Define Of Books Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack
| Title | : | Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack |
| Author | : | Steve Twomey |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 384 pages |
| Published | : | November 1st 2016 by Simon Schuster |
| Categories | : | History. Nonfiction. War. World War II. Military Fiction. Military. Military History |
Steve Twomey
Hardcover | Pages: 384 pages Rating: 4.27 | 515 Users | 88 Reviews
Commentary Toward Books Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack
A Smithsonian Top History Book of 2016A Japan Times Best Book About Japan of 2016
A fascinating look at the twelve days leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor—the warnings, clues and missteps—by a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter.
In Washington, DC, in late November 1941, admirals compose the most ominous message in Navy history to warn Hawaii of possible danger, but they write it too vaguely. They think precautions are being taken, but never check to see if they are. A key intelligence officer wants more warnings sent, but he is on the losing end of a bureaucratic battle and can’t get the message out. American sleuths have pierced Japan’s most vital diplomatic code, and Washington believes it has a window on the enemy’s soul—but it does not.
In a small office at Pearl Harbor, overlooking the battleships at the heart of America’s seafaring power, the Commander of the Pacific Fleet tries to figure out how much danger he really faces. His intelligence unit has lost track of Japan’s biggest aircraft carriers, but assumes they are resting in a port far away. The admiral thinks Pearl is too shallow for torpedoes, so he never puts up a barrier. As he frets, a Japanese spy is counting the warships in the harbor and reporting to Tokyo.
There were false assumptions, and racist ones: The Japanese aren’t very good aviators and they don’t have the nerve or the skill to attempt a strike so far from their home. There were misunderstandings, conflicting desires, painful choices. And there was a naval officer who, on his very first mission as captain of his very first ship, did exactly the right thing. His warning could have averted disaster, but his superiors reacted too leisurely. Japanese planes arrived moments later.
Twomey’s telescoping of the twelve days leading to the attack unravels the crucial characters and moments, and produces an edge-of-your seat drama with fascinating details about America at this moment in its history. By the end, the reader understands how assumption is the root of disaster, and how sometimes a gamble pays off.
Particularize Books Concering Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack
| ISBN: | 1476776466 (ISBN13: 9781476776460) |
Rating Of Books Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack
Ratings: 4.27 From 515 Users | 88 ReviewsCriticize Of Books Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack
This is a concise, well-written book about the final days before the attack at Pearl Harbor, with information about both American and Japanese governments and military leaders. The straight-forward writing style befits a prize-winning journalist, which Steve Twomey is. Those who have read deeply about the attack may not find a great deal here that is new, but that is not necessarily a criticism; the book distills much of what other writers have written and makes it crystal clear. The book makesHeavy on primary source first person accounts and they are woven together into a compelling narrative that details the intelligence and communication lapses that allowed the Japanese to make their stunning surprise strike. Admiral Kimmel wouldn't take the fall for the failure to adequately repel the attack but there was plenty of blame to go around. Even with the style of documentation it does not disrupt the reading pace and the account shifts between analysis, biographical sketches and
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and Simon and Schuster, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my history book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google Plus pages.I requested this book as I am an avid reader of United States history and have a particular interest in World War II. This is the first book by Steve Twomey that I have read.I have read a great deal
Meticulously researched and well-written. Twomey reports on the thinking of Admiral Kimmel and General Short as to why the two were caught so completely unprepared by the devastating raid on Pearl Harbor. Ridiculous pride in America's strength, a racist devaluation of the intelligence and ability of the Japanese, failures in communication, and unwarranted assumptions combined to make Pearl easy pickings for Japan. Twomey's extensively documented text makes popular conspiracy theories (such as
Part biography, part diplomatic history, part intelligence operation study, the Pulitzer Prize winner's account of the final months and days leading to December 7, 1941, is as essential to understanding the attack as the nine formal investigations and entire library wings of research since the Second World War's end. Twomey captures how concerns about military secrecy, flawed communications, and hubris exacerbated an unstable international geopolitical climate into outright war.At the center of
This is an intriguing account of the days leading up to the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. As I read through this well written history (not dry like a college lecture), I realized that there is no one person to blame for this disaster. There is certainly enough blame to go around for all be it military, political, or human. Even if you are not a history buff you will enjoy this rendering of this important period in our country's narrative.Highly recommended!
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