A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the YearA groundbreaking history that considers the attack on Pearl Harbor from the Japanese perspective and is certain to revolutionize how we think of the war in the Pacific.When Japan attacked the United States in 1941; its leaders; in large part; understood they were entering a war they were almost certain to lose. In a groundbreaking history that considers Pearl Harbor from the Japanese perspective; certain to revolutionize how we think of the war in the Pacific; Eri Hotta poses essential questions overlooked for the last seventy years: Why did these men—military men; civilian politicians; diplomats; the emperor—put their country and its citizens in harm's way? Why did they make a decision that was doomed from the start? Introducing us to the doubters; bluffers; and schemers who led their nation into this conflagration; Hotta brilliantly shows us a hidden Japan—eager to avoid war but fraught with tensions with the West; deluded by reckless militarism; tempted by the gambler’s dream of scoring the biggest win against impossible odds and nearly escaping disaster before it finally proved inevitable.
#617574 in Books Alfred F Young 2012-04-17 2012-04-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.99 x .96 x 5.21l; .95 #File Name: 0307455998464 pagesRevolutionary Founders Rebels Radicals and Reformers in the Making of the Nation
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The true perspective on American RevolutionsBy MattI took a Atlantic Revolutions class with one of the authors of this book. A interesting little gem that tells stories of history from a alternative perspective. I learned a lot about how I was taught a very "fairytale" version of the American Revolutions in public school. A must read for History buffs!5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding collection of essays.By gloine36Most Americans have a general idea of what the American Revolution was regardless of whether or not they understand the fine details of how it began and what followed afterwards. Few Americans know the men and women they will encounter in reading this collection of twenty-two essays penned by many of the leading historians of this period. In many ways these individuals had just as great a role in the founding of the US as the men who most consider to be Founders such as John Adams; George Washington; and Benjamin Franklin. Although they are hardly known to the people of today; these individuals were the ones who helped start the Revolution; sustain it during the long years of combat; and determine the future direction of the new nation. The late Alfred F. Young; esteemed historian from Northern Illinois University begins the book with an essay on Ebenezer Mackintosh; the leader of the mobs that resisted the Stamp Act in 1765 in the streets of Boston. The tone of the book is set by this essay as Young explores the role of the common people in the Revolution. Without the support of the people there would have been no Revolution and no United States created in 1776. Yet; the people were not united in their actions nor were the men who are remembered as Founders on the national and state levels. In many cases the actions of the people led those men into supporting the Revolution. Unfortunately the common men would be forgotten or marginalized by the more well known men who took over the reins of the revolutionary effort. Men like Ebenezer Mackintosh; Timothy Bigelow; and Joseph Plumb Martin along with black men and women both free and enslaved played prominent roles in their part of the Revolution along with Native Americans. All levels of colonial society was affected by the events that took place and despite the attempts by many to prevent change on a large scale; social; political; economic; cultural; and even religious change occurred on a massive level as the Revolution set the former British colonies on a different tangent than the home country. In reading these essays the reader can begin to develop an inkling of why historians like Gordon Wood think the period of the greatest change in the US came after the Revolution during the years of the Early Republic era. These are certainly not all of the legions of forgotten patriots who put everything on the line during these years. If there is a drawback to this book it is that it doesn’t weave the essays into a grand narrative of US history although after each essay there is a section for further reading detailing additional sources to explore regarding the events and people brought up in that particular essay. What is interesting is that each historian has their own input on what was going on concerning the subject their essay was about so that the reader will begin to understand there are still many differing opinions on what exactly was going on in that time and how the individuals portrayed in that essay were both reacting to and participating in it. For readers more familiar with the short topic form of literature the length of the essays here will fit them perfectly. They average 15 to 20 pages each and are compact enough to provide useful readings for both high school and college courses in addition to local historical society meetings. Even social organizations would find something to like in these essays. The essay by Richard S. Newman covers Prince Hall and the founding of Prince Hall Freemasonry in the United States which just naturally impels the reader to look up more information on that subject. The essays that deal with events following the Revolution are poignant in that they cover subjects which have been debated throughout our nation’s history such as taxation; the unequal distribution of wealth; religion; the relationship between federal and state government; and the role of the people within both the state and federal governments. The reader should begin to understand that these essays deal with a time that is lost to the modern world and was experiencing massive upheavals in every aspect of life from top to bottom as the people began the world over again as Thomas Paine said. The men and women in these essays were the ones that helped bring that event about as well as determining the shape of things to come for their posterity.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Great social historyBy fanofhistoryThis is great social history of the war. Anyone who really wants to understand how the Revolution played out need to read this alongside the classic narratives. It really brings to life the experiences of the ordinary; forgotten people who lived and died during this period.
