In the 'biggest book giveaway in history' WWII soldiers received pocket-sized reads

Many neighborhood dads who served in World War II rarely spoke directly about their experiences. Indirect details included language lessons, burned uniforms, and references to small “funny paperbacks.” Research connected these clues to the Armed Services Editions program. When the United States entered World War II, a distribution effort aimed to reduce boredom by getting books into servicemen’s hands. Books had to be light and small enough for pockets, creating logistical challenges for publishers, librarians, and booksellers. The Council on Books in Wartime adopted a program that contrasted with Nazi book burnings. Its motto framed reading as part of the war of ideas. Armed Services Editions began in 1943 and distributed nearly 123 million books by 1947.

"The Armed Services Editions, or ASEs as they were called, were those "funny paperbacks" that my father had mentioned to me. Printed on pulp paper, the Armed Services Editions began rolling off presses in 1943; by the time the program came to an end in 1947, nearly 123 million books were distributed to U.S. troops."

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