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Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs Against Japan
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.5425
EAN: 9780807856079
Edition: Revised
ISBN: 080785607X
Label: The University of North Carolina Press
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 160
Publication Date: February 28, 2005
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Release Date: December 22, 2004
Studio: The University of North Carolina Press
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Editorial Review:
In this concise account of why America used atomic bombs against Japan in 1945, J. Samuel Walker analyzes the reasons behind President Truman's most controversial decision. He delineates what was known and not known by American leaders at the time and evaluates the role of U.S.-Soviet relations and American domestic politics. In this new edition, Walker takes into account recent scholarship on the topic, including new information on the Japanese decision to surrender. He has revised the book to place more emphasis on the effect of the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in convincing the emperor and his advisers to quit the war. Rising above an often polemical debate, Walker presents an accessible synthesis of previous work and an important, original contribution to our understanding of the events that ushered in the atomic age.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Confusing Little Tome
Prompt and Utter Destruction carefully builds arguments in favor of the decision to use the bomb based upon correspondence, interviews, etc., then tries to demolish them with speculative opinion. Perhaps this was done in the interest of objectivity; however, the result is a difficult to read, conflicted narrative. It is certainly not the definitive word on Truman's decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan.
If you have a passionate interest in atomic age politics, WWII, and/or ... Read More
Rating:  - No ideology here just history
Ideology defined: The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class, or culture.
If you have already made up your mind that the atomic bombings of Japan were wrong, you have two choices: (1) Don't buy the book and participate in the next demonstration against the bombings which will, again, make you feel morally superior; (2)buy the book and realize that it was not as simple a decision as you thought it was. Then ask yourself, what would I have ... Read More
Rating: - Historiography at its Finest
One of the most complex, divisive, and nuanced debates in the history of the twentieth century is the decision by U.S. President Harry S. Truman in August 1945 to drop two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, thereby ending World War II. A traditional conception of the decision, indeed the one most often voiced by actors in the decision, was that it was done to speed the end of the war and thereby preserve American lives that might be lost in future combat. The revisionist interpretation, often ... Read More
Rating: - Great History Book
I bought this book for school.. I have not read it yet but it arrived in perfect condition.. Very fast shipping.
Rating:  - very good overview
This book gives a good overview but just that - an overview. The events and circumstances surrounding the use of the A-bomb simply must be addressed in greater depth for one who wishes to become truly knowledgable on the subject. However, its brevity is also a strength in that for one just getting into the subject it serves as a fabulous introduction and for those already familiar with the subject, it sums things up into a nice recap. Contrary to some reviews of the book, the author does NOT ever say or ... Read More
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