Four days after I finished this [12.8.2024], still dealing with massive book hangover, I am still at a loss on how to review this important book.

As much as some people are claiming we cannot live in the past [they are wrong], this is past history [along with the attempted obliteration of Indigenous peoples and Slavery] that we must never forget and we must continue to teach to those who come after us, especially now.

Deeply and expertly researched [the author has lived and taught in Japan since 1987 - his notes at the end as to how he came to write this book are just amazing to read], this is part one of a very deep dive into the lives of the Japanese peoples before AND after the bombing of Hiroshima [part 2, that focuses on Nagasaki, releases sometime next year], and how the survivors navigated life after the bomb [it was mind-blowing to realize just how many DID survive, though there were many that I am sure wished they had not]. You also learn about the events after the bomb [a blow-fly plague AND a tsunami are just two of the events that overwhelm an already overwhelmed city] and if all of this doesn't complete shatter your heart, I'd have to wonder if you had one to begin with.

I was 11 when I first read the book "Enola Gay" by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan-Witts [my grandparents got the Reader's Digest Condensed books and I devoured them almost as soon as they arrived] without knowing ANYTHING about World War 2 except that there had been a war. We had not yet learned about the war at the school I had been in and I had not been in the new school long enough to know what we were going to learn [it would be 6 more years before I studied it in school], so I went into reading this knowing nothing [probably not the book I'd recommend for an 11 year old to read to start their learning of the war LOL] and the experience deeply affected me and how I view life, but I have steered clear of books like this one because of that first experience. The I realized that history is supposed to make us uncomfortable, especially if it is being taught/written/portrayed correctly, so I have begun to dive into the Pacific Theater part of the war and WHOOSH! it has been some tough reading [but again, a good reminder that we need to continually learn from our past], but learning about the amazing, resilient people who survived something so horrific was worth it [even if I spent much of it weeping].

In my opinion, everyone should be reading this book and I certainly hope that it reaches all that need it. What an amazing read.

Thank you to NetGalley, M.G. Sheftall, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I will start by saying the work is impeccably researched and thorough. I can absolutely appreciate the immense amount of work and emotional labor that went into it. Where my issues lie are within the structure. There was a large section that focused on Christianity in Japan, but I wasn’t sure where it all fit into the larger narrative and why it was necessary.
There book is so successful in the stories of the survivors. They all witnessed unimaginable horrors and it was incomprehensible to me. I appreciated getting a clearer picture of the landscape and culture of the area.
Despite the structural struggles, this was a very powerful book.

Fascinating but heartbreaking at the same time. The horrors inflicted on the citizens of Hiroshima were difficult to read but Sheftall does a great job honoring them. The writing makes the accounts easy to follow and the landscape terrifying to envision. Despite the gloomy subject matter, the resilience and strength of the survivors shines through.

Speechless. The detailed accounts from people living in Hiroshima when the bomb was dropped are horrific and add so much depth to what we think we know about this. I can't stop thinking about them. Just...wow.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this review copy!

M.G. Sheftall’s HIROSHIMA offers a riveting and compassionate account of one of the 20th century’s  most significant, devastating, and tragic events: the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. By meticulously blending historical research with the intimate testimonies of survivors, the book offers a harrowing and unforgettable account of the devastation, suffering, and resilience of the Japanese people.

The book delves deep into the firsthand experiences of the hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bomb. Their stories are raw and unfiltered, offering a visceral glimpse into the horrors they endured. From the initial flash of light and the deafening blast to the long-term effects of radiation sickness, Sheftall captures the physical and psychological toll of the catastrophe.

“Survivors guilt” was legion. Sixteen-year-old hibakusha were ashamed of the fact of their own survival when almost all of their classmates were killed. This shame shadowed them their whole lives, even permeating the unveiling of a Hiroshima memorial on August 6th, 1948. Bereaved parents shot hateful looks at those who had dared to live, even confronting them to ask, “Why are you alive, when my daughter is dead?” Survivors were also ashamed that they did not die as a martyr for the Imperial Empire.

Sheftall's writing is compassionate, informative, professionally researched and meticulously crafted. He provides historical context while also allowing the survivors' voices to take center stage, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

The strength of Sheftall's work lies in its deep exploration of the human experience in the face of incomprehensible destruction. The narrative weaves together first-hand accounts from hibakusha, ordinary citizens, and military personnel, showing how the bomb shattered lives, cultures, and the human psyche. Sheftall demonstrates not only the immediate impact of the bomb but also its lasting effects on individuals, their communities, and even the identity of Japan as a nation.

