David Dean Barrett
I've always been fascinated by history. As a baby boomer, I grew hearing stories about World War II from an uncle who was wounded during combat in Europe in December of 1944.
But until 2001, history had only been an avocation for me. After nearly three decades in Information Technology, I decided to undertake a career change to become a professional historian and writer. I returned to my Alma Mater, the University of Colorado, Denver to begin work on a Masters in History. In one of my earliest classes, historiography, I chose to write my first historiographic essay on the American decision to use the atomic bomb near the end of the Pacific War. In doing the research for the composition, I discovered just how much controversy still existed a half century after the end of the war, between traditionalist who believe the bombs were justified and revisionists who do not. My interest was permanently peaked and thus began what has now become more than fifteen years of study into the subject. After several years of investigation, I finally found a place where I thought I could contribute to the discussion. My focus would be on the leaders, in both Washington and Tokyo, who were making the decisions during the final months of the war.
But until 2001, history had only been an avocation for me. After nearly three decades in Information Technology, I decided to undertake a career change to become a professional historian and writer. I returned to my Alma Mater, the University of Colorado, Denver to begin work on a Masters in History. In one of my earliest classes, historiography, I chose to write my first historiographic essay on the American decision to use the atomic bomb near the end of the Pacific War. In doing the research for the composition, I discovered just how much controversy still existed a half century after the end of the war, between traditionalist who believe the bombs were justified and revisionists who do not. My interest was permanently peaked and thus began what has now become more than fifteen years of study into the subject. After several years of investigation, I finally found a place where I thought I could contribute to the discussion. My focus would be on the leaders, in both Washington and Tokyo, who were making the decisions during the final months of the war.
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more