Editorial Review

The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought in the winter of 1945 on a rocky island south of Japan, brought a ferocious slice of hell to earth: in a month's time, more than 22,000 Japanese soldiers would die defending a patch of ground a third the size of Manhattan, while nearly 26,000 Americans fell taking it from them. The battle was a turning point in the war in the Pacific, and it produced one of World War II's enduring images: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point.Read more

Reviews (454)

"Flags of Our Fathers" - A Timely Look at a Bloody Battle in Our History
Quite a while ago, Nick Olmsted, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, recommended that I read "Flags of Our Fathers." I am glad that I finally got around to taking his advice. This story struck me on many levels at once, and this seems to be an opportune time to share some of my thoughts about this remarkable book, written by James Bradley, the son of one of the six Marines whose iconic picture of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima riveted a war-weary nation.
A hard book to read.
World War II seems such a long time ago for so many of us. Most Americans today weren't yet born when it took place. For this reason, I believe everyone old enough to comprehend its stories should read this book. James Bradley and Ron Powers have written a heart-pounding record of the thirty-five bloody days it took to wrest Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island) from the Japanese. The photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi (1/400th of a second's space in time) is recognized around the world. The men who raised it: John "Doc" Bradley (the author's father);Harlon Block; Rene Gagnon; Ira Hayes; Franklin Sousley; and Mike Strank became instant heroes (though Block, Sousley and Strank died not long after). Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon lived to tell the tale, though both Hayes and Gagnon would die with the pain of their experiences on Iwo Jima seared into their psyches to the point they could not live with it successfully.
1/400th of a second in time
"It's funny what a picture can do":1/400th of a second in time.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 19    7. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945    8. Marines    9. Military    10. Military - Pictorial    11. Military - United States    12. Military - World War II    13. Military History - World War II    14. Photographs    15. Pictorial works    16. United States    17. World War II    18. History / Military / World War II    19. Photographs: collections    20. Second World War, 1939-1945    21. World history: Second World War   

Reviews (12)

"Flags of Our Fathers" - A Timely Look at a Bloody Battle in Our History
Quite a while ago, Nick Olmsted, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, recommended that I read "Flags of Our Fathers." I am glad that I finally got around to taking his advice. This story struck me on many levels at once, and this seems to be an opportune time to share some of my thoughts about this remarkable book, written by James Bradley, the son of one of the six Marines whose iconic picture of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima riveted a war-weary nation.
A hard book to read.
World War II seems such a long time ago for so many of us. Most Americans today weren't yet born when it took place. For this reason, I believe everyone old enough to comprehend its stories should read this book. James Bradley and Ron Powers have written a heart-pounding record of the thirty-five bloody days it took to wrest Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island) from the Japanese. The photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi (1/400th of a second's space in time) is recognized around the world. The men who raised it: John "Doc" Bradley (the author's father);Harlon Block; Rene Gagnon; Ira Hayes; Franklin Sousley; and Mike Strank became instant heroes (though Block, Sousley and Strank died not long after). Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon lived to tell the tale, though both Hayes and Gagnon would die with the pain of their experiences on Iwo Jima seared into their psyches to the point they could not live with it successfully.
A full 5 stars !!
It is kind of funny how I came up with this book. I was looking to buy some books on WWII and after deciding on 2 books, I was short 25 cents to recieve the free shipping. So, I looked for another book that was cheep in price and picked this one. Out of the three books I purchased, Flags Of Our Fathers was the first one I read thinking I will get through this before I get to the good ones. Boy was I wrong. This book was just so good! I could not put it down! I would find myself up and still reading at 1am in the morning. I would strongly reccomend this book to anyone! Now I am going to purchase the newest version (bigger with nice cover) to have as a keepsake. Take my word for it, buy the book and you will not regret it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945    5. Military    6. Military - United States    7. Military - World War II    8. Photographs    9. Photography    10. Pictorial works    11. World War II - East Asia    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. History / Military / World War II   

Reviews (200)

Biased
I read Flags of Our Fathers and enjoyed it more than Flyboys.Bradley has a writing style that is difficult at times as has personal biases come through very clearly.As one other reviewer has written, I found it very odd that he often referred to MG Curtis LeMay as "Curtis."As someone writing about military history, Bradley should have more respect for the uniform and should not call a two star general by his first name like he is talking about one of his golfing buddies.This was very distracting.I also found the first couple of chapters of his history lesson very tedious and unfocused - so much so that I nearly quit reading the book.The latter chapters pick up the pace and are insightful.Bradley also devotes too much time attempting to demonize the American firebombing tactics.Thankfully Bradley's bias and negativity toward the Navy and Army is not as pronounced in Flyboys as in FOOF.This bias is especially odd considering his father was a Navy Corpsman.

