"Road to Surrender" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that offers readers a fresh perspective on the end of World War II and the individuals who shaped its outcome. Thomas's engaging prose, meticulous research, and insightful analysis make this book essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of war and diplomacy in the modern era.

"Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II" by Evan Thomas is a complex read that offers a fresh perspective on the final stages of World War II. As an avid reader of WWII books, I found this book particularly engaging, especially when read alongside the release of Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," as it delves into similar themes of wartime decision-making and the moral complexities surrounding the use of atomic bombs.

Thomas's book focuses on three key figures: Henry Stimson, the American Secretary of War; Gen. Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, who supervised the planes that dropped the bombs; and Japanese Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo. Through their stories, Thomas explores the agonising decisions and immense pressures these individuals faced. The narrative is built around crucial moments leading up to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan's eventual surrender. It's a narrative that crackles with tension, as Thomas brings these historical events to life with journalistic immediacy.

The book is a detailed and immersive account, drawing from diaries and other first-hand sources to present a well-rounded view of the events and decisions. Thomas successfully brings the reader into the heart of the critical moments, contemplating the immense weight of the decisions made by these historical figures. It's a story that not only recounts the events but also provides an in-depth look at the psychological pressures and moral dilemmas involved.

As for the writing style, Thomas's narrative is both meticulously crafted and vivid. He has a knack for making history read like a thriller, filled with suspense and emotional depth. This makes "Road to Surrender" not only an informative historical account but also an emotionally charged and gripping read.

Overall, "Road to Surrender" is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II history, especially in the context of the development and use of nuclear weapons. It's a book that offers a nuanced, absorbing, and perhaps definitive story of the last weeks of the war, providing new insights into a well-trodden part of history.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, Provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Why Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings Were Necessary

In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II. Since then, an industry has emerged insisting that bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki was unnecessary. That Japan would have surrendered soon without that drastic measure. That an uninhabited target would have sufficed instead of a city.

'Road to Surrender'

“Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II,” by Evan Thomas, examines that question. Mr. Thomas’s ultimate conclusion is that, combined with Russia’s declaration of war on Japan, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary to force Japan’s surrender. Anything less would have allowed the Imperial Army to continue the war.

Mr. Thomas uses three men to focus the story: Henry Stimson, Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, and Shigenori Togo. Stimson was the U.S. secretary of war. Leading the U.S. war effort, he was the one man with the big picture of the atomic bomb project. Gen. Spaatz commanded the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific, in ultimate charge of the air war against Japan. Shigenori Togo was Japan’s foreign minister, one of six members of Japan’s Supreme War Council.

Through these three, Mr. Thomas frames events. He follows the decisions made by the U.S. and Japanese leaders during the spring and summer of 1945. Stimson and Spaatz are shown as moderating forces in the U.S. deployment of atomic weapons. Togo was the only Supreme War Council member seeking peace through surrender.

Peace was not really the issue. By 1945, Japan wanted the war to end but, as Mr. Thomas shows, on its own terms. Its islands were to remain unoccupied, and its government and surviving military left intact. It wanted to be able to claim that it had “won” the war, even if it had really lost. These terms were unacceptable to the Allies. They wanted to neutralize Japan’s military threat the same way they neutralized Nazi Germany’s—through unconditional surrender.

Following the bomb on Hiroshima, Japan’s military wanted to continue the war. It took the intervention of Emperor Hirohito, Russia attacking Japan, and the Nagasaki bomb to force the Supreme War Council to finally yield. Mr. Thomas shows that, even then, it was a yielding that almost didn’t happen. An attempted coup occurred, the day of the surrender, to force the war’s continuance.

“Road to Surrender” should settle the question of the necessity of using the atomic bomb. A magisterial work, it is excellently researched. Still more impressive is the clarity and readability the book possesses.

