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Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the 116 Days that Changed the World by Chris Wallace
starreynite's review against another edition
Started reading this because I was interested in the way that Truman pretty much overnight became president and discovered that the military was building an atomic bomb. I probably want a Truman biography for that. This was told from the perspective of the different characters involved in the creation of the bomb but also those who fought in the war. A lot of which I already knew from watching Oppenheimer. Those who enjoy military history will enjoy it but it wasn’t for me.
dianewreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The subtitle, “The Extrordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days that Changed the World,” fit this book to a T. The countdown timeline in different locations is very interesting, informative and harrowing. Hard decisions in hard times that left me with chills while reading the last few hours and minutes.
This book was recommended to me after watching the Oppenheimer movie. Now I feel like I need to watch the movie again.
This book was recommended to me after watching the Oppenheimer movie. Now I feel like I need to watch the movie again.
akappel32's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.25
4.2 stars. A good summary of the 116 days between Truman’s inauguration and the day the U.S. dropped Little Boy on Hiroshima. Its highlights all the important people involved, the key moments of development, and the details of what happened the day the bomb was dropped. I appreciated the Epilogue and Post Script analysis that dives into the morality as well as the triggering of the arms race the development of the Atomic Bomb created.
ralzain's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, it's pace, and I especially enjoyed the post script in which the author gives a summary of the main characters and their views and opinions towards the atomic bombing, from the crew of the Ilona Gay B-29 plane to the president Harry Truman.
bclark8781's review against another edition
4.0
Eminently readable if somewhat "by the numbers." The authors do a good job of weaving between the various narratives, ie Truman, the scientists, the crew members of Enola Gay, etc. Not sure there's anything new here but there are a number of stories with a lot of information presented here all in one place.
noleme's review against another edition
3.0
It was an interesting and informative book but I'm giving it three stars because it seems to have an ulterior motive of justifying the atomic bombings by purporting the myth of an invasion and that the bombs ended the war. The us was not seriously planning an invasion when we could just blockade Japan. USSR's declaration of war caused Japan to surrender not the bombs. US had already leveled many cities, why would the fascist leadership care about two more.
reinventing_mrs's review against another edition
5.0
Thought-provoking
Written like a novel, “Countdown 1945” provides readers with a type of back-stage access to the development and subsequent use of the atomic bomb and, more importantly, in-depth insight into the thoughts and feelings of those connected with the project. Wallace writes mostly from the American perspective, sprinkled with Japanese correspondence and survivor stories. He uses first-hand accounts based on interviews and diary entries. Chronicled with neither condemnation nor overt celebration, the result is a very human representation of the events leading to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the effects on those directly involved. The question as to the morality of said events is not directly addressed, as it is not the purpose of this book. The question, however, is addressed separately by each of the book’s players and, ultimately, left to the reader to ponder. Overall, I found “Countdown 1945” riveting, as if I had no clue regarding the outcome, and thought-provoking in a way I had not expected. Well done, Mr. Wallace.
Written like a novel, “Countdown 1945” provides readers with a type of back-stage access to the development and subsequent use of the atomic bomb and, more importantly, in-depth insight into the thoughts and feelings of those connected with the project. Wallace writes mostly from the American perspective, sprinkled with Japanese correspondence and survivor stories. He uses first-hand accounts based on interviews and diary entries. Chronicled with neither condemnation nor overt celebration, the result is a very human representation of the events leading to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the effects on those directly involved. The question as to the morality of said events is not directly addressed, as it is not the purpose of this book. The question, however, is addressed separately by each of the book’s players and, ultimately, left to the reader to ponder. Overall, I found “Countdown 1945” riveting, as if I had no clue regarding the outcome, and thought-provoking in a way I had not expected. Well done, Mr. Wallace.