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palegreenshutters's review against another edition
5.0
An incredibly thought-provoking book that has changed the way I look at a lot of things in the world. This one will stick with me.
p010ne's review against another edition
3.0
Much like Clive Cussler In "Corsair" attributes the Libyan conflict to colonial era anti-piracy actions, James Bradley ties the origin (and the final surrender ceremony of the Empire of the Rising Sun) to the Commodore Perry incidents.
My teenage years in Kansas preceded my entire WWII experience so I was indoctrinated to propaganda in much of my exposure to propaganda in movies, radio and comic books (Captain America and the such)! I had wondered about the interest in Shangri-La (I seem to recall that was the answer to some radio show contest at the time) so it is informative that FDR ascribed the origin launch of the Doolittle bombers to that mythic site. It was fortunate that Dutchman is reported to have championed the flyboy effort (a la General Billy Mitchell) in apparent opposition to his military advisers!
Those Nippon advisers to that Hirohito Emperor (who is reported to have been immune to the war crimes trial) were clever in never declaring war so that they thought they were not bound by international wartime agreements. Certainly war is inhumane and it seems that pacifist ideals have to be ignored in some circumstances; however, Bradley has researched and reported the graphic details of both sides of this conflict.
I had always thought that the suicidal Nippon fliers were kamakazi and did not know that actually refers to a wind effect in the Sea of Japan - it would have been beneficial to the allied efforts of that time if the tsunami 0f March 11, 2011 had occurred some time during WWII!
My wife and I have cruised to and toured both the currently thriving Hiroshima and Nagasaki and been amazed at the recovery in those regions. There has been so much propaganda about nuclear effects; however, Bradley points up the greater effectiveness of those M69 napalm bombs (too bad Doolittle did not have access to them)?
My teenage years in Kansas preceded my entire WWII experience so I was indoctrinated to propaganda in much of my exposure to propaganda in movies, radio and comic books (Captain America and the such)! I had wondered about the interest in Shangri-La (I seem to recall that was the answer to some radio show contest at the time) so it is informative that FDR ascribed the origin launch of the Doolittle bombers to that mythic site. It was fortunate that Dutchman is reported to have championed the flyboy effort (a la General Billy Mitchell) in apparent opposition to his military advisers!
Those Nippon advisers to that Hirohito Emperor (who is reported to have been immune to the war crimes trial) were clever in never declaring war so that they thought they were not bound by international wartime agreements. Certainly war is inhumane and it seems that pacifist ideals have to be ignored in some circumstances; however, Bradley has researched and reported the graphic details of both sides of this conflict.
I had always thought that the suicidal Nippon fliers were kamakazi and did not know that actually refers to a wind effect in the Sea of Japan - it would have been beneficial to the allied efforts of that time if the tsunami 0f March 11, 2011 had occurred some time during WWII!
My wife and I have cruised to and toured both the currently thriving Hiroshima and Nagasaki and been amazed at the recovery in those regions. There has been so much propaganda about nuclear effects; however, Bradley points up the greater effectiveness of those M69 napalm bombs (too bad Doolittle did not have access to them)?
johnsalomon's review against another edition
1.0
It's smarmy, overly sentimental and simplistic. While giving good insights into a disgraceful-yet-fascinating episode of WWII, the author often sinks into overly dramatic prose; I found the whole thing pretty annoying to read. Not recommended.
gingerburke's review against another edition
3.0
The only reason I finished the book was because my father-in-law so rarely asks me to read anything, and he gave me this one. I devour everything WWII, but I just couldn't stomach this one. I'm still not sure it should have been written. It was unbearably gruesome. I'm thankful the mothers of the flyboys are no longer living. I can only imagine the torture they would be going through reading this book.
mellison4's review against another edition
5.0
I learned so much about the Pacific War in this book, the international relations leading up to it, and the cultural differences during the conflict. I was horrified and ashamed of the American actions in the Pacific, even before WW2, but equally disgusted by the actions of the Japanese. This book absolutely drives home the fact that there are no winners in war, it's hell for everyone involved. This book shook me, challenged my beliefs, revealed facts and figures that literally kept me up at night. But I learned so much and I'm glad for knowing it, however hard it was to read. Great book, absolutely recommend, not for the faint of heart but required reading in my opinion.
mallorycasp's review against another edition
4.0
A true story of war, courage, and details you'd never find in a United States history course. A good read, though hard at times.
djenkins's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and War
kd8ngv's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I have owned a copy of Flyboys by James Bradley for some time. This came in as my 16th book for 2024. I don’t remember where I picked it up at, but I am glad to have it in my collection. I have been wanting to read this one for a while and found it as an audiobook on Libby. This is one of the harder books I have read. It details the men who flew in the Pacific during World War 2. You learn how the men were treated by the Japanese once they were captured. They were atrocious. Despicable. Listening to what they did to these men makes me hurt for them. This is not a book for the faint of heart as you are given the details on the torture, death, and cannibalism that occurred on the islands where our boys were captured. While it was very hard to read, it was written well. Which brings me to my next point. I found out begrudgingly that the audiobook I listened to was abridged. I don’t know what was left out of the original text. I do want to find out, but I need to let there be some time between my listening of this version of the book and reading the full version. We often don’t realize what men can do to other men, especially in the time of war. I am glad I read this, I wish it was the full version.