Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audio book. Most Americans believed, including me, that the atomic bombs that targeted Hiroshima and Nagasaki were critically instrumental in the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II. The most common reason was that they were the 'least worst' option to actually invading the Japanese home islands with resulting large lose of American lives. The author makes a compelling and convincing argument that the Japanese were on the verge of accepting the Potsdam declarations to end the war without them actually calling it a surrender. While not quite presenting as good as an interesting novel this book is hard to dispute with the facts presented.

We know about the dropping of the atomic bomb, used to end WWII. Through this book, the author takes us deeper into the event, sharing tactical and analytical views.

I truly loved this read. It was such a great deep dive into the before and after of the atomic bomb. Learn more about the military build-up, and much more. I highly recommend this book!

A lot of information packed into this audiobook. This would be a great book to have a physical copy of to take your time.

I enjoyed the history leading up the Hiroshima bombings. The narrator did a great job with the pacing and the emotional impact on this history.

#NetGalley #RainofRuin

This was a haunting story American people should read about. We don't get taught this type of history in schools in the US, it's usually tailored. This story is a precautionary tale and hopefully reminds future government of how easily the thread of trust and power can be broken. There were a lot of facts that i did not know and am glad i learned by listening to this powerful audio. History has a way of repeating itself and given the state of affairs in our country it can serve as a precautionary tale. The narrator spoke well and it made me feel like i was watching a PBS documentary. A must listen if you're into history.

I want to thank @NetGalley @RBMedia @RichardOvery for allowing me to listen to this educational audio, Thank You!

This is a very interesting insight on the events before the culmination with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It can be at times a bit difficult to read/listen to for prolonged periods as there is a lot of information on dates/numbers but the narration is smooth and flies well. I will buy the book for reference and notes.

Richard Overy’s **[Rain of Ruin ]** delivers a masterful and deeply nuanced account of the final months of World War II, offering an incisive look at the Allied bombing campaigns and their profound effects on both Japan and the wider war effort. Unlike many accounts that focus primarily on American strategy, Overy presents a balanced perspective, giving due attention to the internal struggles and decision-making within Japan. His exploration of Japanese leadership, including the role of Emperor Hirohito and the factional disputes within the cabinet, provides critical depth to the narrative.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to contextualize the devastating firebombing of Tokyo and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki beyond just their physical destruction. Overy presents these events not only as military actions but as key moments in a broader geopolitical and psychological struggle. He skillfully integrates the Soviet Union’s entry into the war, arguing that it played a crucial role in Japan’s decision to surrender, adding layers to a history often told in simpler terms.

The audiobook version is particularly engaging, with the narrator delivering a clear and compelling performance that enhances the depth and gravity of the subject matter. The pacing is well-balanced, making even the complex political and military discussions accessible to listeners. Whether one is well-versed in World War II history or approaching it for the first time, Overy’s work is both enlightening and essential, offering a truly comprehensive view of the war’s dramatic conclusion.

World War II enthusiasts will appreciate this well-researched, multidimensional, and nonconventional recounting of the bombings that led to Japan's surrender. This text examines the strategic firebombings and the nuclear bombings, key philosophical views of Japanese society, and the larger Pacific theater in general to present a more comprehensively sound explanation of Japan's surrender than most typically learn. The history as a whole was extremely interesting and informative. The narrator, Ralph Lister, lends himself to this type of audiobook, as he sounds very learned and leaves room for little doubt about the facts he presents.

I think the thing I find most fascinating about books like this is that the facts are given and you can draw your own conclusions rather than having the author force theirs upon you.
And my conclusion is that it still strikes me as utterly incredible that we, in the west, still believe that if we do something in the name of war its fine but if an opposing country does it then it's disgusting and a war crime. Double standards reign supreme.

I wrote a lot of notes while I was listening to this book which is basically a summary of what led up to and the after effects of the indiscrimate fire bombing of Tokyo and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Various quotes stick in my mind. I do not recall which US general said either of these but the first refers to the effects of the A-bomb "I hear it's a nice way to die" and the second refers to the fire bombing of Tokyo "we knew we would kill a lot of women and kids but it had to be done".

Civilian casualties were supposed to be avoided or kept to a minimum. The US referred to the Japanese as monsters for the attack on Pearl Harbour (assuredly a military base) where 49 civilians lost their lived. In Tokyo 100,000 civilians died in one night. It begs the question of who the monsters really were.

The rights and wrongs of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan will be debated forever and a conclusion is impossible to reach because there are so many unknowns in war. However the quaint idea that the horror of these bombs would put us off war forever (as Oppenheimer hoped) never came to fruition. All we are guaranteed now is mutually assured destruction.

I'm still firmly of the opinion that the US only used the bombs because they could and they wanted to know exactly what effect they would have. However I'm also not naive enough to believe that if Britain, Germany, Russia or Japsn had developed the bomb first that they wouldn't also have used it.

