Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation: A Tribute to the Titans of the Twentieth Century:

Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation applauds the amazing men and women who saw this country through some of the most horrific events of the twentieth century - -the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. The Greatest Generation is a beautifully crafted book, delivering a skillful combination of diction, imagery, tone, and attention to detail in celebration of the men and women born during the 1910's, ‘20's, and ‘30's. Brokaw's vivid diction creates poignant imagery and conveys a respective tone while paying close attention to detail in order to persuade the reader that the modest men and women of the "greatest generation" truly are great. 

Brokaw's cogent diction is his most powerful persuasive tool, raising the men and women of the "greatest generation" to an almost epic status with his commending words. He praises them for what he portrays as their virtually flawless moral qualities. In "Generations", Brokaw writes that "they stayed true to their values of personal responsibility, duty, honor, and faith" (XX). By writing that "they stayed true to their values", Brokaw establishes that these men and women were dependable and sincere in their actions. His usage of the words "personal responsibility" alludes to the obligation each individual felt towards helping his country during times of need; the altruistic nature of these people is rearticulated in the word "duty". 

The word "honor" refers to their perennial virtue and integrity, and their seemingly endless optimism and firm belief in their cause is implied in the word "faith". These esteemable words - - "personal responsibility", "duty", "honor", and "faith" - -convey unmatchable morals, marking this generation as the ideal Americans. Brokaw makes their greatness enviable. Among other lines of praise, Brokaw writes that "it is a generation of towering achievement" (11). "Towering achievement" communicates unsurpassable accomplishments, again painting these men and woman in flattering hues. Brokaw's favorable words persuade the reader that this generation is truly great.