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A review by hlau
In The Ruins Of Empire: The Japanese Surrender And The Battle For Postwar Asia by Ronald H. Spector
4.0
Spector delivers on his promise to fill in the gap that generally exists in the popular consciousness about when WWII ends and the days that immediately followed. It's very easy to say that the Chinese Civil War, the Vietnam War and the Korean War were inevitable, but in reality, they were ultimately culminations that came at the end of long occupations. Probably one of the most salient observations from later chapters is that successful occupations are long; successful occupations are short, but ultimately, they usually last long enough that they're resented before they end, no matter the altruism or idealism that fuels them.
This was a surprise find that was highly engrossing, meticulously researched and very well told. At the end of the day, it was written in the middle of the second invasion and occupation of Iraq, so it frames much of what is presented to the reader to make some conclusions that, in 2024, we can arrive at - but that doesn't get any focus until you're almost done.
WWII-interested folks would well pick this one up. In over 20 years of consuming similar content, this is the first time I've heard these stories told this way.
This was a surprise find that was highly engrossing, meticulously researched and very well told. At the end of the day, it was written in the middle of the second invasion and occupation of Iraq, so it frames much of what is presented to the reader to make some conclusions that, in 2024, we can arrive at - but that doesn't get any focus until you're almost done.
WWII-interested folks would well pick this one up. In over 20 years of consuming similar content, this is the first time I've heard these stories told this way.