Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima
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About this ebook
The story of the bombing of Hiroshima presented in a new and dramatic way: a minute-by-minute account told from multiple perspectives, both in the air and on the ground
British feature and documentary director Stephen Walker tells the story of the bombing of Hiroshima in a way only a filmmaker can—not as a dry history of the sad, regrettable, mission, but as an immediate and perilous drama. Walker has extensively interviewed American soldiers, Los Alamos scientists, and Japanese survivors that were involved in the bombing, and thus is able to tell the story through truly alive-on-the-page characters. The result is a narrative that—without either trivializing the tragedy of the bombing or ignoring its importance in WWII’s end—tells the real story of why and how one of the most important events of the 20th century took place. Shockwave might not change anyone’s opinion about the justification of the Hiroshima bombing, but it will provide readers with an unprecedented viewpoint that is sure to educate and enthrall its audience.
Stephen Walker
Stephen Walker was born in London. He has a BA in History from Oxford and an MA in the History of Science from Harvard. His previous book was Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima, a New York Times bestseller. As well as being a writer he is also an award-winning documentary director. His films have won an Emmy, a BAFTA and the Rose d’Or, Europe’s most prestigious documentary award.
Read more from Stephen Walker
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Reviews for Shockwave
40 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is one of those books that reminds me, once again, of how much the general media (and school text books) have left out about important events. This particular volume covers multiple characters and perspectives of the people involved in and affected by the assembly and delivery of the first atomic bomb. It includes the scientists, the military personnel, the diplomats, the civilians, from multiple countries, and often reads like a mystery novel chewing through the "facts" of the case. On occasion, it seems almost too detailed, such as when it goes into some of the Japanese living in Hiroshima. I found myself asking, "Do I really care if Sunao had ever kissed or not kissed Reiko?", and similar seemingly incidental people and incidental situations. However, later, after the bomb is actually dropped and the reader has learned what happened with the bomber crew, and Truman, and the rest of the non-Hiroshima characters, the author takes you down to those same "common" folk in Hiroshima that were introduced earlier. Are you a "Walking Dead" or other zombie-type movie fan? Those shows are child's play compared to what actually happened in Hiroshima. Even so, I wonder how much more accepting today's population would be of seeing the after-effects of an atomic bomb blast compared to the 1945 population. The actual human impact of the bomb blast and the rationale given for completing that action is the main reason for reading this book. I should add that there's a scene in the book after the bomb blast in which it starts raining in Hiroshima. In just a few words, the author crafts perhaps the most chilling situation I could possibly image.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A mind blowing and comprehensive read detailing the three weeks leading up to and including the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima. The descriptions both of the first atomic bomb test and what the bomb did to Hiroshima elicited a visceral reaction.