Rating: 
Summary: Fair and balanced...
Review: It's odd to see all these reviewers who think that Bradley is biased against the US. He simply tries to put it all in context and give a broad view (too broad maybe, for the story being told). I guess for these folks it is only 'fair and balanced' if they hear it on that paragon of objectivity, Fox News.How strange to see this as anti-American or pro Japanese. It's a great read.
Rating: 
Summary: A great story horribly told
Review: Let me start off by saying, that I chose to give this book 2-stars strictly because I was unable and unwilling to finish it. If it had continued on the track it was on at page 100, it was deserving of one star or possibly even less. Flyboys is proof that a good author can make a story great, but a bad author can ruin a story. The latter is the case in Flyboys. To the naked eye, based on the cover and hype, Flyboys is the story of American flyers and their capture over the Pacific island of Chichi Jima. However, the first 100 pages of this book spends precious little time discussing the flyers. In fact, by page 100, all you know is the names and hometowns of a few flyers. Instead the author chooses to discuss irrelavent historical events in Japanese history and events not directly related to the Flyboys in American history. He gives the appearance, at least in my opinion, that he was unable to write an entire book about the Flyboys and needed to throw in "filler" at the beginning in order to complete the book. Along with the irrelavent historical events at the beginning of the book, the author spends several pages lecturing the reader on the atrocities of the American military and government including the horrible atrocities committed against Native Americans in the United States. Lord knows I am ashamed of some of the events in US history, as I'm sure many of you are. However, there is a place in our history books, or in books unrelated to the Flyboys for discussion of such atrocities. In conclusion, I would like to state how dissapointed I am with this book(in case it wasn't already made clear). I'm fascinated with WWII events and the myriad of emotions each side suffers throughout the war. The story of the Flyboys certainly falls in this category, as it shows another side of war, where heroes are in fact enemies to others and aren't always treated as kindly as we believe they should be. As hard as I pushed, I could not convince myself that it was important to finish this book and learn the story of the Flyboys. To be blunt, this is probably one of the 10 most poorly written books I have ever read and that's saying alot when considering the myriad of books I have read in my short life. If WWII history and truths is something you are seeking, it's a good idea to look elsewhere and unfortunately leave the story of the Flyboys untold.
Rating: 
Summary: Wrong Book.
Review: I really wanted to like this book. If you read the cover, it's about a riveting tale of missing WWII aviators and the shroud of secrecy that surround their disappearance and subsequent execution. Sounds intriguing right? Well, it did to me. There is one problem; this is NOT what this book is about. The title of the book should be "Why Japan hates the United States" or "Why Japan Started the Rape of Nanking and why it is the fault of the U.S.". I'm not kidding. This book has little to do with the story it claims to portray. The author starts with what looks like a well-rooted historical background to the story - and does a pretty good job. Except he doesn't stop. What starts as a historical background quickly turns into a ranting manifesto. You can feel the tone of the book go from a carefully worded, creditable historical account, to a free-for-all stream of consciences. In the first two-hundred (yes 200) pages, there are only vague references to the 'flyboys' that this story is supposed to be all about. This book is well written, but seriously mis-titled. If it was called "The Lasting Effects of Western Imperialism". I would give it four starts. But it's not that book.
Rating:
Summary: Hypocrits
Review: This is just another book that americans like to brag about how their "brave" grandfathers were treated poorly by japanese soilders in WW2. Get over it, people. If it wasn't for the jewish men's atom bomb, i'm sure americans lost the war in south pacific, just like they did in vietnam. Btw, What about the Americans dropping two A-bombs and nearly wiped out innocent population in japan? What about all the american G.I's and civilian crimes against native folks in Japan, Korea and south east asian countries that never get reported in major american media? How come there isn't a single book about ugly americans living in oversea?
Rating:
Summary: I Would Give It Zero Stars If I Could
Review: I am so disappointed with this book. I don't need to explain why because other reviewers have already articulated all the reasons very well. However, I was expecting something much better from Bradley because of his earlier great work, "Flags of Our Fathers." I've given that book as a gift more than any other book. I wondered why CNN presented a special about this book on their network since it involves former President Bush. Now, I know why; they would want to support a book that falsely justifies the worst atrocities committed against man - the Japanese against the POWs - on America. How sick is that? The Japanese military culture, which supported "bushido" (way of the warrior) and all its shortcomings, was a modern culture never the less (remember this was the 20th century). Yet, they couldn't understand why their enemy would surrender. Since the enemy surrendered, then the Japanese soldier could brutalize the POW in any fashion that he fancied. James Bradley is a major embarrassment. I will never give "Flag of Our Fathers" as a gift again since I now know Bradley's hidden agenda. Sad, isn't it? His father was the last surviving flag raiser at Iwo Jima and look what his son has done now. DO NOT BUY FLYBOYS!
