Hiroshima

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Summary: This was an excellent book!
Review: I thought Hiroshima was a very good book. John Hersey provided a very personal account of the atomic bomb, through the real-life experiences of six people. I learned a lot about war and the dramatic effects it has on the lives of people. Hiroshima also showed me how war can bring people together, and how the bomb, although devastating, became a common bond to all in Hiroshima, Japan. I do however feel that this book was rather one-sided. It didn't say anything about that was happening to the Americans, so it made me feel like the United States was completely wrong in dropping the bomb. All in all, I feel this is an excellent book that can teach some very valuable lessons.

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Summary: Hiroshima presents a moving depiction of atomic warfare.
Review: John Hersey's Hiroshima is a powerful must-read. This book tells the compelling stories of six Japanese individuals that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. The portrayal of the survivors arouses compassion and sympathy in the readers. Told from a realistic viewpoint, Hersey tells it like it was, without choosing sides or casting blame. This point of view is very effective because Hersey's own feelings and thoughts are invisible throughout the novel. Thus, the reader is able to form his or her own opinions without being influenced. Hiroshima is definitely a worthy read, proving both informative and passionate.

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Summary: Good Impact---The Second Time
Review: I thought that John Hersey's Hiroshima could have packed a huge impact, but the power wouldn't be felt immediately. It wasn't until the second time I read through the book that I got any type of emotion out of it. Although the purpose of the book was to inform readers of the effects of nuclear warfare, I experienced more of the suffering aspect. Granted, this was the first account I've seen of how devastating the bomb was to individuals, but the effect I think it was supposed to have (one of utter disgust for our country's ability to do this to other people) completely missed me. I didn't have a heart-felt reaction to the book. I didn't actually feel sad for the people involved. I didn't hate America for their actions. On the other hand, I didn't hate the book. I just didn't think it had any real purpose. Yes, it did give an accurate account of the lives of the hibakusha, but it failed to show why it was doing so. I think if Hersey would have explained the inner importance of the emotions of those people, I would have gotten more out the book. It wasn't a bad read, but the lack of purpose brings this one down. I'd give it 2½ stars, but in this case I'll give it 3.

Rating:
Summary: The message sent was good, but I didn't care for the story
Review: Overall, I felt that Hiroshima was a mediocre book. The message that the book sent to it's audience was good, but the overall story wasn't exciting enough for me and became rather boring towards the ending of the book. I felt that some of the details included toward the ending were unnecessary and seemed to make the book drag on. One, and probably the only part of the book I did like was the first chapter, where it was described where all of the characters were when the bomb was first dropped and how far away from the center of the blast they were. I felt it was interesting to see the different activities the characters were performing at the time of the bombing and then how they were all in the same state of shock and wonder after the bomb was dropped. Overall I think that the message sent was good, but the ending probably ruined the book for me.

Rating:
Summary: Good but doesn't describe the historical context
Review: Hiroshima, by John Hersey, describes the bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima. It takes the reader into the lives of several people who survived this tragedy. The suffering of the people of Hiroshima is described in great detail. It is a good description of the horrors of nuclear warfare and accurately describes the effects of the bombing. However, this novel is not a history of the first use of a nuclear weapon. It neither explains the reasons behind the American's use of the atomic bomb nor does it describe the terrible actions of the Japanese during World War II. It does not put the events into any historical context and it spends no time explaining what would have happened of the atomic bomb was not used. John Hersey never claimed that his novel was an unbiased history, but he could have described the events leading up to the bombing. Before reading the novel one should have at least a rudimentary understanding of the overall actions of both the Japanese and Americans in World War II. Hiroshima is well written and easy to read, but it is not as great as it is often made out to be. I recommend this novel to everyone, but I also urge anyone interested in the reasoning behind the bombing to read other novels that give a more accurate view of Japan during World War II.

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Summary: The book Hiroshima and its effects on survivors
Review: The book Hiroshima by John Hersey, gives the reader a true feeling of what war does to those which experienced within the war. By reading Hiroshima, I came away with a sense of reality to the war itself. Hiroshima allowed me to realize the drastic effects of war on all people. It was also intiruing due to its showing of the pesonal accounts of the six survivors. Although, I felt Hiroshima made the reader feel soory for the Japanese when in fact, the Japanese began the bombing in the firs place. Overall, I felt Hiroshima was a very well-developed book which made the reader understand more of the effects war brought upon people.