‘Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II’
By Evan Thomas
Random House, May 16, 2023
Hardcover: 336 pages

5 stars for the easy readability/learning opportunity of this non fiction! Thomas covers the events leading up to the end of WWII in the Pacific Theater/Japan, & specifically the use of the atomic bombs.....primarily from the perspectives of 3 key gov't players, two in the U.S. & one in Japan. Thomas really did his research .....& thoroughly documents that....the last half of the book is taken up with references, notes, bibliography, photo credits & index! He almost writes it so that it seems like you're watching it all unfold live......it's really a very compelling read! He uses the 3 men's diaries to help tell their story, & then at the end tells where those 3 ended up after the war....really very interesting. I really like history, & learned a lot about this particular time period. I can easily recommend this to anyone, especially those having an interest in WWII, or military history.
I received an e-copy of this book from Random House Publishing via NetGalley for review purposes. These are all my own opinions.

"End of the Pacific War" stands as one of the finest books I've encountered on the conclusion of the Pacific War,
What truly distinguishes this book is its meticulous examination of the decision-makers on both sides. On the American front, the author delves deep into the writings and statements of generals and politicians, drawing from sources like diaries and memoirs. The crowning jewel of this exploration is Secretary of War Harry Stimson's unvarnished thoughts, drawn directly from his daily diary. Stimson's candidness, especially when discussing Truman, adds a layer of authenticity and depth to the American perspective. Through Stimson's eyes, readers are transported to the wartime setting and gain valuable insights into Truman's presence and role during those critical moments.

On the Japanese side, the book zeroes in on "The Big Six," members of the war cabinet. By exposing their words and sentiments, the author reveals what these leaders were willing to endure rather than surrender, a term conspicuously absent from their diaries and memoirs. Even after the devastation wrought by the atomic bombs, which claimed the lives of 200,000 individuals, the majority of these Japanese leaders remained steadfast in their desire to continue the war. Their unwavering resolve to sacrifice a million military and civilian lives rather than face an American invasion is a chilling testament to the mindset of that era.

This book is a testament to meticulous research and expert presentation. The author's prose is both engaging and informative, offering readers a profound understanding of the complex dynamics that influenced the war's conclusion. It's an invaluable resource for anyone interested in delving deep into the minds of those who shaped the final moments of the Pacific War.

In summary, "End of the Pacific War" is a masterful exploration of the key decision-makers and their thought processes during a pivotal chapter in history. Well-researched and beautifully presented, this book is a must-read for history enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the individuals who steered the course of the war. Highly recommended.

Though the events of the final days of WW2 are well documented and known by those with an interest in history, Even Thomas has written a riveting accounting that reads like a novel. Yet, it is not a novel, but instead a rigorous examination of the events leading up to the dropping of the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Readers already interested in these historical events as well as those seeking to know more will appreciate this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's an important addition to the genre.

First let me say that this is one of the best books I've read about the end of the Pacific War over the last forty years. What makes this book different is the concentration on the men who made the decisions as to how the war would be brought to a conclusion.

On the American side the review of the writings and statements of the Generals and Politicians from sources like their diaries and the memoirs of others. One thing more that anything else if the thought process of Secretary of War Harry Stimson taken from his daily diary. His honesty when he writes about Truman is what makes that side of the book. We are given the experience of Stimson who was there throughout the war and knew how out of place Truman was.

On the Japanese side he concentrates on the members of the war cabinet called "The Big Six". Revealed by their own words as to what they were willing to do and endure rather that surrender (a word that was never used by them in their memoirs/diaries). Even after the two atomic bombs had been dropped killing 200,000 people, the majority of them still wanted to continue the War. They were willing to sacrifice a million military and civilian lives to stop an American invasion.

Just very well written, researched and presented.

Immersing myself in history, I run into a lot of people who complain there are too many World War II books. Road to Surrender by Evan Thomas is proof that we are nowhere close to over-saturation. Following three major players at the end of the war in the Pacific, Thomas eviscerates those who oversimplify the question, "Should we have dropped the atomic bombs on Japan?"

Thomas focuses on Henry Stimson, the U.S. Secretary of War, U.S. General "Tooey" Spaatz, and Japanese Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo. Each of them get their own spotlight although Stimson and Togo seem to have stronger narratives. Thomas writes so well it feels almost like a novel and the facts he lays out make it clear just how tangled the last days of World War II were. There are some new facts here unless you are a true scholar of the time and the pertinent facts are laid out for all to see.

