Pearl Harbor

From Infamy to Greatness

By: Craig Nelson

Narrated by: George Guidall

“A valuable reexamination” (Booklist, starred review) of the event that changed twentieth-century America—Pearl Harbor—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 Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness follows 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, when Franklin D. Roosevelt, then the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, attended 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 scheme to terrify America with one of the boldest attacks ever waged. Within seconds, the country would never be the same.

Backed by a research team’s five years of work, as well as Nelson’s thorough re-examination of the original evidence assembled by federal investigators, this page-turning and definitive work “weaves archival research, interviews, and personal experiences from both sides into a blow-by-blow narrative of destruction liberally sprinkled with individual heroism, bizarre escapes, and equally bizarre tragedies” (Kirkus Reviews). 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.

Remember Pearl Harbor is still true today

I was going to express some concerns that the truth of what happened that day and during the duration of the war in the Pacific are forgotten, not taught in school. I'll keep my comments to the book. Incredible details. The failure of our leadership was a sad chapter in the history of our military. The heart of the men at Pearl Harbor was shown to be without equal.

Listening to this book will help you to better understand were our faith and trust should be placed and it most certainly is not in government. It should be placed in knowing that, God forbid, something as bad or worse could happen and it would be the men and women in the military who will be there as they always are.

To the person whose review included he will never listen to another book read by George Guidall, please search his name and look at the over 800 books you have just crossed off your to do list. I often search for a new author by searching his name.

It wasn't what I expected but I liked it.

I am not sure what I was expecting. I think maybe more of a story and less of a history lesson but I found it fascinating. All of the little things that led to tragedy of Pearl Harbor.

Great book on old subject

I have a read many books on this subject, and this is one of my favorites.
The author brings new perspective to this much reviewed subject.

very good book.

good narrator. the recording studio needs to remember the levels they set from one session to another. the mistakes from the dates could've came for many reasons. read wrong, typo in the printing b house , editing. the list goes on. throwing the baby out with the bath water is just foolish. I however think this book especially the first 5 minutes of chapter 4needs a warning . the extremely graphic nature of Japanese barbarity needs a warning. I'm not saying it shouldn't be told, it should be. But no warning of that left me in tears for a half hrs. And if you big strong men out there say I'm too sensitive I say maybe your too insensitive. Not all history lovers want to hear that.
I knew about Nanking I just think a heads up would've been nice that's all.

Excellent

As Pearl Harbor enthusiast and a historian. This is by far one of the best on the subject.