they move through the days that they have been trained to die, and they are good at doing that.


This coming of age story of these young men is something new. This story tells of the camaraderie that each of them felt, the bonds of friendship, and how hard they fought to stay together, no matter what. This story is something that all should read!