Pearl Harbor

Craig Nelson presents a thoroughly researched, detailed, and intense study: the events in Japan leading up to the Pearl Harbor attack, the attack itself, and the aftermath.

Thanks to Net Galley and to Scribner for offering me a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I am not a historian but like most people I’ve read novels and watched films about the events and was intrigued by the possibility of learning more about Pearl Harbor. This book definitely delivers.
This volume is extremely detailed and right in time for the 75th anniversary it reviews previous research and testimonies, and leaves no stone unturned to offer us as wide and knowledgeable a version of events as possible. The variety of sources is impressive, from communications at the time, messages, phone calls, coded messages intercepted, eye-witness declarations, inquiries and investigations, everybody is a protagonist, pilots and military men in both sides, civilians living in Hawaii, politicians, nurses and doctors, unsung heroes and the less-heroic.
It is not a revisionist story trying to go back and explain what happened with the advantage of hindsight (although it notes the prejudice and misunderstandings in the way each country saw the other), and it tries hard to not pass judgement and provide background to the situation, examining the political, economic and social circumstances of both countries, in the context of the world history and the events taking place at the time.
The book builds up to the attack piling up information and it takes us about half the book to get to the events of the day (probably a bit more as there are two appendixes, and a lengthy list of sources at the back of the book). Some individual readers might become impatient if they prefer to be immersed in the events, but others might prefer to get there fully informed and the tension mounts with each chapter.
Although it might be possible to read individual chapters if the reader is looking for specific information, sometimes the full picture only becomes clearer later on (we do not follow any character from beginning to end at the time of their first mention, at least not the ones who make repeated appearances. For instance, there is an early mention of General MacArthur with regards to the Philippines operation that is later developed in much more detail, including the trials and difficulties of the population and his men), and it pays off to keep reading.
The writer remains an impersonal observer until the last chapter, when he provides his own interpretation, not so much of the reasons for Pearl Harbor (he has offered us enough information throughout the book for us to make our own minds up), but of the role Pearl Harbor had in the history not only of the United States but also the world. I am not from the United States and as such, I can easily see that his conclusions might not be shared by everybody. He also compares the reactions and the evaluations of the events by the US and Japanese people today and tries to elaborate what the reasons for the differences are. This again might resonate with some readers more than others.
I read an ARC copy, and I did not have the advantage of having access to all the maps that would make some of the more detailed manoeuvres discussed easier to visualise, although I suspect a paper copy might be the best option for those who want to pour through all the details (although footnotes work well).
The appendices provide detailed and unedited documentation including the federal investigation of the events and listing of the medals of honour awarded.
The book offers us the human everyday moments, from records playing to whisky being used to clean oil off the skins of wounded navy men, from horrifying moments (the description of the wounds and some of the experiences of the men are graphic and terrible, and this is not an easy book to read) to inspiring ones. It also gives us the information about the strategic and high-level political decisions, but it is not a novelisation or an easy read for somebody looking for a light introduction to the events. It is research heavy and full of names, dates, and details that will serve well somebody looking for further information on a topic they are familiar with, and it will be a welcome addition to the collections of those who want to have a thorough book to consult on the topic. I can see it complementing the libraries of lovers of US history and those looking for a solid and well-researched volume.

All too often, books written about interesting historical subjects are dry and hard to read. The same cannot be said about "Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness" by Craig Nelson. In this book the author combines properly sourced scholarship with a novelist's flair, making this tragic, infuriating, heroic, and thought-provoking subject seem real and immediate to a twenty-first century reader.

The book is divided into three parts; a thorough discussion of the years and events leading to Pearl Harbor, an almost minute-by-minute discussion of the attack itself, and then a somewhat truncated but adequate discussion of the years of war between the attack and the surrender of the Japanese after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There are two appendices; one about the various investigations into how the Japanese were able to conduct their sneak attack and a shorter, but poignant appendix detailing the awards of the Medal of Honor to servicemen who were at Pearl Harbor, both to those living and the posthumous awards.

Nelson makes individuals on both sides come alive by quoting them in their own words. We see the plotting and scheming of the Japanese military, as well as their political disarray; and we see the fecklessness of the American commanders in Hawaii, who, although warned that war was likely, did nothing to prepare for it.