This is a fantastic book and everyone should read it. Even those who don't like history will find this riveting.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Random House Publishing.)

Meticulously researched and detailed, this is the story of the three men who brought around the end of the war [I would not have wanted to be in ANY of their shoes] and how it affected them in the aftermath.

I first read The Enola Gay when I was 13 [and knew little about WW2 and the "bomb" that ended the war] and I am afraid I didn't understand much of the book, with the exception that many, many, many, people died. Later, as I was older, I revisited that time-frame and came to the conclusion that even though I was opposed to such weaponry as the atomic bomb, it was a necessary evil to end the war. Fast forward to now and at the end of this book, given what I just learned about Japan and their outlook even AFTER having two bombs dropped on them, this was really, the only way to end the war [which is just a gross thing to have to write]. Japan would have invaded America, they would have taken up with Russia and they absolutely would have fought until there were no Japanese people left [and many many many more people would have died]. All I learned in the reading of this book just drove that home over and over again. Also, I have never, ever been a Truman fan, but his lackadaisical outlook and approach to the whole event [and the war overall] made me sick to my stomach and all I could think was "HOW did that man sleep at night?". UGH.

Overall, this was a really well done book and if you are into history and are looking for a deep dive into that time-frame, this book is totally for you!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Evan Thomas, and Random House Publishing Group/Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free advanced reader copy of “ Road to Surrender” through Net Galley. Many thanks to Mr Thomas , and the publisher for the chance to read and review this fine book.

“Road to Surrender” is not a long book, and the conclusions of the book are well- supported by the author’s research. It is also quite readable. I cannot say enjoyable simple because the subject matter- the use of the first atomic bombs against Japan- is somber and tragic. The author begins in the last days of World War 2. Germany is defeated and much of Europe destroyed, hungry and dark. A cold winter looms because so much infrastructure was destroyed. A cold winter looms because the USSR ‘ s vast army and secret police have tightened their iron control over half the continent; the wartime ally becoming enemy. The Allies, mainly the USA, yet face the Japanese military ready to fight to the death to defend the home islands and their Emperor.
It is. Mr. Thomas’ purpose to show that any US invasion of Japan an army and Air Force determined to die for every inch of soil at a horrendous cost in human life on both sides. Using contemporary private diaries and other official sources the author presents to the reader a clear picture of how Japanese military leaders, but not all political ones, Were determined to die rather than surrender, even after the first and then the second a bomb was dropped. For the us soldier ( and their families back home) any weapon that might make an invasion unnecessary was a godsend. These things are understood by most anyone interested in the history. What this book relates , and Imnever read much of before, is that American leaders, political and military were shocked at the devastation the blasts caused, so much so not to use have to use the third bomb being made ready. The descriptions of the mental anguish and the actual physical toll among the Japanese emperor and his political aides trying to bring the fanatical generals to listen to reason before the nation was immolated on the one side, and American General officers and the men in the White House and Defense department tasked with making the decision to use the Bomb on the other is the heart of the book.
It is a great book, one that tells a of a historical epic tragedy so in moving language, and one I recommend to everyone. Great job, great story telling , great history.

The Agonizing Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb to End the War with Japan

At the end of WWII the United States and it’s allies were tired of war. The goal was unconditional surrender with Japan. However, the question was whether the Japanese were ready. This book convincingly gives the detailed history suggesting that before the atomic bomb Japan was ready to fight to the death.

Three men were intimately involved with the difficult decision to use the bomb. Henry Stimson, the American Secretary of War had overall responsibility for the decision to use the atomic bomb. He was ill, a Victorian gentleman of the highest integrity. General Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, head of the strategic bombing in the Pacific, had the responsibility for supervising the planes that dropped the bombs. He was a quiet man who took his responsibilities seriously. The third man was Shigenori Togo, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs. Almost alone of the ministers in Japan, he believed that Japan must surrender.

