Rating: 
Summary: Cartoon history for dummies
Review: Childishly framed (the "Flyboys" is always capitalized as if they were a Marvel comic book team or something; President Roosevelt is "The Dutchman"), mind-numbingly padded with repetitive riffs on U.S./Japanese relations, and written in hyperventilating prose with curiously obsessive attention to gore, this is one of the most intelligence-insulting books on the Pacific war yet written. With selective attention to source material, Mr. Bradley cites wayward U.S. atrocities in the Philippines and portrays them as endemic and systematic, leaving his neat sense of moral equivalence intact.Any self-respecting WW2 vet should be outraged. The rest of us should save our money for authors who appreciate the complexity and nuance of history. It is unbelievable this is the same man who wrote Flags of our Fathers. Can it be?
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good read
Review: Lots of mixed reviews actually indicate that an author has written something good enough to attract attention and novel enough to draw flak from those who don't agree with the arguments or conclusions. The reviews below are surely a testament to this book's strengths and controversies, none of which, incidentally, bothered me in the slightest. I found this a thrilling and highly persuasive book. Well worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: The Flyboys of Chichi Jima
Review: ¡ÈHonor, Self sacrifice and undaunting courage, James Bradley once again takes you back in time with this very compelling book about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of eight out of nine naval aviators that led bombing raids on the island of Chichi Jima! If you enjoyed his book Flags of our Fathers than you will enjoy this one!
I believe James Bradley¡Çs book titled, FLYBOYS, deserves five stars not only because it is a compelling book and that Mr. James Bradley writes about these nine aviators, but he also gives you his own personal feelings and a very in-depth explanation of the historical events that contributed to bringing two powerful nations to war.
Mr. Bradley tells the tale of the fates of eight naval aviators who were missing in action after partaking in raids on the Japanese Island of Chichi Jima. From George H.W. Bush former president of the United States to the other Aviators that never returned, the author goes to great lengths of uncovering the lives of these men prior to going to war.
From Commodore Perry¡Çs visit to Japan in 1853, to the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo of 1942, this book gives the reader a historical precursor to a war between two great nations.
This book will make the reader re-examine their preconceived ideas of World War II. It will make you realize there truly are no real winners in war, only survivors. Also, how the survivors are left to deal with the aftermath of war. He writes with pride, conviction and emotion to give the reader insight to what could have influenced the hearts and minds of the men on both sides, and what changes took place to change them from being ordinary American and Japanese citizens to becoming Naval Aviators and Japanese soldiers.
The author helps the reader to grasp the severity of war from both sides, and the prejudices that existed in both countries regarding one another. You¡Çll be given a very good perspective of what it was like to serve as a United States Naval Aviator as well as a soldier of Japan. The training, the hardships endured, the feeling of pride are all there.
Mr. Bradley however, goes beyond this story of these pilots. He gives the reader in depth insight to the nature of the soldiers on both sides of this conflict. He explains the differences in personal and general feelings of the people of these two opposing nations in this vast struggle of war in the Pacific. You get a sense of what was the Japanese definition of duty, honor, country and also the Americans view of this and how vastly different the two ideologies of these nations were. Also, how these different ideologies caused these two nations to lend credence to commit atrocities in the fighting of this war.
He extensively researched, visited, and interviewed friends and family of the missing pilots, along with former Japanese soldiers to uncover the mysterious demise of the missing men. He takes you a step further of focusing on the personal side of the survivors to gain an overall view of these events and experiences these men and women endured during this sad and very cruel time in history. He exposes both sides for what they were, how they fought and their treatment of not only soldiers, but also civilians and their very definition of the value of life.
In an amazing way this book will truly make you not only examine yourself and your own personal feelings but possibly re-examine war in general and the dark truths that war tends to hide.
On a personal note from reading this book, I understand the reason behind the thinking that ¡ÈSometimes things are better left unsaid and unbeknownst to a person¡É. For with knowledge of things comes pain. Amazingly over the past years after this Great War, we developed a friendship to unite with one another and live in peace from what we both endured.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking Book About War.