One of the most valuable parts of the book concerns the long-time rumors that Washington knew that the attack was coming and allowed it to proceed, costing so many American lives, in order to force isolationist America into the war. Nelson shows conclusively that the Japanese intended to attack Pearl Harbor without warning; that their diplomats in Washington did not know about the coming attack, and that the president and his cabinet were taken by surprise. Yes, there were disputes of a serious nature between Japan and the United States, and yes, Hawaii was an obvious target, but there was no declaration of war of any kind, and Japan is entirely at fault for the war in the Pacific.

I cannot say that this was an easy book to read. Because it is so well written, the suffering and deaths at Pearl Harbor are vivid and real. We see named individuals go through tremendous ordeals, and many of them die before our eyes. It is heart-rending, tragic, and infuriating. Nelson does not hold back, nor does he make excuses for anyone. We see many acts of extreme heroism, and ordinary men rise to extraordinary heights of selflessness and bravery. At the same time, in their own words, we see the gloating of the Japanese pilots, about which the less said by me the better.

I am very glad that I read this book, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone interested in the topic. I learned a great deal, and thought even more. Five enthusiastic stars.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Pearl Harbor is such a milestone in American History that most of us have some knowledge of the event. Many of us have a lot of knowledge about the event--so much so that one wonders whether another tome on the subject is worth our time. This new offering by Craig Nelson and Scribner is definitely worth our time--especially on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the event. It is very readable and well thought out which is impressive for the length of the book and for the wide array of research and facts that were amassed over a five year period in its preparation. The author provides his readers with insights into the years leading up to the attack as well as the attack itself, and ends with a somewhat shorter examination of the years after the attack leading up to Japan's surrender after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An impressive bibliography of sources, and two very interesting appendices follow: one examining the investigations held to determine how the Japanese could so successfully pull off their sneak attack AND one detailing the servicemen, both living and dead, who received the Medal of Honor for their efforts during that attack. Thirty nine years ago, on the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack, my husband and I--very young fairly recent college graduates--were visiting Honolulu for the first time and hitched a ride in a shuttle from our hotel to Pearl Harbor. We did not want to leave without visiting Pearl Harbor. On the shuttle we had the privilege of befriending a group of elderly airmen who had been there during the attack and were visiting for a commemorative reunion. It was an honor--that is still vivid in my memory--to hear them reminisce. I wish they could have read this book. It is worthy of them and their heroic efforts all those years ago.

As I was reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I laughed at myself because I needed to go to bed but I couldn't wait to read about December 7, 1941. We all know what happened, or did We? It was like reading fiction I was so engrossed.
I learned a lot from this book. I only knew what the history books tell us, not the intended depth analysis Craig Nelson gave.
I also liked that we got the Japanese perspectives, along with the US. It made the understanding of the events of that incredibly real.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor has been of interest to me for many years. I have seen two movies on this fateful day in American history (the best being 1970’s Tora Tora Tora). I took a Home of the Brave tour on a visit to Oahu in 2014 where we saw first hand Pearl Harbor and the other U.S. military installations bombed by the Japanese. But I have learned so much more about December 7, 1941 from Craig Nelson’s excellent book Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness.

I liked how Nelson includes many stories of ordinary people thrust into history by the surprise attack. Such as 22 year old flight instructor Cornelia Fort. “Fort was giving a lesson to a student pilot when she saw two planes headed their way, one on course to crash directly into them,” Nelson writes. “She yanked the yoke and punched the throttle, furious at another hotdogging Army Air Corps pilot. She looked down to get his registration number so she could file a complaint, which was when she saw the red balls on the wings and knew that ‘the air was not the place for our little baby airplane.’ She set down as fast as she could and ran into Andrews’ flying service, machine-gun bullets strafing the ground around her feet, yelling, ‘The Japs are attacking!’ Everyone on the ground laughed at this silly woman.” Fort’s story was one of many first hand accounts in the book that were fascinating to read.

I learned that the U.S. had plenty of warning before the attack, yet ignored these ominous signs. “At the end of March 1941, (American naval intelligence officer Ellis) Zacharias warned Hawaii’s Admiral Kimmel that when Japan decided to go to war,” Nelson relates, “It would begin with an air attack on our fleet on a weekend and probably on a Sunday morning; the attack would be for the purpose of disabling our battleships.” Nelson also includes accounts of the internal debates and planning on the Japanese side leading up to December 7, 1941.