This is a good book with not too much technical jargon to confuse. However it is utterly sickening to read of man's inhumanity to man in such stark terms.

I listened to the audio which was ably read by Ralph Lister although his delivery was a little slow so I did speed it up a bit. Otherwise a good clear narration that I found easy to listen to.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Audio for the audio advance review copy.

Richad Overy's Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan is a brief but insightful examination of the Allied strategies and policies for the bombing campaign of Japan that culminated with the dropping of the atomic bombs. One of its key points is that the United States was the only active party, as Britain was included in the planning and were building up their strength in the Pacific in the final months of the war.

Overy argues much was theoretical through 1943, until capture of islands in 1944 allowed the launching of plane based attacks. The Allied bomber campaign, much as against Nazi Germany, argues for sustained bombing campaigns to deny the enemy the use of their industrial infrastructure. The major difference is that it was believed Japanese industry relied on small scale, home based production, opening the options to more directly target civilians.

It represents a definite hypocrisy of the resolutions of the Second World War, Nazi German crimes against humanity were put on trial but the mass bombing of both Germany and Japanese cities were rationalized as legitimate strategy.

The audiobook narrator is Ralph Lister, a British audiobook narrator active since 2010 and has narrated over 500 titles. His reading is clear and comprehensive, with a style that matches the writers tone.

Recommended to readers and researchers of World War II, technology in warfare and the morality of war.

The author's aim with this book is to reexamine the oft touted statement that the 2 nuclear bombs made the Japanese surrender at the end of WW2. The first few chapters describe the lead up including the large-scale fire bombing of Toyko, the fire bombing of many other urban areas, the fatigue setting in that wanted to end the war quickly, the expectation that the invasion of Japan would cost 1 million US lives and the costs of building the bombs. By the time the bombs were dropped, the US had already hardened itself to the large scale destruction of urban areas - the difference is that this was just one bomb rather than tonnes and tonnes of individual fire bombs.

The narrative then shifts to the Japanese perspective, split between those wanting a glorious annihilation and those wanting peace but unsure how to surrender constitutionally. When the atomic bomb was dropped on hiroshima, the Japanese scientists weren't sure it was an atomic bomb and came up with alternative explanations. When the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, they were in the midst of constitutionally agreeing how to surrender so the bomb didn't actually hasten their hand. This was all in the context of the US not understanding just how tortuous these internal negotiations were so feeling they needed to keep the violence up to force the Japanese hand.

The book concludes by tracing the rememberance of these events and the (understandable) extraction of the nuclear bombs from the history to be standalone epic defining events. By tracing the wider history and context, the author seek not to downplay the atomic bombs but rather to understand all the factors which caused them to be dropped and for the victims of the firebombs to be remembered too.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

One important note about this book is that it offers only a brief recap of the US bombing operations against Japan between 1944 and 1946. It isn’t intended to be a comprehensive history of all WWII events in Japan, nor does it provide an in-depth analysis of specific operations. Instead, the author promises to discuss American and Japanese perspectives on bombing in a way that is rarely addressed offering insights that are often overlooked.
The first part of the book explains why certain decisions were made by the Allies not just from a retrospective view of whether they made sense, but, as the author puts it, to explain “why people thought they had to do it,” particularly with regard to nuclear bombing. This section is quite detailed and covers different aspects such as the pressure on US leadership by 1945, the development of the nuclear program, and the overall exhaustion from the war.
In the second part, the focus shifts to the Japanese perspective. And although the author does cover their position, the narrative feels rushed. The cultural differences, while mentioned, are not fully explored.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for groundbreaking insights, this book may not deliver. It serves as a good summary of the events toward the end of WWII, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of new details or depth. Overall, it’s a decent quick read for getting acquainted with the subject, but if you’re seeking a detailed analysis, you might find better options elsewhere.

Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan by Richard Overy takes the reader through a methodical and linear journey of the events, coordination and decision processes of the US’ decision for the following events during WWII:

Firebombing of Tokyo, March 10, 1945
Nuclear Bombing of Hiroshima, August 6, 1945
Nuclear Bombing of Nagasaki, August 9, 1945

As neither a history or military buff, I was easily able to follow the narration provided by Ralph Lister. The pacing keeps the listener engaged without being bogged down with the wealth of facts and strategy leading to these events. I really enjoyed learning all of these details and the players involved in this book, and I strongly recommend it.

Thank you, RBmedia | Recorded Books and W. W. Norton & Company, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 stars
Audio Release Date: Mar 04 2025

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#RainofRuin
#RichardOvery
#RalphLister
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley

This was a very informative and concise look the bombings on Japan from American, British, and Japanese perspectives.

The audiobook is extremely well read and engaging.

Excellent read for fans of history.

Insightful account of the USA’s fight against Imperial Japan. Sometimes truth is worse the fiction.

Quick read. Very informative account from both sides.

If you are a WWII fan or general history fan, then give Richard Overy’s book a read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

#NetGalley #RainofRuin