Hiroshima

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Summary: Never thought about it much before but now...
Review: It wasn't the writing as much as the story.

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Summary: tells it like it happened
Review: this book lays it on the line - the horror of what the atomic bomb was like from the perspective of several different residents of hiroshima...who were there on august 6, 1945. it's a clear, well-written (though DRY) account of that horrible day, and if there's any book that's going to make you against nuclear weapons this is it.

what shocks me is that people (some who even read this book!) still think dropping this bomb (not to mention the one on nagasaki) was worth it. granted, there can be a million arguments justifying it, about how it saved lives, and how the japanese committed horrible atrocities too, etc., but just seeing the pure horror this bomb inflicted (through the eyes of these characters) is enough to make me say "no way - going to this degree of horror cannot be justified."

and to all you who still want to argue that dropping this bomb had its merits...and that creating even more destructive nuclear bombs has its merits...well...well...i feel sorry for you. because horror is horror, and when it comes to weapons of mass destruction we are all innocent. no one deserves that.

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Summary: A MUST READ
Review: The debate rages on to this day on whether or not the U.S. was justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. John Hersey's "Hiroshima" paints a realistic picture of the bomb dropped on that city as told in a narrative style about six victims, including a priest, two doctors, a poor widow, and a young female factory worker.

Some currently share the opinion that Japan was going to surrender even before the bombs were dropped. Others still believe in what this book points to in one of its sections as "total war" being practiced by Japan at that time, where there "was no difference between civilians and soldiers". The bomb, in this case, was needed to save American lives and Japan from total destruction.

This book leaves the debate to the reader as it shows what did happen to tens of thousands of people after the bomb fell on Hiroshima. Instant death, pro-longed suffering, and total destruction of property are portrayed in its pages. This book is a MUST READ for all people -- all nations. Readers can witness the human tragedy behind a nuclear solution. This book, written shortly after the war and updated, will leave all who read it shaken and praying that this event will never happen again for any reason.

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Summary: Hiroshima
Review: Hiroshima, by John Hersey, is about the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and what happened to six people before and after the explosion. The author describes well in the book how terrible and awful the Hiroshima was after the bomb. I am a high school student who have never experienced war. This book helps people who has never experienced war to understand how terrible and awful the war is. It has been more than 50 years since the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. However, there are many people who are still suffering from the aftereffect of the atomic bomb today. After you read this book, your perspective of an atomic bomb would be different. I believe that we should never use the bomb again. I suggest to read this book, especially if you have never experienced war. I hope peace will be with us in our world forever.

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Summary: Burden of memory
Review: "Hiroshima" is about the people who experienced the destructive powers of the atomic bomb firsthand. It does not tell you whether the bomb was a necessary evil, or whether the US should have found alternative methods of victory. It only attempts to describe the lives of six people who were in Hiroshima that day, what they saw and what they did. In this book, the ethics of the bomb are not the issue, though it can be argued that it is anti-bomb or anti-war because it doesn't put the war in context. But given the scope of the book, the context isn't necessary. The bomb had consequences; to deny that is to put patriotism over humanity.

There are some quirky reviewers here who mention that this is a "novel." "Hiroshima" is not a work of fiction. John Hersey interviewed several people who were in Hiroshima at the time of the atomic bomb and survived, and this is the story of six of them. He originally meant to publish the contents serially in the New Yorker, hence the four chapters (A Noiseless Flash, The Fire, Details are Being Investigated, and Panic Grass and Feverfew) that are separated chronologically, each discussing all six people in that particular time frame. This is probably why the form of the book was confusing for some people who didn't like going from one person's story to another, and back again (though I personally found it easy to follow). Eventually it was decided that the four chapters should be published as one article, taking up most of the August 31, 1946 New Yorker magazine. The aftermath was written forty hears later and comprises almost half the book. It is a follow up on the people and is just as relevant-the bomb would have its effects long after most people began to forget.

If you want to know about the bomb and how it relates to World War II, then there are many other sources out there. But "Hiroshima's" value lies in its portrayal of the sheer horror of the power of atomic weapons. The discussion of whether the existence and use of weapons of mass destruction can be justified might be eternally debated. But that debate must include the consequences of what can happen to human beings and the conditions in which they live. I first read this book in sixth grade, and the words "He reached down and took a woman by the hands, but her skin slipped off in huge, glovelike pieces" has never left my mind.

