The Pacific War: 1941-1945 – The Definitive Naval History from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima

La guerre du Pacifique #0

by John Edmond Costello

"John Costello's The Pacific War is regarded as a classic. ... Unearths new and fascinating material." — The Times (London) The definitive one-volume account of World War II in the Pacific theater—the first book to weave together the separate stories of the fighting in China, Malaya, Burma, the East Indies, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Aleutians. The Pacific War provides a brilliantly clear account of one of the most massive movements of men and arms in history—and meticulously analyzes the complex social, political, and economic causes that underlay the war, enabling the reader to better understand the conflict as the inevitable result of a series of historical events. Captured in breathtaking detail are the bloody battles—Midway, Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Iwo Jima—that ultimately shaped the modern world. These fiery clashes of great navies and armies still resonate loudly to this day. The Pacific War is the complete story of possibly the most cataclysmic chapter in the annals of human conflict—from its explosive opening salvo at Pearl Harbor to its ominous conclusion in the mushroom clouds of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military History, War, Military Fiction, Japan

742 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the outstanding book on the Pacific War that I have long been looking for. Unlike most, it is not too overladen with detailed battle history (which ship turned left, and which plane dove right), but focuses more on the larger strategic picture. The writer, though an amateur and quite young (38) when the book was published, is brilliant and judicious. Highly recommended

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the other reviews say, this is the best one-volume review on the overall Pacific Theater of WWII, covering the causes of the Japanese attacks, the American responses, both militarily and politically, as well as the reasons for various decisions and operations.

[David Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished the John Costello's The Pacific War. It is not hyperbole to say this is the best single volume history on the Pacific War.

At just under 600 pages of reading not including a fair amount of pictures and maps, John Costello has written the one volume history that all who are passionate about the Pacific War should read.

The book digs into all major operations and includes both Nimitz's and MacArthur's command as well as the CBI Theater, the bombers War and some inclusion of the submariner's war specifically on Japanese merchant shipping although I would say this is the weakest section of the war.

In addition the book gives ample discussion to the antecedents of the U.S. and Japanese relationship and the cause of war and a chapter at the end which goes into the revisionist history to apply blame for Pearl Harbor. In the end Costello follows the path that while the signs were there all the pieces of intelligence were never put together together to lead the military or civilian leadership to conclude that Pearl Harbor was a target. It blames some but not the preponderance of blame on General Short and Admiral Kimmel.

A 5 star read which I enthusiastically recommend.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always excellent to go back and re-read. A tour de force. Immaculately researched.

The first chapters on the origins of WWII in the Pacific are well done and provide context for everything to come: why the US was so invested in having China be a major player in the war, why the Japanese felt compelled to attack the US/Britain/Netherlands in east Asia, and why the British strategy in the Far East was doomed to failure. The timeline leading up to Dec. 7, 1941 is well done and shows that, despite what kids are mostly taught in school, there was a lot more going on both on and around that day. The coverage of the war itself is adroitly done, given all the moving parts. Theater by theater the action is detailed.

I am sad that this is the last time I will be able to read my old friend as the book, which I bought in college, has finally disintegrated beyond my ability to repair it. I will re-buy a new version at some point as I feel that this book needs to be an the shelf of anyone who is at all interested in WWII.

[Daniel Zadravec · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read that takes you across the whole depth of the Pacific War in its brutality and horror. Overrall a very informative and well written read that explores not just events, but also why and how the events played out as they did (cryptography fans will enjoy). A great read, one I'd highly recommend to learn more about the Pacific War.

[Dan Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good account of the war with Japan, covering not just the Pacific but also South-East Asia including Burma. There's a long run-up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, giving a potted history of the US's (and more generally, the West's) relationship with Japan and the central role played by the various powers' attitude to China. Then it's Pearl Harbor (complete with the inevitable examination of the extent to which intelligence and/or political failures were to blame) and then the next section which paints a grisly picture of setback after setback as Japan executed their war plans. Sections on Midway and the Solomons show how the Americans gradually turned the tide and then crushed the Japanese. Intelligence plays a major role in this telling of the story, partly because the author had access to recently released material.

Some of the passages on inter-forces rivalries and American distrust of British motives were a bit repetitive and, although numerous maps are included, I found it difficult to follow some of the narrative on the maps. But these are minor quibbles - overall this is a serviceable, readable and good account.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very nice general treatment of the war in the Pacific. I recommend it for someone wanting a very general intro to the Pacific theater that covers most all of the topic. I do have to criticise the edition, though. There are a couple places where entire lines of text are missing, times when directions are reversed (e.g., it'll say they moved north from X to Y, then you look at the map and see that Y is south of X), sometimes arrows denoting movements black-out relevant place names on maps, etc. The editor sucked.