The Pearl Harbor attack was a national tragedy, where almost four hundred Japanese planes attacked the US Pacific fleet, killing 2,400 men and sinking or damaging sixteen ships. Nelson also covers the aftermath of that day, including the decisive U.S. victory at Midway up to the eventual surrender by the Japanese. Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness is a must read for any student of World War II.

A detailed history of the events leading up to and causes of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Includes play-by-play info of the actual attack, and provides a good historical overview of the event. Provides personal details of individuals involved in the battle. Definitely a treat for a war time history buff!

Pearl Harbour: From infamy to greatness by Craig Nelson

Description: Published in time for the 75th anniversary, a gripping and definitive account of the event that changed twentieth-century America—Pearl Harbour—based on years of research and new information uncovered by a New York Times bestselling author.

The America we live in today was born, not on July 4, 1776, but on December 7, 1941, when an armada of 354 Japanese warplanes supported by aircraft carriers, destroyers, and midget submarines suddenly and savagely attacked the United States, killing 2,403 men—and forced America’s entry into World War II. Pearl Harbour: From Infamy to Greatness follows, moment by moment, the sailors, soldiers, pilots, diplomats, admirals, generals, emperor, and president as they engineer, fight, and react to this stunningly dramatic moment in world history.

Beginning in 1914, bestselling author Craig Nelson maps the road to war, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt, then the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (and not yet afflicted with polio), attending the laying of the keel of the USS Arizona at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Writing with vivid intimacy, Nelson traces Japan’s leaders as they lurch into ultranationalist fascism, which culminates in their insanely daring yet militarily brilliant scheme to terrify America with one of the boldest attacks ever waged. Within seconds, the country would never be the same.

In addition to learning the little understood history of how and why Japan attacked Hawaii, we hear an abandoned record player endlessly repeating “Sunrise Serenade” as bombs shatter the decks of the California; we feel cold terror as lanky young American sailors must anxiously choose between staying aboard their sinking ships or diving overboard into harbour waters aflame with burning ship fuel; we watch as Navy wives tearfully hide with their children in caves from a rumoured invasion, and we understand the frustration and triumph of a lone American teenager as he shoots down a Japanese bomber, even as the attack destroys hundreds of US airplanes and dozens of ships.

Backed by a research team’s five years of work, which produced nearly a million pages of documents, as well as Nelson’s thorough re-examination of the original evidence assembled by federal investigators, this page-turning and definitive work provides a thrilling blow-by-blow account from both the Japanese and American perspectives, and is historical drama on the grandest scale. Nelson delivers all the terror, chaos, violence, tragedy, and heroism of the attack in stunning detail, and offers surprising conclusions about the tragedy’s unforeseen and resonant consequences that linger even today.

My review: Anyone that is interested in the history of Pearl Harbour, this is a must read. The information before, during and after the attack on pearl harbour is first class. I highly recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars

Fast flowing new account of the attack on Pearl Harbor

Craig Nelson provides an expansive book that tells the often told story of the Pearl Harbor attack. It’s been a while since I’ve read Prange’s standard on this subject “At Dawn We Slept” so I have little to compare, however I found this a comprehensive account with some interesting later chapters covering how some of the characters fared in later life and the modern day Japanese and American perspective.

Divided into three parts it’s a substantial read at 500 plus pages but does flow at quite a pace. Part one covers Japanese-U.S. relations, the growing tension in the Pacific, and Japanese war planning. Part two covers the attack itself including midget submarines. Part three covers the aftermath of the attacks, rescue efforts, salvage efforts, as well as a whistle stop tour of the Pacific campaign to the dropping of the atomic bomb.

I’d recommend this for anyone looking for a present day view of the attack it’s ramifications both at the time and also to the present day.

I received this book free from Netgalley and was not required to write a positive review.

This is the most detailed account of Pearl Harbor I've come across yet. Where it really shines is in the numerous first-hand accounts, not just of American servicemen, but also of civilians and Japanese servicemen; all of these differing points of view give the book a very well-rounded feel. At times, it's almost too MUCH detail, and not enough substance, but I think overall, Nelson does a good job of balancing the timeline and events with the individual observations and experiences.