The Japanese mindset before and during wartime was one of brainwashing and stoicism. To die for the cause and support of the Emperor and Imperialism was ingrained in every boy and girl, starting as soon as they were able to walk and talk. The collective was greater than the individual, and this was accepted without a second thought. During WW2, both boys and girls were part of the war machine, grinding away day and night. As the boys were being educated on kamikaze training, the girls were working in factories recycling worn uniforms (stitching up bullet holes and washing blood out) so they could be worn again by more hapless but devoted soldiers) or sent to the Japan Steel munitions plant to help create ordnance. Bear in mind, these poor souls were barely teenagers – working in a factory setting that was both rigorous and dangerous. The girls considered too immature to endure the demands of factory labor were required to perform unskilled volunteer jobs such as farm work, participating in scrap metal drives, digging trenches, or working at firebreak sites. These tasks were just as dangerous as factory work. However, the hive mind kept all the girls moving forward without a second thought as to personal injury or worse, introspection (questioning why all this backbreaking labor had to be done, or wishing for a simple life spent giggling with friends or having free time).

Sheftall avoids sensationalism and instead focuses on the individual stories of the survivors. We learn about their hopes, dreams, and aspirations before the bombing, then feel their fear, shock, and suffering in the immediate days after the bombing. Finally, we realize the challenges they faced in rebuilding their lives afterward. The book is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a human being with a unique story to tell.

Sheftall also explores the far-reaching social and geopolitical implications of the atomic bombing, explaining the political and military factors that led to the bombing, without losing sight of the human toll. He examines the Japanese government's response to the disaster, the international reaction, and the long-term effects of radiation on the environment and public health. He also raises important questions about the ethics of nuclear weapons and the dangers of nuclear proliferation.

While HIROSHIMA is a powerful and necessary read, some readers might find the detailed historical and military analysis at times overwhelming. However, this does not detract from the overall impact of the book. It enriches the reader’s understanding of the broader context in which the bombing took place, contributing to a more nuanced comprehension of the event.

M.G. Sheftall’s writing is inspired by a deep fascination with Japanese culture and history, particularly with the events surrounding World War II and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As a long-time resident of Japan and a scholar specializing in Japanese history and society, Sheftall's interest grew from personal encounters with the stories of the hibakusha. Their experiences, combined with the overarching impact of the atomic bomb on Japanese society, motivated him to give voice to the survivors' stories in a way that blends historical context with personal narratives. Sheftall’s writing is empathetic and precise, capturing the profound human impact while maintaining scholarly rigor.

The author has previously explored the human dimensions of war, as seen in his earlier work, BLOSSOMS IN THE WIND, where he examined the experiences of Japanese kamikaze pilots. His continued exploration of the human cost of war is a driving force behind HIROSHIMA. Sheftall was inspired not just by a desire to document history, but also to foster empathy and understanding by illuminating the personal suffering that often gets lost in larger historical narratives. By focusing on individual experiences, Sheftall seeks to convey the full scope of the tragedy and its long-lasting impact on both individuals and society at large.

Hiroshima is remembered as one of the most devastating events in human history, symbolizing the horrors of nuclear warfare and the profound suffering caused by the atomic bomb dropped on August 6, 1945. Its memory is preserved in numerous ways, each reflecting different aspects of the tragedy and its broader implications.

The city stands as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. The city's complete devastation within seconds, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 140,000 people by the end of 1945, makes it a powerful symbol in the global conversation about nuclear disarmament. The memory of Hiroshima fuels ongoing movements advocating for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons, led by organizations such as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and global anti-nuclear groups.

Hiroshima is commemorated annually through ceremonies at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which includes the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the few structures left standing near the hypocenter of the blast. The park also features the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, and its Flame of Peace will burn until the world is free of nuclear weapons. These physical landmarks serve as enduring reminders of the tragedy and as focal points for reflection and mourning.

The bombing of Hiroshima is remembered through various forms of art, literature, film, and music. Books such as John Hersey’s HIROSHIMA and later works, including M.G. Sheftall’s own contributions, help to ensure the event is documented and understood by future generations. Films like Grave of the Fireflies and Barefoot Gen portray the emotional and human cost of the bombing.

Every year, on August 6, Hiroshima holds a solemn Peace Memorial Ceremony. The event includes a moment of silence at 8:15 AM, the exact time the bomb was dropped. The ceremony draws attendees from around the world and serves as a global moment of reflection on the consequences of nuclear warfare, aiming to renew commitments to peace.

The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo (The Japanese Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization). This underscores both the call to peace and continuing to remember those whose lives were forever changed by this unspeakable tragedy.

In all these ways, Hiroshima is remembered as a tragedy that transformed the global understanding of warfare, leaving a legacy that continues to shape both personal and collective memory. It is a call to never forget the consequences of nuclear weapons and to work toward a world where such destruction is never repeated.

This book  is a poignant and essential contribution to the literature of World War II, as well  as a testament to the human spirit and the power of resilience, even in the face of unimaginable suffering. The book offers a respectful reminder of the horrors of nuclear warfare, and it compels readers to reflect on the far-reaching consequences of violence and war. Sheftall’s skillful blend of historical narrative and personal testimonies makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in history, ethics, and the profound impact of war on humanity. It is also an imperative for historians, students, and anyone seeking to understand the true cost of conflict.