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Summary: Quick, Important Read
Review: Precise, journalistic overview of the events at ground zero when Hiroshima was bombed. I had hoped the book would deal more with the emotional effects of the bombing on its victims (and there is a bit of that), but mostly it's a factual account. That said, I recommend it. It's such an important historical document, especially if you're an American, that it's worth an hour and a half of your time.

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Summary: Four Mercy Girls and the Book They Have In Common!
Review: The book Hiroshima by John Hersey is a brief literary work written about the experiences of six different people who survived and witnessed the Bombing of Hiroshima. The book was very suspensful, leaving you hanging at the end of each page, quivering for the next thrill of foreboding. The book does not judge America's decision in using the Bomb. The book does not take Japan's side, or even America's side in the War topic. No matter what the readers views are, this book is extremly valuble to those fact thirsty and to those WWII students. It's compelling and raw and we Four Mercy Girls strongly recommend this book for a new slide on your view finder.

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Summary: Review of John Hersey's Hiroshima not for Black Hawk Down
Review: At 8:15 am on August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It detonated above a bridge, near a school. Instantly, temperatures at ground zero reached over 6000 degrees Fahrenheit. Flesh was seared from bone. People nearby were disintegrated, leaving nothing more than a shadow on the wall behind them. Unspeakable horrors were forced upon the survivors. John Hersey's Hiroshima tells their story. The author's goal in crafting this novel is to give a memorable and accurate account of the bombing of Hiroshima that elicits thoughtful responses from the reader. The material is presented in an unbiased form. The reader is never told to view the bombing in a specific nature and the author's opinion is never revealed. One does not know if the author agrees or disagrees with the decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima. The author also wants to make the reader think. The reader is invited to dwell on the moral issues of the bomb, as well as the ethics of war and issues of life and death. The reader is meant to see the survivor's as humans, not civilians or enemies. He makes the reader look at them as real people by not only telling what is going on around the person, but what emotions are going through their minds. In taking away the ability of the reader to view the subjects of the book as objects. He draws the reader into the survivor's minds making them feel what the reader feels and making them see what the reader sees. Suddenly the reader stops viewing the bombing of Hiroshima as an ending to a war and begins viewing it as a massive loss of human life. The bombing was in fact both, but many people forget that. The author does not want us to forget, and after reading this book it is impossible. In writing the book the author relies mainly on the accounts of the survivors. At times he will inject snippets of facts to tie together parts of the story and tell what else was going on at the time of the reader's account. In delivering the accounts many questions on morality and ethics are brought up. The question of the morality of the bomb is brought up many times from each survivor's point of view, but shares equal time with a meditation off the morals of war itself. A colleague of one survivor, who also experienced the bombing, remarks towards the different opinions of the survivors that "Some of us consider the bomb in the same category as poison gas and were against its use on a civilian population. Others were of the opinion that in total war, as carried on in Japan, there was no difference between civilians and soldiers, and that the bomb itself was an effective force tending to end the bloodshed, warning Japan to surrender and thus to avoid total destruction. It seems logical that he who supports total war in principle cannot complain of a war against civilians. The crux of the matter is whether total war in its present form is justifiable, even when it serves its purpose." (90) These are the main questions addressed in the text. At times the opinions of the people giving their accounts are shown, but never forced on you. It is always made clear that the opinions shown are simply the survivor's opinions, and are not shared by everyone. The story is exquisitely painted on a lush visual canvas. The reader is invited to marvel at the power of the bomb, while gawking at its horrific affects as seen through the eyes of survivors. The stories are described so vividly that it is not unusual to feel a wave of nausea after reading a passage with truly gruesome content. The book is written from a combination of an omniscient and third person viewpoint giving it a scope of epic proportions. The events are looked upon with an unerring eye of truth that neither judges nor attempts to justify. It is very well written in a style that provokes emotional responses without even attempting to. The book is a success. It is a finely crafted novel that, without warning, plunges the reader in to the horrific events of the bombing of Hiroshima. When reading it, one feels as though living a nightmare. I was captivated by the sheer brutality of the situation. In fact, the imagery, at times, is so harsh that one feels the need to stop reading and mourn the tragic loss of life. The survivors of the bomb were forced into inhuman situations, such as choosing who receives medical attention, and the reader feels morally responsible for their decisions. The book made me reflect on life itself. I would sometimes stop to contemplate on the issues that arise from the text. The author succeeds in burning the events into the reader's mind. Never will I forget the horror experienced as a result of the bomb. Not a day goes by that the images of piles of corpses or flesh sliding off a dieing body flash through my mind. The pain and suffering of the survivors is forever engraved in my memory. Though short, it is by no means an easy book to read. The situations are shocking and the gruesomeness is sometimes overwhelming. It is painful to read, yet, as hard as I tried to look away my eyes did not leave the page. I devoured each word. Anyone with the ability to read, at any level, should read this book. Sometimes a passage needs to be repeated, by all readers, to get the entire impact of what the author is revealing. The worst thing that the survivors could experience is the world forgetting what happened to them. This book does not allow one to forget. This is a must read.

