Once again, a great book by Jeff Shaara who takes real history and brings it alive. This book follows a number of real-life characters in their role leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. From a sailor named Biggs, to Secretary of State Hull, Commander Genda with the Japanese airforce, and more.
Each person comes alive as Shaara shares actual events they were involved with and helps the reader understand the situation for what it was…real life. Real human decisions which need to be made with limited information.
I read this book nightly and often had to just stop myself from reading in order to get some sleep. Especially the last chapter of the actual attack. Wow, what a horrific attack, and we were not ready for it at all.
Shaara begins with Biggs in December of 1940, just about a year before the attack, and brings us through the bombing. We made many mistakes not listening to the clues and believing stereotypes that “the Japanese could never do that because…” He ends the book with his Afterword, explaining what happened to many of the real-life characters after the war.
If you are a history buff or not, this book is worth the read.
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