Rating: 
Summary: An important account
Review: . Flyboys is an excellent book that contains an
important account that should be read. This book and its author was brought to my attention
by a friend who heard of such on a TV show. A rare discovery. At the close of the 2003, Flyboys enjoys an Amazon
sales rank of 108 out of the hundreds of thousands, if
not millions, of the books that are for sale on Amazon. Much of the Japanese behavior in WWII is inexcusable. The book addresses the dangers of extreme nationalism
and the danger it can lead too. The genesis of Flyboys is about secret trials regarding
events hidden on Chichi Jima, not far from Iwo Jima,
during WWII. A number of Japanese officers on Chichi Jima are cannibals,
and their favorite cuisine were American prisoner of war
captives. The secret trials, held on Guam, doesn't make a lot
of sense unless taken into the broader context of WWII. George Bush, the 41st President of the United States, almost
ended up on their dinner table. The Pacific has a history of atrocities that propagate further
atrocities. The cycle of atrocities continues. It shouldn't be a surprise that Americans were involved in
various atrocities in the Pacific region. To say otherwise
is to lie when it is unnecessary. That is history. To call Japan's radical WWII military leadership "Spirit
Warriors" is justifiable, as they forgot lessons learned in
the previous war with Russia and they over-emphasized
the spirit in a modern industrial technological war. The false Bushido code practiced in Japan during WWII
carries a warning for many other societies now drunk with
power.
The book Flyboys 0316105848 deserves to be read more
than once. Other books that should be read along with Flyboys are:
Downfall 0141001461 and Flags of Our Fathers 0553111337.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: What a disappointing, bizarre and almost un-American book this was. To start off with, my back ground is 10 years ex Naval aviation and the term "Flyboy" is not a flattering term I would use to describe me or any of my comrades and the author uses this term through out the entire book as if it were an honorary title or rank to be used in front of each veterans name. The book is written at a grade school level as if it were attempting to give a quick history lesson leading up to WWII and takes almost the first 3rd of the book to get to the real story, which leads me up to my biggest complaint about this book. The author uses obscure incidents and wars as well as unverified single sources to paint a picture of America as an evil imperial power that went around killing innocent people (In the Philippines) as the rule instead of the exception and the last time I checked my history books many thousands of American lives were lost "liberating" the Philippines in the fall of 1944 as well as hundreds more in Iraq to this day so I take offense to his twisting of history. The author sucked me in with the fancy book cover and catchy title into thinking I was about to learn more about some of the missing pieces of the vast puzzle that is WWII but instead was subjected (granted I could have stopped reading) to a liberal political correct story of how these American veterans deserved their fates because of past American actions. For people interested in learning about past American veterans try the "Medal Of Honor" book by Peter Collier and you will defiantly walk away feeling much more inspired with the human spirit. I feel the best books about veterans are generally those written by veterans and this author should think of a possible new career as a fiction writer and leave the history telling to others. Anybody want to buy my book?<smile>
Rating:
Summary: Bias comes through
Review: As a former student at military war colleges, I agree with all of the well written reviews that see the book as biased against the United States. There is no way Japanese historical atrocities can be excused away by American history, period. The book should have been focused on Chichi Jima as Flags of Our Fathers was on Iwo Jima, but is cluttered by the author's yet unseen agenda. Regardless, it is a heart-wrenching story of warfare and it's ugliness.
Rating:
Summary: Did Bradley actually write ALL of this book?
Review: Other reviewers have pointed out the numerous factual errors in this account, as well as the fact that the central story of the downed airmen is a minor part of the tale. It seemed to me that there also is more than one writing style on display here. The "back story" and the "Flyboys" section appear to have been written by different people. I have to wonder if Bradley's editors at Little, Brown, didn't "bookend" the rather thin Chichi Jima story produce a 338 page book, and added more than a dollop of political correctness in the process.
Rating: 
Summary: Emphasis Off Track
Review: I agree with other reviews that Bradley strayed too far from the story in trying to give us a synopsis of what led up to and surrounded WWII in the Pacific. Students of military history would have prefered more attention to the Chichi Jima trials that followed the war's end than to Billy Mitchell's past.
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