Excellent read. It was about the last few days of WWII and the view of it's execution by three individuals-Stimson, Spaatz and Togo. I learned that the Japanese were not really ready to surrender and would not have done so of their own accord were it not for some masterful diplomatic/bureaucratic work. Also, the depth of Truman's ignorance on the atomic project and it's impact was mind boggling. ( )

Excellent narrative of the issues confronting the decision makers faced with using, or not using, the atomic bomb. ( )

The book is well-written and informative as it speaks of the decisions that led to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It specifically focuses on the American leadership and the Japanese leadership, and what led up to the final surrender of Japan in September 1945. The book does not focus on the development of the atom bomb; that has been covered elsewhere. This book discusses the decisions that led up to actually using the atom bomb for the first time, and the outcome, as well as what was going on with the Japanese leadership following the deployment of the bombs. It discusses the deliberations as well as a final decision by the Emperor to surrender. The book is very sympathetic to all sides; it does not seek a villain, and it doesn’t have a hero. But, that being said, it opens a window onto the experiences and feelings of the airmen going into Japan to drop the bomb, and it goes into the feelings on the Japanese side, and how close we came to the war continuing and more lives being lost, and many more lives could have potentially been lost had things turned out differently. ( )

An eye-opening account of the end of WWII through three men involved in decision making: the American Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, ailing and pressuring for limiting civilian casualties; Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz in charge of bombing in the Pacific; and Japan’s Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, pressing surrender to a War Council determined to accept massive causalities over defeat.

At the heart of the book is the decision by the United States to employ the Atom bomb. Those involved came to second guess their support and decisions, but the author argues that it did save lives.

Henry Stimson is the center of the story. He had a long political career and was well respected when President Roosevelt appointed him Secretary of War. Although in failing health and disturbed by the horrible civilian casualties in Europe, he was dedicated to his work, pressuring the U.S.to not follow the British carpet bombing that killed civilians, and urging the banning of submarines in war. His moral vision is admirable. With Roosevelt’s death, Truman sidelines Stimson.

We are given an understanding of what was happening in Japan, how the military’s power overshadowed Emperor Hirohito, a coup brewing if he surrendered. Russia entering the war would allow them to take over more territory in China and, they hoped, Japan. The U.S. wanted to end the war and stop the Russian advance.

Choosing targets for the atom bombs–ocean, small island, military target or city–was complicated. And when Japan did not immediately accept the terms of surrender, the U.S. was preparing a third and even a fourth bomb.

Deeply researched, the book brings to life history and the men who made history.

Thanks to the publisher for a free ebook. ( )