Desire to moralize reaches too far
I assume that the author is attempting to show that war creates an environment in which morally degenerate acts become much more likely, if not all but inevitable, on all sides of the conflict.In doing so, however, the author very frequently stretches the blanket of history too far, as when he suggests that the Japanese would have remained forever content to be isolated on their home islands if the American fleet had not paid an uninvited visit to Tokyo Bay in 1853-54 and taught the Japanese the foreign policy advantages of a strong navy.While most historians would agree that the U.S. Navy's visit served the royal court with a wake-up call regarding the existence of a world beyond Japan, that is not the same thing as assuming that without this visit no other internal or external events over the next 70 years would have spurred the Japanese to look beyond their shores and trade an isolationist philosophy for an imperial one.
Fascinating!
I found this to be a fascinating account of the war in the Pacific, and I was impressed with the fact that the author imparts a deep appreciation for America and the sacrifices our soldiers made but can still step back and look objectively at the mistakes on both sides.Does examining our own faults release the other side from responsibility for their crimes, as some other reviewers seem to feel?I don't believe so; I think it's healthy for us to examine our history so we don't make the same mistakes again.It's too bad that some people lump any critique of our own actions into the "pop-revisionist history" category.
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Subjects:  1. Atrocities    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Chichi Island    6. History - Military / War    7. Japan    8. Military    9. Military - Aviation    10. Military - United States    11. Military - World War II    12. Military History - World War II    13. Prisoners Of War    14. Prisoners and prisons, Japanes    15. Prisoners and prisons, Japanese    16. World War, 1939-1945    17. Biography & Autobiography / Military   

Reviews (19)

Lean Production for everyone
Japan manufacturing revolutionized the automobile industry.Japan transformed the automobile industry by applying ideal perfection conditions of zero defect products, reduced inventories, and the generation of endless product inventories.How did Japan accomplish this breakaway?Lean production is the answer.Lean production allowed the Japanese to reduce human labor by ½, manufacturing production space by ½, capital investment by ½, required engineering hours by ½, and reduced production time by ½. US automobile companies were on the defensive and rather than compete head to head in quality and competitiveness with their Japanese counterparts they sought refuge in the political system.
Misleading and dated
This is a fairly poorly researched book, despite the authors' credentials; their history of American automobiles is grossly inaccurate and only serves to reinforce incorrect stereotypes. They spend very little time actually describing lean production, preferring to talk about how every other company will go bankrupt because they don't have it. The misreading of the Volvo story is also rather galling, though to be fair, Volvo's team-based approach was already being dismantled (for non-
Takes a licking - keeps on ticking
For those of you long in the tooth you may recall John Cameron Swayze's love-in with Timex watches where in a 60 second commercial he would submit the watch to behemoth like torture, rodeo riding, outboard motors, and then hold the watch up and say, 'it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.'
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Subjects:  1. Automobile industry    2. Automobile industry and trade    3. Automotive - Industry    4. Business & Economics    5. Business / Economics / Finance    6. Business/Economics    7. Corporate & Business History - General    8. Entrepreneurship    9. Industries - Automobile Industry    10. Japan    11. Road vehicle manufacturing industry    12. Technology / General    13. USA    14. Corporate History    15. Engineering - Civil    16. Transportation   

Reviews (48)

New insights to an old story
This book destroys several myths about the battle of Midway. It was refreshing to have a new perspective but I didn't expect to see such obvious evidence against so many so called facts of the battle. From misperceptions like: the numerical superiority of the Japanese forces, decoy of the Aleutian Islands, the reasons for the delay of the stike against the American carriers, to even the importance of the radio trouble of Japan's scout #4, this author employ's simple logic with japanese logbook data from the sunken carriers to debunk many of these myths. Its surprising to see so much of what I thought to be true to be so easily dismissed.
A Big Book and a Fascinating Read
I usually avoid lengthy books but the subject matter is intriguing and the authors have extensive knowledge of the Imperial Japanese Navy of WWII. Their work is so engrossing and detailed that I was actually left wanting more after completing the book, but they've covered it all and then some. A wonderful read for those interested in this fascinating and critical encounter between the USN anf the IJN. The backstory and the countless details add such a richness and meaning to the well known history that I sincerely hope that the authors are planning additional works on related subjects in the future.

