i found this extremily boring ...... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ...

Done. This seems to be an extensive discourse on military philosophy and rationale for chain of command. The main character is likeable enough to follow him as he works his way through the ranks, figuring out why things are done a certain way as he goes, but that is the extent of the story. I've read and liked a lot of Heinlein, and this one currently sits at the bottom of the barrel. 2011 edit - I'm giving it another chance. I'm about halfway through, and it's better than I would have been led to believe by my first few attempts. Good writing is keeping me interested, but the story is still kind of bland. Big things happen, but they happen too quickly to be too invested in the people they happen to, so I find myself not caring nearly as much as the narrator seems to. I'll add more when I finish. Original review - Choke... sputter... I am admittedly a huge Heinlein fan. I can't get enough of the stuff. You'd think I would like them all. I can't for the life of me finish this one. I've tried several times. I even thought I should watch the movie and then I might be more into the book. Too bad the movie was absolute shit. I mean c'mon... of all the truly incredible masterworks of this brilliant man, you had to go and make a movie of the worst one I can think of, and on top of that, you had to make a TERRIBLE movie of it. Of all the murfin'... furfin'...

I loved 75% of this book, and hated 25%. The plot and action are awesome. Heinlein's didactic ramblings are terrible.

If you glance at the comments here they are mixed, and for good reason. This was/is a controversial book, but putting aside the controversy it is a very good book that I heartily recommend. The story itself is largely concerned with soldiers, not the generals or officers, but what military service means to the men in the trenches. That alone is a turnoff for many people, but I'd encourage even people who don't like the military to read it anyway. The worldview and experience that soldiers have is given short shrift by those who dismiss them as simpletons. That's part of why Heinlein wrote it. And given its focus on the military one of the other main focuses is what is the relationship between the soldier and the government. His most controversial idea is that civilians are not necessarily citizens. You must give a portion of your life to service of the state in order to have a say in how the state is run. Again this was a huge point of controversy but one worth considering. Heinlein wrote this novel blending adventure, growing up, and politics in a compelling and engrossing manner. It might infuriate you or you might be convinced by his arguments. Most likely you're somewhere in the middle (in nyc, you probably disagree with it more than anything else) but you should read it regardless.

The movie is a comedy, and not really related to the book except in the most artficial ways. The book is harder, more serious and has some interesting ideas about how a society should structure itself in a total war.

Hugo Award Winner (1960) A classic - still generates major critical and political discussion even though it was written 50 years ago. The book is still a good read with an interesting and accessible story (though espoused politics will turn many off.) This book originated many the themes of modern military SF and manga (the armour). The book has very little similarity to the movie other than overall plot outline. The book is much richer and deeper than the movie in terms of ideas, character, plot and world building.

This is one of those very rare times when I feel the movie is better than the book. Save yourself some time - pop some popcorn and watch the movie instead.

I like Heinlein but found this to be repetitive, in character and moralistic content, of his other books. I'm going to buck the tide here and say that I actually liked the movie better. It had more action, irony and humor, fewer lectures and societal prescriptions, and an actual relationship or two. There, I said it.

The book is -much- better than the movie, and definitely a classic. Worth the read.

This is another Heinlein classic, and deserves to be in all science fiction collections. If you have seen the movie that is supposedly based on this book, then you are in for a big surprise as the movie is nothing like what Heinlein wrote.