Pearl Harbor

From Infamy to Greatness

By: Craig Nelson

Narrated by: George Guidall

Published in time for the 75th anniversary, a gripping and definitive account of the event that changed 20th-century America - Pearl Harbor - based on years of research and new information uncovered by a New York Times best-selling author.

The America we live in today was born not on July 4, 1776, but on December 7, 1941, when almost 400 Japanese planes attacked the US Pacific Fleet, killing 2,400 men and sinking or damaging 16 ships. In Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness, Craig Nelson follows, moment by moment, the sailors, soldiers, pilots, admirals, generals, emperors, and presidents, all starting with a pre-polio assistant secretary of the navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, attending the laying of the keel of the USS Arizona at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, against the backdrop of the imperial, military, and civilian leaders of Japan lurching into ultranationalist fascism, all culminating in an insanely daring scheme to shock the Allies with a technologically revolutionary mission in one of the boldest military stories ever told - one with consequences that continue to echo in our lives today.

Besides the little-understood history of how and why Japan attacked America, we can hear the abandoned record player endlessly repeating "Sunrise Serenade" as the Japanese bombs hit the deck of the California; we feel terror as navy wives, helped by their Japanese maids, upturn couches for cover and hide with their children in caves from a rumored invasion; and we understand the mix of frustration and triumph as a lone American teenager shoots down a Japanese bomber. Backed by a research team's five years of efforts with archives and interviews, producing nearly a million pages of documents, as well as a thorough reexamination of the original evidence produced by federal investigators, this definitive history provides a blow-by-blow account from both the Japanese and American perspectives and is a historical drama on the greatest scale. 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.

©2016 Craig Nelson (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

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.

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.

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.

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.

Awesome

I loved listening to this captivating story. So much information being told about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Never Forget!

Narration weak for a great book

Well researched and well written. But the narration poorly edited. Many short segments pieced together.

Fascinating history with great detail

Nelson recounts the precursors, the attack, and the after effects of this historical event in great detail. The narration is very good, making the story much more interesting. I strongly recommend the book.

Great book and great info

Great book about Pearl Harbor. Good
Listen too. The story can jump around at times, sometimes making it hard to follow, but it mostly comes back to the major characters. So many stories to cover. Glad I bought this book.

Great

I really like how the author tries to show both sides. How complacent errors contributed to the attack. And how different cultures see the same event differently. Honest and thoughtful narrative