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tamaralgage1's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting history lesson in bomb warfare. It was dry and lacked entertainment value. However, there is a great deal of knowledge to be gained in reading this story.
dirtyclod's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not to my liking because it is written from an moderate, normalized, militaristic American view. This is a phenomenal book for those who are interested in American and aviation history but is void of critical politics lens. The portrayal of this subject in a manner of objectivity, emotionally compelling facts base, and perceived unbiased retelling is deeply political.
Most striking to me was the very little space provided for Japanese perspective being on the receiving end of much of the books events. I can only recall references to two Japanese people regarding the shocking firebombing of Tokyo in 1944. One was the account of a woman who survived because when she was freezing to death in the river to avoid the napalm, she kept herself warm by the burning bodies surrounding her that she could not recognize initially as bodies. And the second was the recollection of A American military historian presenting on the fire bombing of Japan while in Tokyo and recalling that a Japanese military historian said we owe a thank you do you Americans for the atomic bomb and fire bombing because otherwise we would’ve surrendered much later in the war.
Most striking to me was the very little space provided for Japanese perspective being on the receiving end of much of the books events. I can only recall references to two Japanese people regarding the shocking firebombing of Tokyo in 1944. One was the account of a woman who survived because when she was freezing to death in the river to avoid the napalm, she kept herself warm by the burning bodies surrounding her that she could not recognize initially as bodies. And the second was the recollection of A American military historian presenting on the fire bombing of Japan while in Tokyo and recalling that a Japanese military historian said we owe a thank you do you Americans for the atomic bomb and fire bombing because otherwise we would’ve surrendered much later in the war.
cblanc3666's review against another edition
4.0
This worked well as an audiobook - as I listened, I thought it was probably one of the best-adapted books for the medium that I’d ever read, but it turns out this book started as an audiobook and was adapted to print. I do recommend listening to it.
As for the content, it was a very interesting look at the peculiar morality of war. I like Gladwell’s war histories more than his pop psychology.
As for the content, it was a very interesting look at the peculiar morality of war. I like Gladwell’s war histories more than his pop psychology.
angeberlin's review against another edition
3.0
You have to be really into this topic to stay engaged. I think it was done so well and opened my eyes to something I knew nothing about. Kudos to the research that went into this but not for me. I had to push through to get through.