I suppose it we could read this in its original German, rather than as an English translation, it would be a five-star story. English doesn't translate CHinese, Russian, German and the Syrillac languages well. But to call this, as some do, the "greatest war story ever written" is a bit mujch. ( )

In past decades, this book was required reading in high schools and it's obvious from these reviews that many people hated it.

Not me! This is one of the only books I can actually remember reading from back then. I think it suited me as a boy who wasn't a very good reader.

When I found a discard copy in my high school library I snagged a copy, intending to re-read it when I was an adult. The thought of that kind of amazes me now.

Probably, there are better "YA" books about war for teens now but my guess is that many of the modern books follow this modern trend of glorifying military service and, in the process, often glorifying war itself.

"The Greatest Generation" and their WWI parents where far more likely to admit that war is cruel, terrifying and degrading with many pointless sacrifices. That's an important truth to tell teens, now more than ever.

All Quiet on the Western Front is a searing account of the trauma of war. I should think it is impossible to read without the shedding of tears. It is the story of a young German soldier in the First World War. All politicians and diplomats need to have read this book so that they never scrimp in their efforts to attain peaceful solutions to the discords between nations. War still continues to be a fearful and too common occurrence around the globe and those that barter it too powerless to disallow it. This is a thunderous book and a very moving and uncomfortable read. ( )

A look at WW2 from a German grunt's eyes. Very well done. I'm glad I got to read it as an adult & wasn't forced to read it in high school. A 'Must Read'. ( )

I have found a new appreciation for the generation that had to fight World War I and the hell they went through after reading this book. Remarque's book follows Paul Baumer's career as a World War I soldier with all of the horror that one would expect from trench warfare as well as all of the camaraderie the men developed through their common struggle. You get a sense of wasted youth and the stark nihilism of a meaningless war. ( )