Review: If you are looking for a feel good American heroes book this is not it. "Flyboys" is a very worthwhile and thought provoking book. There are times when it causes the reader to feel uncomfortable as it describes large scale and individual atrocities including cannibalism and mass murder performed by the Japanese that are very distressing to read about. Many of the previous patriotic reviewers I believe found it difficult to face the descriptions of the small and large scale violent and destructive American behavior even though it was dwarfed by the Japanese behavior. The author remained remarkably non judgmental in his descriptions. He tries to put in context the violent behavior, although not to excuse it, by supplying relevant cutural and historic background. The book invites us to examine the contrast between war time and peacetime humanity. Which is really us? Is war time meanness just kept below the surface during times of peace? It reminds us that when hundreds of thousands of lives are lost, that these are the lives of valuable individuals whether American or others. It emphasizes the remarkable heroism and perhaps the naivete of our servicemen particularly our "Flyboys." They were heroes especially because they completely understood the risks they were taking and proceeded out of choice because they were needed. George Bush Sr., as one of them , is featured as a sensitive and lucky(to be alive)hero. The Japanese soldiers were brutalized by their officers and were required to follow orders without question. One gets concerned about group think and herd mentality. How independent are human beliefs and actions? Do we actually choose them or are we mostly a product of the society in which we were raised? We must intuitively know that it is wrong to bayonet a restrained man with a sharpened bamboo pole with the purpose of of causing pain, prior to beheading him while still alive, The officers who ordered this behavior earn our contempt. They force soldiers to carry out their orders as if they were slaves. The Japanese "Spirit Warrier" believed that all orders originated with their Emperor who they believed descended from the Sun Goddess. In a way they were following their faith. Is it right to unquestioningly follow a religious leader or a religious belief ie Jihad,or perhaps to believe that followers of our culture are more worthwhile than the followers of other cultures. We must have known as Americans in the 19th century that slavery was wrong and that women should have the right to vote but it took us a long time to correct these injustices. Were we not deserving of contempt for thoughtlessly following the group think? This is a history of WWII in the Pacific told mainly through a small group of people involved with the battle for the island of Chichi Jima by an author who is a truth seeking patriotic American whose father was incidentally a flag raiser at Iwo Jima. It raises our awareness of the horrors of war. It ends with some optimism and descriptions of forgiveness or at least understanding by memebers of both sides. There is even some real humanity displayed as Private Iwatake, who developed a personal relationshop with a subsequently beheaded cannibalized "Flyboy" named Warren Earl Vaughn, when phoned by the author, doing his research, answers the phone with, "Hello, this is Warren." He had changed his name to honor his dead prisoner.
Rating:
Summary: Well Researched, Well Written
Review: Perhaps this book is so riveting because it's true. Bradley has done an excellent job of putting together loose strings of information, from highly reliable sources, to create a truly remarkable view of World War II,and insights to the psyche of all wars.
Rating:
Summary: Flyboys
Review: Flyboys, by James Bradley, was the first book that I've read that showed a somewhat unbiased view towards the war effort. Instead of focusing only on the atrocities done by Japanese soldiers to American POWs and to Chinese POWs and civilians, he also included some of the historical moments that Americans might not be so proud of. Hearing the story told by both the Japanese and American sides was also beneficial. I could easily see how different the views of the Imperial and American Armies were just from reading about it from both sides. To be suicidal for ones country isn't something that I would hear as often in the United States because they could become Prisoners of War without having to worry about dishonor. The Japanese, on the other hand, would much rather kill themselves than ever be taken captive because that was just seen as unacceptable. After learning about each of the main flyboys and their backrounds, it was difficult to read to the end because I didn't want to hear how their lives came to tragic endings. Ironically, the only flyboy that was focused on who lived, later became President to the United States; George Bush. Overall, I thought the book was very interesting and one that anyone interested in WW2 should read.