Best read in a long time.
As an avid reader of history, specifically military history, I purchased this book based on a review in Air and Space. The reviewer's only complaint was that the book was too Japanese in its outlook. Valid complaint on the surface, however, I found that the authors' detailed examination of the battle from the Japanese perspective using voluminous original documents and other resources opened up new avenues and made me understand the Battle of Midway and its importance even more. The book is a complex read with many footnotes, but the overwhelming reason for this is that the author's are explaining to lay readers complex under-reported facts and new discoveries about military operations conducted by a foreign country in a completely different language. I found the footnotes and appendices helpful and a good read also. This will stay in my permanent library.Purchase and savor this text.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Midway, Battle of, 1942    5. Military    6. Military - World War II    7. Naval operations, American    8. Naval operations, Japanese    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. History / Japan    11. Japan    12. World history: Second World War   

Reviews (5)

Publisher's Weekly Reviewer is off the mark
The Publisher's Weekly Reviewer is off the mark in his closing statement that 70 percent of the Russian population voted for Putin.S/he has no clue about the true political situation in Russia.During elections, competing political parties have no chance in gaining votes due to the Kremlin's firm grip on campaign activities.What the Kremlin wants is what the Russian people get.Does this reviewer really think the elctions are free and fair and that 70 percent is anything close to an accurate figure?There is no real democracy in Russia, and the majority of voters are so impoverished economically and uneducated (through no fault of their own) that when it comes to elections that you can't really expect them understand how to vote when they can't even buy medicine or food.Politkovskaya was murdered today.Sure her work was often over-emotional and perhaps it isn't brilliant in translation, but she was one of the few brave journalists to tackle the tough issues and to not self-edit.Her death follows that of Starvoitova, Gongadze (Ukraine), Khlebnikov and countless other post-Soviet journalists.Do some homework next time you write a book review.
Anna is Dead; Does That Convince the "Publishers Weekly" Reviewer?
Or is that just more "anecdotal" evidence?
This book has the wrong title
Readers who buy this book with the hope of learning about the overall situation in Putin's Russia, as the title promises, will be sorely disappointed.It's really just an author rant about soldier abuse in Russia's military today - a serious human problem, to be sure, but a very small slice of what a Western reader would want to know about this vast and complicated country.And even on the narrow subject the author actually addresses, the level of writing and analysis is little above a blog posting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1952-    2. 1991-    3. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    4. Government - International    5. History - General History    6. Modern - 21st Century    7. Political Freedom & Security - General    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics and government    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Post-Communism    13. Presidents & Heads of State    14. Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich,    15. Russia (Federation)    16. Russia - History    17. Social conditions   

Reviews (7)

Biased?!!!
Yes, it is a shock therapy book. It is filled with some of the most cruel and bloody imagery. But this shock therapy is needed, both in Russia and in the West. Because that imagery is not a figment of somebody's imagination nor is it some particularly violent page of the world history book long turned over and forgotten. It's reality. It's happening right now, right at this moment. Even now, 3 years since the book's last interview with Akhmed Zakaev took place. And virtually nobody outside of Chechnya has a good idea what is going on there.
Flawed But Few Alternatives
In looking for substantive reporting on the Chechnya conlict, one quickly finds that there is simply not much out there of note.Titles tend to range from academic histories of the region to cursory reporting (though in the last year or so, this seems to be changing a bit).It was with this in mind that I picked up this book.While the author clearly has invested her time and labor in the region, the book does not have any coherent narrative flow and doesn't provide much background or context for the events being covered.Also, one gets the sense that the translation may be much too literal, losing the author's passion and intended meanings in the process.It is a disciplined read, but given the paucity of alternatives, probably worth the effort if you are interested in the conflict and the region.

Propoganda
Expecting to learn the truth about the Chechen War from Anna Politkovskaya is like expecting to learn the truth about the Iraq War from Michael Moore. Very biased and propogandic account by a Liberal reporter who has claimed to want to be the "Russian Michael Moore." Anna tries to make excuses for the terrorist acts committed by Chechen Jihadists. Too much has happened since she wrote this book, and there is no sympathy for Wahabbi terrorists who strap suicide belts on brainwashed women and send them into restaurants, subways, concerts, airplanes, and kindergardens. If you want to know the real facts about Chechnya, read a book by an American counter-terrorist expert, Wolves of Islam. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chechnia (Russia)    2. Chechnëiìa (Russia)    3. Civil War, 1994-    4. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    5. General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Journalists    10. Personal narratives, Russian    11. Press coverage    12. Revolutionary    13. Chechnya    14. European history: from c 1900 -    15. History / Russia (pre- & post-Soviet Union)    16. Interdisciplinary Studies    17. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    18. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (32)

The perfect concise history of the Cold War
This book is a masterpiece of what Gaddis once termed "lumping," or the search for overall themes and trends in history.The only negative thing that could possibly be said is that The Cold War is not an in-depth look at a conflict full of details to explore.But those who are reading this book for such an account are missing the point entirely.Gaddis explicitly set out to write a short, thematic, but still informative book on his area of expertise, and he has done so without fault.
Thumbs up for The Cold War
A very concise view of the developments that lead up to and through the Cold War.It is a book designed for those of us interested in the period without a need for the depth that academics or professional historians would need.