[Sophia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was simply an awful textbook. It was incredibly dull, dry and unnecessarily detailed. It was difficult to follow and overall a really painful read. I couldn't make it past the first 6 chapters.

[Bill V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say the book is thorough. It covers several aspects of World War II in the east, including coverage of the fighting on New Guinea as well as China, India and Burma. Having written that, overall I'm not impressed with the book as it is replete with all kinds of errors.
Most of the errors are trivial and not very important. For instance, the author has trouble with the transliteration of several Japanese names into English. That is understandable but quite a few of them are quite bad. The most grievous mistake is with the author on at least 2 occasions confusing Admiral Nagano with Nagumo. Both of them held different titles and Nagano was senior to Nagumo in rank. Both had very different roles in the war. I also have a problem with the title of the book. Burma and India are not on the Pacific. Perhaps a better title would have been The Pacific and Asian War. The author could have used a better proof reader. No one error was decisive but there are so many it hurts my appreciation of the book.
My review is based on the softcover version (Quill) of the book and these problems are not the fault of the author but my copy, while used when I got it, was in fair physical shape. When I had to really open the book in order to read the center parts, the book literally started coming apart at the binding.

[Timon Fotakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really, really good read for those who are deep into WW2 history, especially younger teen readers who are into WW2 and want a book that provides lots of details on a usually underserved part of that. It manages to be exciting and page-turning reading despite being literally nothing but pages upon pages of academic-looking text without pictures, and is excellent to read slowly over the course of several weeks, since it comes with a naturally very exciting story ;).

The only downsides are that, due to it being quite old, some of the facts presented have become outdated as new information has been declassified and discovered and the like, as well as the fact that the last few chapters are an extremely boring look into the "FDR knew about Pearl Harbour" conspiracy theory. However, it's still an extremely good book that I would recommend getting if you're into WW2.

[Renato Kloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its staggering size might intimidate those interested in a good book regarding the Pacific theatre of war, but its size won’t be a problem once you dive into it. Costello’s book brings the whole process developed at the Pacific theatre, turning his book into a reference guide of the conflict. It covers not just the war itself but the early beginning of the relationship between the US and Japan, always having China in a background. It goes through the whole course of action, firstly regarding the diplomacy between the belligerents until the last discussions from those unwilling to commit the first strike. The campaign is covered with its main battles and development, turning the book into the best one-volume account of the war in the Pacific, from Commodore Perry’s black ships to the atomic bomb.

[Tomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was an excellent study of the Pacific Theater of WWII, including historical ties that brought us into a collision course with Japan, dating back to Matthew Perry. It includes many personal stories; Costello definitely did his homework! I found myself repeating, "How did we ever win this war?" as I read. Lack of good communications and the egos of those in command certainly had a major impact on this war. I am so thankful for the many who sacrificed themselves in this fight for freedom (and I worry that there aren't enough people willing to do so today).

[Binston Birchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed account of the inner workings of the war in the Pacific. This book serves as a perfect primer for those interested in delving deeper into specific engagements or the experience of soldiers, seamen, and sailors because it does the opposite and provides the big picture view. There is enough from the Japanese side to make sense of much of the decision making process from both sides but if you’re like me you’ll likely keep searching for more books and information on many of the things (necessarily) briefly accounted here.

[Eric Michels · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who enjoy WWII history this is a great record of the war in the Pacific. The Pacific war is so often de-emphasized relative to the European theater but by pulling the full scope of the positions, battles, outcomes, and relevance of the action in Pacific the book really highlights its significance to the overall war. It is not only thorough but very well written. While it is listed at 800 pages, the last 150 pages or so are references so not quite as intimidating as it looks.

[Grindy Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read about the War in the Pacific several times, and though every book always ends bad for Japan, after reading this book I no longer think of Japan as the loser of the war. My take now is that they finished in second place, ahead of Britain, France, and the Netherlands.

If this wasn't riddled with typos, including at least three occasions where "east" and "west" are mixed up, I could give it a fifth star.

[Aproxxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engagingly written history of the Pacific War, which begins with a background on Japanese-American-British-Chinese relations in the area. Several viewpoints of the war are maintained, including Roosevelt & the White House, Churchill, & several military executives (including the not always revered Douglas MacArthur).

[Douglas Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're seeking a comprehensive knowledge of the Pacific War in one place, this is the right book. It gives a clear understanding of events leading up to the war, a concise analysis of Japanese, American and British attitudes, great descriptions of the battles, and, as in many of the books on war, times when chance and luck, as well as good planning, won the day.

[David Ingrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting work by a British author, who discussed aspects of the conflict not usually addressed by American authors. I noted some slight errors (incorrect ranks assigned to various military officers), but felt the book was very worthwhile. I do wonder if the official British Government records discussed by the author in the last chapter of the book have been released to the public, and if so, what do they state?

