A Concise History of Japan

By: Brett L. Walker

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

To this day, Japan's modern ascendancy challenges many assumptions about world history, particularly theories regarding the rise of the West and why the modern world looks the way it does. In this engaging new history, Brett L. Walker tackles key themes regarding Japan's relationships with its minorities, state and economic development, and the uses of science and medicine.

The book begins by tracing the country's early history through archaeological remains, before proceeding to explore life in the imperial court, the rise of the samurai, civil conflict, encounters with Europe, and the advent of modernity and empire. Integrating the pageantry of a unique nation's history with today's environmental concerns, Walker's vibrant and accessible new narrative then follows Japan's ascension from the ashes of World War II into the thriving nation of today. It is a history for our times, posing important questions regarding how we should situate a nation's history in an age of environmental and climatological uncertainties.

©2015 Brett L. Walker (P)2021 Tantor

Best Japan book on plus

Having just listened to a few other Japan history overviews in the Audible Plus library, this one was the best by far. Interestingly, the author does also include a discussion of climate change’s impact on Japan, which does make me wonder if the negative reviews here were politically biased…

Look no further

When in search for an impressive overview of Japan’s history, this book has it all.

Digestible, concise, balanced. 

I greatly appreciate developing not just a an understanding of Japanese history but also a for that of the Soviet Union, China, Korea, the US and the world. Illumination of the historical roots of contemporary friction points also much appreciated. Additionally, and importantly, the inclusion of environmental ramifications of human behavior throughout time and how as a species, we have a long history of attributing human loss of life simply due to unpredictable natural events without imagination or regard to the profound ways our choices have amplified human suffering from those recurring events.

Good quick overview

Good overview , a place to start if this is your 1st go at Japanese History.

Interesting concept but disappointing

The author attempts to make Japanese history relevant to a wide audience by focusing on environmental change and other topics that are relevant to modern audience. But their summary of Japanese prehistory and the formation of the Yamato state leaves a lot to be desired.

The overview of the Yayoi and Kofun periods is sparse on details and includes some dubious information. The chronology for the Yayoi period is out of date and they claim horses were used during period, when in reality they were introduced in the 5th century AD. In general the first chapter just does not seem well informed and is only accurate in broad strokes.

I'm sure the author's speciality is in later periods, and I have not yet listened to the rest of the book yet, but the first chapter makes me question the accuracy of later chapters.

Too much western ideology

The author superimposes the current western cultural wars on a history of Japan. He dedicates the a whole hour to talk about climate change and Japan's contribution to it. He looks for oppressed / oppressor narratives in every season and doesn't explore the causes of Japan's unique path, culture and historical personalities. You can do better with any other of the currently available books on Japan History. But if you want ideological talking points to criticise Japan (particularly marxist ones) this one is for you.

Zero analysis just-the-story history

If you don’t know the basic facts of Japanese history, read this story.
If you think that history involves tackling questions such as how we know X, or whether we do actually know X with any confidence, or why X happened and what impact it had on the future …. find a proper history book.