Shockwave : countdown to Hiroshima

This 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 show more 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. show less

A 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.

What a great find. i have read a lot about the nuclear age, but had not stumbled on this book. Thankfully it was mentioned in an article I recently read. Well worth the read. A gripping telling from multiple perspectives, of the work and prep up to the Hiroshima event. Really good.

This account of the days leading up to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima is in the tradition of John Hersey's classic Hiroshima and complements the definitive history of the Manhattan Project, The Making Of The Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.