Rating:
Summary: stunning
Review: I have read alot of books about WW2 in the Pacific and the American involvement. This book without a doubt is the best written ever. Like the Pacific Ocean being a broad expansive theatre of war so is the book in its approach and narration. Anyone wanting to know how brutal this conflict was, read this book. Anyone wanting to know how brave the fliers were read this book. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: A riveting account of part of WWII in the Pacific
Review: I appreciated the historical background that Bradley included. My mother and her family were living on Oahu when Pearl Harbor was attacked (my grandfather saw the planes fly overhead with the "rising sun" on them that fateful Sunday morning) and my father fought as a gunner's mate in the Navy (his ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo in the South China Sea--luckily, he survived), so I grew up learning more about the Pacific War more than any other part of American history. But I never really knew much about Admiral Perry's visit to Japan until I read this book. Rather than feel defensive about America's past injustices towards people of color, I believe it is important to learn from our mistakes or we'll no doubt repeat them in another war or conflict. While I support my government, I was always taught never to completely trust it--with good reason. Those Americans who get angry with their fellow countrymen/women who question their government are a danger to our country's survival as a free nation. A true patriot is well-informed, looks at all the facts, and is not afraid to face the truth. The historical background Bradley provided went a long way towards explaining the Japananese's belief system and attitudes towards the allied forces. And while that was helpful, it didn't change my feelings of horror and grief at reading what the Japanese did to the airmen they captured at Chichi Jima. I'd known about a lot of the atrocities that the Japananese committed during the war--medical experiments similar to what the Nazis performed, the brutality towards POW's, and their inhuman butchering of the Chinese--but I'd no idea they'd gone so far in their treatment of the captured airmen's dead bodies. Also, until this book, no one ever questioned why Hirohito was not tried for any war crimes. My mother thought the sun rose and set on General MacArthur's shoulders--until the battle at Midway, people on the Hawaiian islands were very nervous. How could he let Hirohito off the hook? This story needed to be told and Bradley has told it very well. Everyone needs to read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Both the Japanese and Americans were evil during WWII.
Review: I expected this to be a great book with all the hype surrounding this story. I am also very fond of George H. W. Bush, since I voted for him twice. This book I was not fond of. Why? Because it equalizes the Americans and Japanese during World War II. Forget about the Japanese conduct in China or the way they treated captured POWs and enemy aliens and then you have the moral equivalent of the Americans. This along with many other crimes against humanity are shunted aside.
Jim, The Germans, Japanese, and Italians were the first to target civilians in the 1930s and 1940s. The Italians did it in Ethiopia, the Nazis did it to Poland, England, and Holland. The Japanese did it in China and elsewhere. They legitimized civilians as targets in war. It must have been a surprise when they received the same medicine back again. Sympathy I feel for those families who lost loved ones. They should focus their anger at the leaders who brought them into the conflict.
Bradley is quite correct in saying the Americans of the early 20th century were racists. But his description of our conduct in the Philippines is very slanted. In Benovolent Assimilation, Miller shows the complex relationship between the islands and the American troops who occupied it. Bradley slants it all in the most negative light. The insurrection in the Philippines killed thousands of American soldiers, and the correct number of natives is hard to determine. Bradley justs slants the most negative numbers onto his work. For those readers who want a more balanced account, read Miller's book. It will differ from what Bradley says.
I guess I am upset because Bradley is equating American action in WWII as equal to the Japanese. There may have been individual actions of killing Japanese prisoners of war, but what the Japanese did was monsterous. Their leaders paid for it at the end of the war. If one had to be captured by the Americans, British, or Japanese, what would be the preference. Only those wanting a death wish would pick the Japanese. I prefer not to starve, be worked to death (River Kwai), beheaded, and/or eaten.
There was a great story in this book. It was clouded by Bradley's moralizing about the evilness of the Americans. He should have focused more attention on the story of the captured flyboys.
Rating:
Summary: Good read but heavy on the "PC"
Review: The author has tells a story that has needed telling for 50 years; the gruesome and barbaric treatment of American POWs at the hands of the Japanese Army, upto and including butchering them alive and eating them. I'll never be able to eat Sukiaki again. This sterling work is flawed only because of Bradly's heavy handed attempt to provide some sort of politically correct contex for the enemy's behavior.
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