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Summary: Review of John Hersey's Hiroshima
Review: The author's intent in writing this book is to give an accurate report of a forgotten battle. The battle in question was of a "peacekeeping" nature and was the longest sustained firefight since Vietnam. It took place in Mogadishu, Somalia after a failed raid to capture a warlord in the way of "peacekeeping." It happened only a few short years ago, but has already slipped from the public eye. The intent of the author is to shed new light on the battle of Mogadishu and bring it back into the public eye. He also intends to question America's military credibility and the values of the supposed "peacekeeping" missions. He intends to make the reader question the value of sending troops into areas of civil unrest strictly to establish order. What usually results is a bloody conflict taking many lives and injuring multiple people. Is it right for America to continually do this? Is it necessary? Has it done any good? Is it sheer arrogance to think that the United States can bring peace to the world? Is it futile to try? Can democracy and government be forced on to an unwilling people? Were the lives lost completely unnecessary? Did the men who died sacrifice their lives for nothing? The author's intent is not to answer these questions for us, but to make sure they are being asked. To summarize all of this, the author's intent in writing this book is to give an accurate account of modern war while bringing a forgotten battle into the public eye and provoking thoughtful inquiries into the merits of peacekeeping actions from the reader. The author goes about his task by giving an accurate account of the events before, during, and after the battle between the U.S. military and the people of Mogadishu after a failed raid to capture their leader. We are invited to view these events though various accounts of what people are experiencing. Sometimes one event is told many times, at different angles. We experience what the individuals are experiencing, both physically and mentally. If a soldier is shot we are not just told that he was shot. We are told where the bullet entered, what damage it did and where it exited along with what the person was thinking before, after and during being shot. We are drawn directly into the minds of the soldiers. We are told why they fight, how they fight, what they are thinking, who their families are, their favorite things to do at the base, their personality, their goals for the future and much more. There is an extreme amount of detail. The reader feels as though they really know and understand the people in the book. There is no main character or clear enemy. There is no good or bad side. This is an account of what happened, from all points of view, including those fighting against U.S. soldiers. Although sometimes gruesome, the violence is completely necessary. It is not glorified and it is not accepted as necessary. It is simply shown and deciding the merits of it is left to the reader. The brutality of war and it's effect on the human mind make the reader not only question the necessity of the situation, but the value of armed conflicts altogether. Along with the frequent third person individual perspectives and questioning of the morals of war is the occasional description of military life. These semi-flashbacks give the reader a greater understanding as to how and why the soldiers think and react the way they do. Before each chapter is a map or pictures that give the reader a vague idea of where the events are taking place and what things look like.. The combination of pictures, maps, flashbacks and frequently switching individual accounts takes the reader to the crowded streets of Mogadishu, where all hell is breaking loose. This can all be called an omniscient minute by minute narrative that the author uses to accomplish his task. This book is a success. It is easily read and entertaining while being factual and true to its task of war reporting. It is gripping and spellbinding and I could not put it down. I found myself easily relating to the men in the battle and their resulting emotions. The harsh imagery made me feel as though I was in the battle myself. I was drawn into the book. The author accomplishes his task of accurately explaining modern warfare and not letting us forget the events in Somalia that took place only a few years ago, yet most people do not remember. Those who read this book will always remember. I was persuaded of nothing that I did not find entirely by myself. The author never tried to persuade the reader of anything more than that the events actually happened. However, the book actually persuaded me that the conflict was unnecessary and did no good. The tribal system of Somalia was not equal to all and cannot be replaced by force. The book made me angry at the futility of the struggle and the unnecessary massive loss of life. These events did not have to happen. They did no good. The author never tried to persuade me of this, but accomplished it indirectly. What other conclusion can be drawn from the facts? This indeed was a book that needed to be written. America is not invincible and is not always right. It was a bad decision to send troops to Somalia. The men who died did not die for a good reason. Their self-sacrifice accomplished nothing. Read this book. This book makes you question which side is right. This book makes you question the morals of war. This book makes you question the arrogance of the United States of America. This book makes you turn away in disgust at the depths that humanity descends to. This book is a shocking account of a futile battle that will never be won. This book needs to be read.

