The Rape of Nanking

Rating:
Summary: not for the faint of heart
Review: this book is not for people with weak stomachs. the author describes the war atrocities very graphically and there are photographs that are equally as grahic. as a combat vet(desert storm), even i had to put this book down,once in a while.

Rating:
Summary: 20th century Asian history
Review: This was truly eye-opening b/c of the lack of awareness that this event ever occured. That is the point and the double-tragedy of what happened. Much like the Nazi atrocities of WW2, it is hard to believe that man could act in such a way to others. The book is informative yet somewhat repetitive. A couple of times I swear I was reading word for word what I had already read. Otherwise, it was very interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but extremely flawed
Review: While Chang's narrative is compelling, the fact that she compiled most of her information from Chinese sources and uses Chinese government estimates leaves a great deal of doubt with regard to many of her assertions. Real historians have cringed at many of her suppositions, but the most ridiculous part of the book is when Chang plays armchair psychologist to explain the Japanese mindset. I would balance this book with Honda's to gain a little perspective. Still waiting for a good book on the subject by an actual historian without an agenda.