Eyewitness Hiroshima

by Adrian Weale

A detailed account of one of the most destructive attacks in human history…

The world changed with devastating effect on the morning of 6 August 1945, the day the first atomic bomb used in anger exploded above the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Days later, after a second bomb had destroyed Nagasaki, the war was over and a new and terrible chapter in human history had begun.

This book is about those events as they happened, and the deadly discoveries leading to them, in the words of those who were there. Their voices include the scientists who unleashed the awesome power of the atom, like Rutherford and Oppenheimer, those who ran the secret Manhattan Project, the US pilots who flew the nuclear missions to Japan, the survivors of the horrifying explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the generals and leaders who went on to run the world on the basis of Mutually Assured Destruction.

Adrian Weale is a British writer and journalist, as well as a former officer in the British Army Intelligence Corps.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Japan

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 1995

Reviews

[Jean]

The title is a bit misleading as the first third of the book (which is how far I read before skipping to the section about Hiroshima) is excruciating detail about the theoretical underpinnings of the atomic bomb. There was a single chapter about conditions on the ground in Hiroshima about 60% mark. This was followed by chapters about the end of the war. Not at all what the title would suggest.

[Liam Greenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A extremely detailed and devastating recount of the dropping of 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man' on the cities in Japan that ended the Second World War.

Really interesting read, but I would have preferred more accounts of the actual bombing and it's affects and eye-witness statements rather than over half the book being the lead up and building of the bomb, and the scientific workings and discoveries that meant it was possible. Although, I appreciate it needs to be told in context and I definitely learn some new things.

Overall a good, short read on one of mankinds most important events.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book is about the science and scientists behind, and the actual making of, the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - this was not what I’d expected, as it’s not what the book itself suggests! My brain just isn’t sufficiently maths/physics-wired to have followed the author’s attempts at straightforward explanation here; I could tell he was trying to put things simply and clearly, but I couldn’t keep hold of the thread. There were plenty of points of interest nonetheless, but I doubt I could tell you any more about nuclear fission than I could before.

Otherwise, there was still honestly very little about what happened in Hiroshima itself (or Nagasaki, but that was never implied to be the focus). I’m slightly glad of this, as the one chapter of detail was truly grim. I did learn more about the political and more general state of Japan in 1945, but this was all rushed in comparison to the time spent on the bomb, the bombers, and the aftermath… for the Allies. Given the book’s title, this focus felt incongruous to say the least.

I was also jarred by the author’s occasional snide remark suggesting his political leanings - entirely unnecessary, and really quite weird in this kind of book. Edit those out and change the title, and this is a good book, if it’s what you’re looking for.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and easy to understand

This very clear, easily read history of the development of the atomic bomb and the results of its deployment against Japan is highly recommended to anyone interested. The bomb ended World War II. Its effects were horrifying. But many thousands of lives were saved by its use. Let us all work for world peace, in the hope that such awesome destructive power need never be used again.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not as described

The book focused almost entirely on the science behind the use of nuclear weapons... and not the human cost. I skipped thru' a lot of it. Not my cup of tea - especially since the description of the book did NOT meet the actual presentation. Very disappointing indeed.

[Anita Dent · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt the book title a little misleading as a large proportion of the book deals with the science behind the bomb. Once this section is completed there is a relatively small amount of clips of eyewitness recollections from the people of Hiroshima.