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Summary: Hiroshima - A Story of Survival
Review: When the A-bomb hit Hiroshima at 8:15 AM on August 6, 1945, Hatsuyo Nakamura was observing a neighbor through her kitchen window as he patiently tore down his home for the sake of the city. In a flash of light and a matter of moments, Nakamura and her three children were scattered across the home and buried in piles of rubble that had, just moments before, been their home. In the aftermath of the bombing, Nakamura, a tailor's widow, and her children were left alive, albeit destitute, and were forced to rebuild their lives from scratch like so many others across the city. Nakamura's response? The bombing had been her fate, which, according to Japanese tradition, must be accepted. In the aftermath of the bombing, it was reported that 78,150 people had been killed, 13,983 were missing, and 37,425 had been injured. Nakamura was one of the lucky ones. She was a survivor. Or, as the Japanese people preferred to state it, Nakamura was "an explosion-affected person." In Hiroshima, John Hersey tells Nakamura's story as well as the stories of five other individuals who were fated to experience the bombing. Hersey begins with a description of the humid August morning through the eyes of each "explosion affected person" that he interviewed and continues to follow his characters lives in the years after the explosion. The most recent version of Hiroshima includes an extra chapter, written 40 years after the event, that reveals the fates of Toshinki Sasaki, Masakazu Fujii, Wilhelm Kleinsorge, Terufumi Sasaki, Kiyoshi Tanimoto and, of course, Hatsuyo Nakamura. All six of the characters in Hiroshima lived very different lives, both before and after the bomb, yet all were bound through the horrors they experienced and their inexorable drive to live and overcome. For some, the motivation to live was personal. Nakamura lived only to support her children. Father Kleinsorge, a German priest, was compelled to work beyond his injuries in an attempt to rescue his fellow priests and friends. For others, motivation stemmed from a desire to serve the mass population. Dr. Terufumi Sasaki was the only doctor in his hospital to survive the explosion completely unharmed. As the dust settled over Hiroshima, he quickly became aware of his good fortune and managed to provide medical care for thousands of injured victims using only the scattered array of supplies before him and a pair of glasses borrowed from an injured nurse. For days, Sasaki worked with little rest to save the lives of those who had been more unfortunate than he had. Years later his medical practice flourished but, despite his success and his contributions to humanity, he died regretting that he had been unable to do more. Kiyoshi Tanimoto, pastor of the Hiroshima Methodist Church, also helped hundreds as he worked tirelessly to transport wounded and bring supplies to and from Asano Park. For most, though, the motivation to live was simply human instinct. Dr. Masakazu Fujii was injured so greatly that he was unable to attend to patients in the direct aftermath but later went on to fight for peace and raise funds for a variety of endeavors in the name of the Hiroshima victims. Toshinki Sasaki remained pinned under a pile of books for hours before being dragged out and left in a makeshift shed for days. She suffered for months from the pain of a badly mangled and broken leg that was never properly set. Later in life, she became a nun worked through her physical and emotional scars guided only by the light of faith. The six individuals whose lives were documented in Hiroshima overcame unfavorable odds and went on to live successful, happy lives. Hersey delicately weaves the details from the life of each character into a bittersweet account of the Hiroshima bombing. Hiroshima is unusual and wonderful because although it is a non-fiction piece, the emotion of the event is not lost in an overwhelming amalgamation of facts. Hersey's descriptive account of the tragedy overflows with agony and pain but leaves the reader with a greater understanding of human capabilities and the knowledge that the drive to survive cannot be bounded by language or by nationality.