The author tells the story of the decision and subsequent dropping of the bomb through the stories of these three men. In this he not only relies on historical accounts, but also on diaries and letters. I thought he did an excellent job of describing the pressure these men were under. Part One of the book describes the character of each man so that when the action starts in Part Two, you can relate to how the men dealt with the pressure

I thought this was an excellent book. It is well researched and reads almost like a novel, particularly since it is told in the first person. If you’re interested in WWII, I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

Once unconditional surrender was the stated goal of the Allied Forces, in opposition to the Japanese position of no surrender, it would take military action to end WWII. Evan Thomas has written a clear and engaging story examining the hows and whys of the war's final months from both sides. He concentrates on three men. The Americans Henry Stimson, Secretary of War and General Carl Spatz in charge of air power in the Pacific. On the Japanese side he follows Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigenori Togo. Thomas shows the very human side of these men, the tensions and pressures on each, the politics and pushback they had to deal with. The decisions on use of atomic bombs play a large, but not overwhelming, role. The book is well balanced concerning the overall picture. It is written at a sprightly pace and the final days in the Japanese government read like a thriller. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a didital advanced copy. This is an excellent book.

This is both thoughtful and thought provoking. It's also sure to be controversial among those who have studied the end of WWII. Thomas has chosen to focus on the moral issues that faced Secretary of War Henry Stimson, General Carl Spaatz, and Japanese Foreign Minister Togo as they separately debated how to end the war. The use of nuclear weapons for this purpose remains one of the greatest grey questions of the modern era. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. An interesting addition to the discussion.

This was a great account into the final days of World War 2 in the Pacific Theater. There was a very interesting cast of characters that shed a new light into the decision to drop the bombs. The narrative was great and made an account of the most controversial event in human history into a human story, I would highly recommend this for fellow World War 2 readers!

An interesting read taking readers through the decision making process of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. There are some great insights into what the players were thinking on both the Japanese and U.S. sides. The basic thesis pushes against the idea that dropping the bomb was done for the geopolitics of keeping the the Soviets out. Instead it focuses on Japanese fanaticism and the need to shock them into surrender. It makes a pretty convincing case, especially on the mindset of the U.S. decision makers.

Writing: 5/5 Topic Coverage: 5/5 References: 5/5

My favorite kind of non-fiction — all well-referenced facts, with details of people’s thoughts, motivations, and actions as captured at the time through records, diaries, and notes. The book covers the day-to-day (and sometime minute-to-minute) events pertaining to the dropping of two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki — not the development of the bombs which is well covered elsewhere, but everything to do with the (somewhat chaotic) logistics, strategy, political machinations, and even the evolution of revisionist history to do with the use of the bombs. Drawing heavily from memoirs of several of the key players, including Japanese foreign minister Togo, we are treated to the decision making process with all of the attendant, intermingled motivations and fears of the time.

The writing was superb — clean, clear, and detailed, but never rambling. I don’t tend to read non-fiction unless it’s like this (and very few books are!). The action ranges from March - August 1945, with a well-summarized epilogue that followed some of the main characters (Simson, Togo, Groves, Spaatz) to the end of their lives amidst shifting popular perceptions of the war and the US role in ending it. In many ways, I found this chapter the most interesting — watching the way history gets retold when the stress of an uncontrollable situation is gone and the pontificators get to revise strategy with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. Towards the end of this period, there is also the scepter of the Russians — allies at the time, but allies who are starting to behave in a not-so-collegial fashion. To trust or not to trust? (I think the answer to this one is now pretty clear).

Of the many character portraits painted, three stood out: Henry Stimson — Secretary of War whose ongoing worry was that “man’s technical capacity to do evil will outrun man’s human capacity to do good;” Carl “Tooey” Spaatz — the Commander of the Strategic Air Forces who insisted on written orders to deploy the bomb(s) and carried the orders around in his pocket; and Shigenori Togo —the only Japanese Cabinet member to oppose the war (and the only one not executed as a War Criminal). I loved the peek into the minds of the men (yes, they were all men) making the decisions — what they worried about, what information they had at their disposal, and how their insights and opinions were informed by their individual backgrounds and levels of idealism and pragmatism.