[Mike Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb history, detailed, but easy to follow. I enjoyed this book very much and learned a lot. The soldiers and sailors in the Pacific did not get the fanfare of those in the ETO. Brave, brave men who overcame much. Highly recommend this book.

[Kevin Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certified Grade A Dad Nightstand. Could also be used as a murder weapon. No non-historian needs more information about the Pacific War than that contained in this volume. Nevertheless, Halberstamian in its clarity and economy. Downgraded only because cliche.

[Anthony M Gentile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many inexplicable minor factual errors.(?)

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I wanted, a high level but detailed account of the Pacific War during the Second World War.

[Thomas P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, and well-researched. Highly recommended reading.

[Arnab]

Good

[Winston Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best and most comprehensive history books I have read. It gives a mazing detail on the month by month history of the war. It does not get too focused on the individual battles or personal anecdotes, instead it tells the grand story of the Pacific War. It spends the right amount of time on the beginnings of the war and the opening campaigns. The only issue I have with it is it spend way too much time detailing the diplomacy between 1939 and 1941 and that part could have been cut down. Amazing book that is a must read if one wants to gain more information on the Pacific War.

[Monty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly detailed story of the Pacific war. Great research and good read to start a study of the war in Pacific with all of its characters.

[NDH · Rating 1 out of 5]

Costello’s narrative of the 200-odd years that led to December 7th is at times merely superficial, at other times incoherent, but always quite sure of itself. Costello is no historian.
One thing that surprised me was his failure to credit Professor Gordon Prange, the author of “Tora Tora Tora” (1963, 1970) from which Costello drew much if not most of his material about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although Costello does include Ladislas Farago in his bibliography, one wonders how much plagiarism there is in this 1981 work.
And he really needs to pay attention to the difference between the directions “east” and “west”. Minor detail. The maps might have been more useful embedded in the relevant chapters instead of buried at the ends of the book, but even at their best, they were useless.
His presentation of some of the conflicts…between MacArthur and the Navy, between the British and the Australians, the Chinese problem, the Russian problem, Europe First vs the Pacific, between Burma vs New Guinea/Philippines vs Central Pacific…are all interesting.
But his biggest failure is the final chapter where he delves in to some of the Mysteries of the war, how Pearl Harbor happened, why MacArthur was frozen for nine hours, among others. He really has no idea, but that doesn’t stop him. A proper historian would have simply presented the controversies, referencing and citing the major works that had addressed them, and left it at that. But Costello has to stick his journalistic finger into the stew and pretend he’s discovered some telling details that clear everything up, but he hasn’t. The final chapter could be a whole new book that he should leave to the professionals.
Finally, the thought that there are universities across America that have used and continue to use this book as a textbook is just appalling. There are better books on the subject.

[Jay Edmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most comprehensive account of the Pacific Theater of World War II that I’ve ever read. John Costello’s “The Pacific War” doesn’t just cover the well known battles like Midway, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. There is extensive study of the strategy, leadership, and impacts of the lesser known campaigns in New Guinea, the Philippines, and the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. The first hundred or so pages masterfully recounts the history of western relations with China and Japan that led to the rising tensions between those nations and the eventual outbreak of war. Costello also pays special attention to the importance of military intelligence, logistics, adaptive doctrine, innovative technology, and inter-service cooperation in achieving victory against a determined enemy force spread across a large portion of Asia and the Pacific island chains. This book also provided an excellent profile of some of the most colorful and competent leaders of the Pacific - MacArthur, Mountbatten, Slim, Stilwell, Vasey, Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance, Sprague, Kinkaid, Turner, Geiger, H.M. Smith, Kenney, Yamamoto, Yamashita, Nagumo, and Ushijima. I emphatically recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about some of the less glamorized chapters of WWII and how future wars in the Pacific might be fought.

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This puppy's big, but comprehensive. Since it begins even before Commodore Perry's "visit" to Japan in 1853, the first four or five chapters were a bit of a slog for me, but, once into the war proper, I found the accounts to be easy to follow. I always wish for more maps, but there are more here than I have found in other books. I appreciate the book's helping me to finally sort out all the naval actions that took place, and what was going in in 1943. The text covers what happens, but I found little analysis of the commanders' actions; the "so what" questions are still there for me to find the answers elsewhere. As mentioned below, Costello doesn't seem to be a MacArthur fan, yet he's not that harsh on the old boy; he's merely recounting some of Mac's actions many of which speak for themselves. The reader will appreciate the part played by MAGIC (not the card game) in Allied intelligence efforts, and the tie-in among the Burma, Pacific, and China theaters (the U.S. was more anxious to see the British active in Burma than were the British themselves). In all, a good read, there are editing errors, and the book will be a handy reference.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good one volume account of World War II in the Pacific. Enough detail to get a full picture of events but not so detailed that it bogs you down. I liked it and I learned a lot.