Rating: 
Summary: Though Provoking and Disturbing
Review: Flyboys is the kind of book that begins with a goal in mind, but finds that the story can only be told in a larger context. In this case the idea of telling the stories of some of the World War II aviationists in the Pacific theater and their fate at the hands of the enemy. But this story cannot exist in a vacuum, especially in light of what Bradley found happening in the Pacific during the early 20th century. Many criticize the book for going into an extended history of the Japanese mindset, culture and history. But I believe that this is where Bradley does his best work, for it is in this history that makes the decisions and actions of the Japanese in the Pacific more understandable. To simply state as a fact that the Japanese had little respect for the individual's life, and thus could commit atrocities is narrow-minded and almost racist. There is a path that led to this. What is disconcerting for some readers is that the book is a collision of both revisionist views of American history and how it brought other countries to view America as saying "Do As I Say, Not As I Do!" At the same time it is another book celebrating the "greatest generation" and both the contributions of the American soldier, but also the American ingenuity, bravery and drive that helped to bring about the modern air force. The tale told is a familiar one, with many of the protagonists wide-eyed young men trying to do their duty, emboldened and hampered by their youth. Much has been made of George H.W. Bush's role in this story, but for the most part his story is extraneous to the main focus, except to have him be able to serve as a counter point to what happened as one of the lucky ones to get away. The fate ultimately met by many of the American flyers captured on Chichi Jima is horrifying, and Bradley looks at this unflinchingly. He brings to light a very dark part of an already dark period of history. Still the book was fascinating to read and became difficult to put down as you are drawn into the lives of these flyboys. The book sheds light upon tales previously unknown, and allows us to see a larger evil in the miniature of one small area of the Pacific towards the end of the war. One of the best books of 2003.
Rating: 
Summary: Confused.
Review: Flyboys is indeed a worthwhile book, however I think Mr. Bradley should have done more work on his script prior to publication. I don't think a book of this type needed to start with a history lesson on the reasons the Japanese thought as they did, to prepare us for what was to follow. I also am puzzled by the fact that Bradely seems to relate all the Japanese atrocities to those allegedly committed by Americans in the past. He seems to excuse the behavior of those Japanese on Cichi Jima because they were "ordered" to perform these actions. I must say he has left me with less respect for the Japanese now than I had before. I think this book will only serve to reinstitute a bad feeling toward to Japanese. I don't believe Mr. Bradley did a service to anyone by the tone he used in writing this book. He "mandates" forgiveness. I don't think he can do this. The Japanese initiated the war, I don't believe everyone in Japan was kept in the dark by their military leaders. I feel they knew and they agreed. They then suffered the consequences. I am sure they accepted them with their usual resolve.
Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting
Review: I think this is one of the better books written on WWII. Especially for the Pacific Theater. Yes, it's honest about horrors commited by both sides - before, durring and after WWII. So it's not for those who wish to believe that the enemies of the USA were the only ones to commit horrible war crimes. I'm glad that the author has included input from people who were actually there. Both Japanese and American. The history of Japan presented in this book is interesting and explains well the state of mind of Japan's government of WWII. I'm sad to hear of how those on Chichi Jima died, but I'm glad to finally have found out. Great read.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating view into the war in the Pacific
Review: This is a fascinating look into the treatment of Naval aviators captured by the Japanese. Although it's supposedly the story of eight captured airmen, the book covers so much historical ground that you sometmes wonder which eight people the book really is about. It is a little curious why a story of Japanese atrocities spends so much time educating us about American abuses, but perhaps this is to lend a sense of balance so current readers will learn about the Japanese behavior without continuing to demonize them like we did during the war. The story is sad and shocking, but very interesting. This book will not bore you, and should be read by anyone wanting to know about some of the more shocking aspects of the war.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: I received the book as a gift. Had I had a chance to browse through it beforehand as a potential buyer, I would not have purchased it. The book jacket claims this is a story of the Navy fliers who were executed and eaten at Chichi Jima in WWII, as well as subsequent legal proceedings. It doesn't mention the truly awful revisionist history and moral equivalency vis a vis Japan and The U.S. espoused by the author, and which makes up the bulk of the book. For example, p. 67 "The four presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore had all supported the ethnic cleansing of the Indian."
Rating:
Summary: Rrevisionist history
Review: This book is typical of the revisionist history we are now getting about WWII by liberal/leftwing writers. At least as far as Americas war with Japan is concerned. The Japanese were not so bad and America deserved alot of what happened goes their absurd argument. Gee, where have we heard that lately? Bradley reveals his biased by bringing up the old leftwing canard of "racism" (as practiced by white Americans). He brings up Japanese internment while conveniently overlooking the fact this country also interned Germans and Italians. Liberal/leftists always fail to mention that since it takes away the sting of their "America is racist" argument they like to throw around so much. But, it's Bradley who is the racist. He's willing to overlook the atrocities of the Japanese nazi's simply because they are Asian. Soemthing he would never do concerning white German nazi's. This book is the kind of revisionist nonsense that should go over well in Japan since they have been in a complete state of denial since the end of the war about their wartime behavior. It's easier to blame America for all the ills of the world instead of doing your own soul seaching. Bradley (and others) has helped legitimize this corrupt mindset.
Rating:
Summary: Revisionist History at its Worst
Review: Such a disappointment after the intelligent, measured, and compelling work in FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (which I assign to my students each semester)! Here Bradley completely surrenders to revisionist history which contorts the past to place blame for every nation's sins on the United States, or the West in general. The breaking point for me occured when Bradley claimed that the unprecedented atrocities committted by the Japanese on innocent Chinese and Korean civilians, as well as POWs, was a result of what they had learned from Western expansionism! What nonsense! Japan had started down its own path of racial isolationism, intolerance, and barbaric treatment of the "outsider" centuries before the United States and colonialist Europe existed! The truth is that the Japanese in World War II committed human rights violations unparalleled by any state or regime in history (Unit 731, Palawan, Cabanatuan, starvation and torture all of the prison camps, Mitsubishi work camps, Rape of Nanking, comfort women,... and on and on and on), and the nation as a whole continues to deny its past atrocities. Bradley's book merely makes it easier for the Japanese to continue to rationalize and deny its war crimes, and this is an insult to all those who suffered--and died horrible deaths--at their hands.
Rating:
Summary: Real Eye Opener
Review: For me this book answered quite a few questions. My father was a B-29 pilot during 1945, but did not talk a great deal about his experiences. Now I feel that I better understand part of what he must have gone through. The atrocities (on both sides) and the insight into the minds of both the Japanese and the Americans at the time. When I was younger I found, in a box of my father's, a Japanese wallet with pictures, Yen notes & momentos. My father told me that they belonged to a Japanese soldier that he shot when the soldier tried to surrender on Guam. Until I read this book I never could understand how my father could have shot an unarmed man. Now I not only understand but, more than likely, would have done the same thing myself. On one hand FLYBOYS is a disturbing look at history and, on the other hand, an excellent reminder of the psychology of war. Well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of time
Review: Could of been a good book. Should of been a good book. Maybe someday someone will write a good book about the murdered American pilots. What an insult to the memory of these brave young Americans and all the American solders of WW2.
Rating: 
Summary: Don's review
Review: This is an excellent book with some surprises for me. Very interesting information about the incendiary bombing of Japan in comparison to the A-bombs dropped. Also, much interesting information from the soldiers on both sides which I especially liked.
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