A significant portion of the book exposed the (wildly different) decision making process in Japan, which resulted in the much delayed surrender. The emperor was largely a prisoner of an increasingly fanatic military and rarely challenged their usually unanimous recommendations. Additionally, the Japanese culture at the time valued consensus and information transmission that is expected to be implicit, rather than explicit, greatly hampering any kind of rapid and rational decision making. Ultimately Emperor Hirohito did issue a proclamation of surrender, but even that was almost quashed through a last minute and desperate coup. Honestly, it reads like absolute insanity, which I’m sure it was.

I honestly couldn’t stop reading. The last paragraph summed it up nicely: “It is hard to imagine the pressure that these men faced in the spring and summer of 1945. The surrender of Japan came at a high cost. Decision makers on both sides engaged in wishful thinking and psychological denial, and peace of mind was hard for the victors to find. But Japan did surrender before hundreds of thousands — possibly millions — more lives were lost. Stimson, Spaatz, and Togo gave mightily of themselves to bring peace, and at last they succeeded. “

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Author Evan Thomas did an incredible job researching and writing about the agonizing decision to drop an atomic bomb on Japan with the intent of finally ending World War II (WWII) once and for all. Thomas focuses on three men--U. S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson who was responsible for decisions about the use of the A-Bomb, General Carl 'Tooey' Spatz who supervised the bombing missions, and the Japanese Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, who firmly believed that Japan should surrender in order to avoid future bloodshed on both sides. I have read several books about WWII and the use of the A-Bomb, but this is the first time, I learned about the Japanese response. Foreign Minister Togo was one of the first to realize the futility in Japan's refusal to surrender. A land invasion was scheduled to start and in order to avoid the unimaginable casualties on both sides, the decision to drop the bomb was made, but not before giving Japan the opportunity to surrender. Togo urged his peers to adhere to the Allies' demands. He even convinced Emperor Hirohito to give in, but the Emperor himself was a figurehead and the men under him made all of the important decisions. The majority refused to surrender. The soldiers themselves refused because they felt shame in the act and their insistence on fighting led to an attempted coup. Thomas drew on diaries from all three men to reconstruct that terrible time, which gives us an up close and personal view of what was happening before, during, and after the bombs were dropped. For anyone interested in WWII or history in general, this is an eye-opening book sure to keep your interest even though we all know what the end result was.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Random House Publishing Group- Random House for an advance copy of this book on the decisions taken by certain members of the military and governments of both Japan and the United States during the final days of the Pacific War.

LIfe during wartime means making decisions that even in the explaining to others really can't be explained. Destroy the village in order to save it decisions. The dropping of atomic bombs on Japan was one of these decisions. According to the people who had spent billions of dollars, building it the bomb could either fizzle out, or destroy the universe. Not until Trinity testing was the bomb proven to work, but there was no consensus on what the effects could be. Or maybe this was head in the ground thinking. However if the bombs were not used on Japan, conservative estimates were that casualties in an invasion of the Japanese islands could be in the half million, or more. The fear was that the island would rise up en masse to fight off the invaders. War makes people think the worst. If this is what I am capable of, then the evil enemy could do even worse. Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II by Evan Thomas is a history of the decision to use atomic weaponry, where to place them, and the chaos that was happening in the heart of the Japanese government.