Excellent thematic overview of the Cold War -- does not pretend to be a comprehensive history
When reading a work of history, one should always read the author's preface.With luck, the author has done more than merely thank the dozens of vital souls who helped make the book possible but do not share in the royalties.The author will tell you the purpose behind the book's writing -- "this is the book I wanted to write."
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Subjects:  1. 1945-1989    2. 20th Century World History    3. Cold War    4. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. International Relations (Specific Aspects)    9. Modern - 20th Century    10. Modern - 20th Century/Nuclear Age    11. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    12. World politics    13. History / Russia (pre- & post-Soviet Union)   

Reviews (56)

I wanted to like it I really did
The first three chapters have nothing to do with the overall concept, its just some crazy manifest dynasty that's been rehashed time and time again.
Insightful and fair work
Behind the scenes of the hellish fights on Iwo Jima in 1945, another bloodshed was taking place just nearby. The American Air Force planned to fly B-29 strategic bombers from Iwo Jima to Japan, but it faced another peril, Chichi Jima. The island served as critical radar station to detect any enemy aerial activities for the Japanese and held even greater forces than infamous Iwo Jima. This book is a story about the fate of nine Chichi Jima raiders who were shot down, captured, slaughtered, and erased from the history until re-discovered recently.
Flyboys
I had a difficult time with this book. Having ready "Flags of Our Fathers", I had hopes this would be as well written and informitive. However, from early on this book came across as just another piece of "pagan liberal propoganda". The ethnic cleansing of American Indians by the United States was an early warmup of typical pagan propoganda and it headed downhill from there.
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Subjects:  1. Atrocities    2. Biography    3. Chichi Island    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. Japan    7. Military    8. Military - Aviation    9. Military - United States    10. Military - World War II    11. Prisoners Of War    12. Prisoners and prisons, Japanes    13. Prisoners and prisons, Japanese    14. World War II - East Asia    15. World War, 1939-1945    16. Biography & Autobiography / Military   

Reviews (5)

The best on the subject !
Being relativelly new to the subject of Japanese swords and fittings I was quite impresse by two things:
Very Good Buy!
Very amazing photos, and quality information on each photo and sword. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

A modern book on japanese sword fittings
This review is a joint effort with Laerte E. Ottaiano
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Catalogs    4. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    5. Design - Decorative    6. Exhibition Catalogs    7. General    8. Japan    9. Metal Arts And Crafts    10. Metal Work    11. Sword guards    12. Sword mountings    13. Swords    14. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Reviews (24)

Parents & law enforcement must read this book
Terror at Beslan by John Giduck is an absolute must read by anyone who has a child in school and by anyone who is in law enforcement that may need to respond to such an incident. This book is heart wrenching and difficult to read but this must not prevent you from gaining the needed knowledge that this book provides.
Schools in danger
I am in middle school so when I read this book, all I could think about was it can happen here! In any school in America, like it happened in Beslan. When I read about the kids, how the terrorists killed the older boys and raped the teenage girls, and terrorized the little ones, I can feel it along with them and imagine if it were my own school. I hope our police and soldiers are training as Mr. John Giduck tells how in this book. But I also was interested to learn how I can protect my own self, such as planning in advance, being aware, and taking martial arts. (I'm in karate.) At Beslan, fear was the way the terrorists controlled the crowd. Some kids and teachers managed to hide or escape, and others managed to survive. I just want to say God Bless the Alpha and Vympel soldiers who risked their lives and some gave their lives for the children. I know our soldiers and police will be inspired by this book. You should also check out Archangel's website and check out the training schedules and also, the cool things they have for sale, besides this book. To Mr. John Giduck, I wish I lived near your dojo, because I would love to learn the Russian Hand to Hand Combat Training, and take the Archangel anti-terrorism course for women! This book was so sad and horrible but so important to read for kids and teachers, police and parents.

Exposes the common denominator
Although I read this macabre but critically important book more than a year ago, I have put off reviewing it that long because I just could not again face the gruesome realities it contains. But a few weeks after the July 10 death of Russia's Osama bin Laden, the Naqshabandi Sufi murderer, Shamil Basayev, there is no longer any excuse.
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Subjects:  1. Beslan    2. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Modern - 21st Century    7. Prevention    8. Russia (Federation)    9. Safety measures    10. Schools    11. Terrorism    12. United States