So I am a huge proponent of reading the book before seeing the movie, so I confess I really only started to read this book because I saw they were making it into a movie this year. And I'm glad I did! It was a bit slow going at times, but for a completely historical non-fiction book, it definitely held my interest from beginning to end. I have always been interested in WW2 and of course I love art, so the juxtaposition of those two things is right up my alley. I was blown away by the extent of the Nazi looting of art, both from private collectors (Jewish and not) as well as public, state owned galleries. It's almost unfathomable the number of pieces they stole (and hid!). And the Monuments Men is such as interesting division of the military that I cannot believe has never existed since. I mean I know the focus of war is elsewhere, but for the near loss of so much beautiful European history to have been completely forgotten (and not learned from) is insane. I completely understand it being eclipsed by the Holocaust, but for it to still be as virtually unknown as it is...wow. I was impressed by the research presented in this book, the clear development of everything from an idea into the actual MFAA division, and how amazing it was that so few people accomplished so much preservation. Astounding.