The book focuses on three men, Henry Stimson, Secretary of War, General Carl Spaatz, head of strategic bombing in the Pacific, and Shigenori Togo,Japanese Foreign Minister, and a strong proponent for peace, an idea that unlike most of the government he was dealing with, Togo was not afraid to share. The book does give an overview of the bomb's development, but most of the book is really about the decision to use and what would come next. Stimson had a long career in the government, born of privilege but still answering the call to higher service, starting in the days of Theodore Roosevelt. At the age of 77 Stimson, was near killing himself, suffering heart ailments, and worrying more about the effects that releasing an atomic genie would do to the world. Spaatz had seen the effects that bombing for revenge ,and targeted bombing of only war related targets could have. Spaatz was not happy with either. Bombing for revenge killed innocent people, targeted bombing killed Allied pilots. Thoughts that he brought to the Pacific when stationed there for the atomic flights. Minister Togo knew that Japan was doomed to lose, the only problem was no one could admit it. The miliary didn't want to admit loss, the idea was that Japan would make victory so difficult to achieve that concessions would be given, to allow Japan to keep territory gained over the years. And pride. Military men even after the bombs fell planned coups, or targeted killing of government officials to stop any talk of surrendering.

Evan Thomas is probably one of the best historians working and writing today. Thomas has the ability to write about history without pulling punches, showing the right side, and the wrong side of history equally. Thomas has a real skill in finding the stories that few people know, and making them not only clear, but use them to fill in the big picture, why people did this, or that, and why humans refuse to learn. This is a sensitive subject, the bombing of Japan, and one that still can make people angry on both sides of the issue. Thomas lays everything out, drawing on diaries, notes, and his own critical eye in showing the situation, and yes the biases on both sides. The writing is very good, with a strong narrative and sense of tension. Being history most people will know what happened, but Thomas still explains why, and why it is important. This is a rare gift in a writer, and one that is Thomas's strength.

Recommended for readers of World War II history, of course. And for people who like well written history books, and nonfiction. A very good Father's Day gift, or late Mother's Day buy also.

So many books are published about WWII, and I keep promising myself I'm going to read about something else. But here I am. The description of the American side of this story is pretty standard stuff, but told mostly through the eyes of Secretary of War Henry Stimson. The logistics and decisions behind the dropping of the atom bomb are already very well described in The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes, and likely in countless other books that I have not read. But this book really shines when describing the Japanese side of the events through the eyes of Japanese Foreign Minister Togo. The Japanese leaders weren't just making life or death decisions for their country; saying the wrong thing was very likely to get them killed by the hard-core militarists.

Evan Thomas uses the present tense to describe the ongoing events, which lends considerable power to his core argument - the dropping of two atom bombs on Japan was necessary and likely saved lives. Understanding the weighty decisions that were made requires one to be fully transported into the shoes of those responsible. Thomas's arguments are further enhanced by putting us in the room with the Big Six (the Supreme War Council of Japan) to show how resistant Japan was to surrender even after the two bombs were dropped.

With all that has been written about these events, I set the bar pretty high for World War II books. A new World War II book should feel like it was necessary (see Half American by Matthew F. Delmont for a necessary WWII book). I don't think that Road to Surrender quite makes that bar, but it's a good read. Those who know little about these events will likely find it to be a superb read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for providing an egalley.

An eye-opening account of the end of WWII through three men involved in decision making: the American Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, ailing and pressuring for limiting civilian casualties; Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz in charge of bombing in the Pacific; and Japan’s Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, pressing surrender to a War Council determined to accept massive causalities over defeat.

At the heart of the book is the decision by the United States to employ the Atom bomb. Those involved came to second guess their support and decisions, but the author argues that it did save lives.

Henry Stimson is the center of the story. He had a long political career and was well respected when President Roosevelt appointed him Secretary of War. Although in failing health and disturbed by the horrible civilian casualties in Europe, he was dedicated to his work, pressuring the U.S.to not follow the British carpet bombing that killed civilians, and urging the banning of submarines in war. His moral vision is admirable. With Roosevelt’s death, Truman sidelines Stimson.

We are given an understanding of what was happening in Japan, how the military’s power overshadowed Emperor Hirohito, a coup brewing if he surrendered. Russia entering the war would allow them to take over more territory in China and, they hoped, Japan. The U.S. wanted to end the war and stop the Russian advance.

Choosing targets for the atom bombs–ocean, small island, military target or city–was complicated. And when Japan did not immediately accept the terms of surrender, the U.S. was preparing a third and even a fourth bomb.

Deeply researched, the book brings to life history and the men who made history.

Thanks to the publisher for a free ebook.