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Summary: Not the best book I've ever read but not bad for non-fiction
Review: Upon being assigned to read this book for my 10th greade english class, I wasn't thrilled. The first book I read from my list of required reading was "Brave New word" by Aldous Huxley. I was amazed by the greatness of this book and I now list it as one of my favorites, all of which are behind my all-time favorite "God Bless You Mr. Rosewater" by Kurt Vonegut. So naturally I was set up for dissapointment the minute I opened this book. Despite this I was impressed by the vivid and caring descriptions of John Hersey, though I do regret the fact that he fails to mention that the attack on Pearl harbor came during peace time and therefore was probably the most vicious. I'm not so sure that the atomic bomb needed to be dropped, but I would be awfully upset if I were sitting here typing this under Communist rule. Truthfully the bomb upsets me most for its harm to the environment. The overall sentiments in this book were how the Japanese are people just like us and how the effects of the bomb were awful. Good sentiments but ones I already knew none-the-less. If you think the Japanes are monsters and think we should drop another bomb on them tomorrow for good measure you'd better read his book. If not, its really not worth the time or trouble. It is because it was well written that I gave it 3 stars. I would not describe it as even handed by any means, though. The bottom line is that the message in the book has been used before, will be used again and most likely will be done in better ways.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but not great
Review: John Hershey's Hiroshima describes the tragic aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945. This novel portrays the effect it had on the civilioan population-causing the reader to feel sorry for them. The novel does not describe why the bombing was necessary nor does it describe any of the equally, if not more, terrible actions commited by the Japanese durring World War II. It is a good description of the effects of nuclear weopons but it only describes the effects of them. The book is not a history of World War II and does not describe the conflict at all. It should not be taken to be more than it is. However, it still is a good read.

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Summary: Unforgettable
Review: There will always be those who will consider this piece of work of as anti-American propoganda, just look at two of the customer reviews. This book is not about excusing the atrocities of the Japenese (The Rape of Nanking, treatment of POWs), some say it would but they forget that two wrongs do not make a right, and might does not make right. This is a book about human expieriences about how a horrible weapon made a hell on earth, the consequences years later and how the Japenese and American goverment made it no less easy for the survivors. (The only quible that I have with this book is that it doesn't mention that Japan was suing for peace before the the Bomb was dropped.) I wish I could say that this book will change the way everyone looks at war, but there will obviously be those who justify revenge tactics.

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Summary: Too Biased. Destroys the concept of historical truth.
Review: As Japanese troops surrounded the city of Nanjing, hundreds of bombers flew overhead, dropping thousands of pounds of cases filled with anthrax, thyphus, or the bubonic plague. Invading soldiers took turns raping women, children, and the elderly. Nearly 200,000 of the city's two milldion residents died a few days after Japanese occupation. Many more were to follow. More than 20 (maybe even 30) million died in China and Japan from Japanese atrocities committed during World War II. In Japan, history books portray all sides as victims of an unfortunate "incident". Indeed, Japan is cast as the victim nation, falling to the militarisim of the Americans. Japan's conservative government has only recently allowed for honest discussion of Japanese atrocities committed during WWII in school history books. Largely ignored in the West, and overshadowed by Hitler's extermination of Jews, slavs, etc, the forgotten holocaust is completely ignored in high school text books.! Many times, there are sections devoted to the dropping of the nuclear bombs on Horishima and Nagasaki. Less than 200,000 Japanese lives were lost in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An invasion of the Japanese home islands was estimated to cost at least 1,000,000 American lives and even more Japanese lives. And, Japanese forces were still strong in Manchuria and Korea, where they were systamatically destroying all evidence, including victims, of their holocaust. Speed was vital in ending the war. However, Japanese zealousy (as experienced by American troops in Okinawa and other islands, wasn't going to let that happen anytime soon. Indeed, the Japanese government was warned quite a few times before the attack. It seems to me that the Japanese government, and its supporters (many of them civilians) are to blame for tens of millions of deaths, including those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.