Hiroshima is a compelling, heart wrenching book that shares accounts of what it was like to be in Hiroshima when the atomic bombs landed. This book is well-researched and written and I would recommend it to anyone but especially historians and those interested in history and the atomic bombs.

This book is an excellent resource for understanding the effects on the ground of the bombing of Hiroshima. The accounts are ones that you don't typically get from history books. It is one thing to hear about things in the general. Once you understand the individual it takes on a different feeling. It also does a good job getting into how Japan has contextualized the bombing and the deaths resulting from it. Overall it is a needed accounting of this event that will help fill in the picture for people who might not already know enough on the topic.

This was an incredibly informative, compelling, and at times difficult nonfiction book about the bombing of Hiroshima, with focus on the survivors and how the atomic bomb impacted both people and the land. This is a very intense read at times and is not a light read by any means, but it's also a very important one that I think really helped me learn and be aware of so much more about the bomb and its effects than I did. The research that went into this is thorough and in-depth and makes for a very sobering and informative read. My only critique would be that sometimes I felt the overall direction and organization of the book was a bit haphazard and made me feel like things jumped around a bit when I wasn't expecting it. Overall, a must read for anyone interesting in this period of history or anyone who simply is interested in history.

M.G. Sheftall's Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses follows the lives of several Hiroshima survivors from before, through and after the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. In its unflinching narrative, Sheftall details the effects of the bomb on the city and those who happened to be below it when it detonated.

The book is book ended by a description of the preparations of, flight and return of the Enola Gay and its sister planes. Aside from this and background descriptions of World War II, the narrative focuses on the Japanese victims and survivors of the Atomic bomb. Sheftall draws from copious historical works and his own interviews with survivors. The latter is the truly impactful contribution of this work, recording how they survived both the blast and the after affects. Sometimes it was the simple act of reaching for something from a backpack, taking a sick day or looking in a different direction.

Sheftall details both the physical carnage and destruction, but also the how Japanese culture was structured and the traditional practices that focused on certain deportment regardless of the extremity of the situation.

Recommended reading for historians, peace and conflicts studies or those who need to known the human costs of war.

"Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses" by M.G. Sheftall is a profoundly moving and meticulously researched account that provides a new perspective on the tragic events of August 6, 1945. Sheftall's work stands out for its intimate portrayal of the hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombing, capturing their stories with a compassionate and respectful lens. His deep immersion in Japanese society and fluency in the language granted him unprecedented access, allowing the survivors to share their deeply personal and often harrowing experiences.

What makes this book particularly impactful is Sheftall's ability to weave these first-person accounts into a broader historical narrative, presenting a minute-by-minute recounting of that fateful day and its aftermath. The book is both an educational and emotional journey, offering insights not only into the events themselves but also into the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable devastation. Sheftall’s writing is not just about documenting history; it's a heartfelt tribute to those who lived through one of humanity's darkest moments, and a reminder of the ongoing relevance of their stories in a world still grappling with the dangers of nuclear warfare.

For anyone interested in World War II history, the human cost of war, or the ethical implications of nuclear weapons, "Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses" is an essential read that bridges the past and present with powerful storytelling. Truly a powerful book.

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

The Last Witnesses by M.G. Sheftall

The author’s goal per the Acknowledgments was to “take as long as necessary to write it up right … [describing] not only the bombings … but also the world…before the bombs and the new Japan they helped rebuild from the rubble…” I believe the author accomplished this goal thoroughly.

This book was rich in detail. From describing Hiroshima (before, during, and after) to explaining the science behind the atomic bomb, I felt confident no detail was left out. At times, I found this highly successful in creating a complete picture, but other times I felt it bogged down the actual story of the people. As for the witnesses, I wished it was organized a bit differently to make it clearer whose story was being told. The jumps in timeline and place made the stories feel disjointed.

This book was a heartbreaking, yet informative read that walked through the horror of the atomic bomb - physically, mentally, emotionally, and environmentally. If you want to learn more about life in Hiroshima before, during, and after the bomb, check this one out.

A big, immersive book that will appeal to armchair historians. It's a tough one in spots, not because of the language, but because of the subject matter. It's respectful, especially of the survivors, as well as incisive. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

After reading Sheftall's book on kamikaze fighters, I was anxiously awaiting the chance to read Hiroshima. It does not disappoint. The work is not only a captivating read, but it is important. Sheftall manages to write a story that begins with Paul Tibbets and ends with him as well. In the pages in between he recounts the events of August 1945 through the experience of the survivors of the detonation. This is history at its most empathetic and personal, and the way in which Sheftall weaves together analysis with personal recollections left me feeling Hiroshima at a deeper level than I ever previously had. It took me a while to work through, and while beautifully written, I had to take the time to process, emotionally and intellectually both what wandered into my mind while reading. Much was the result of what was on the page, but there was just as equally as much that developed based on not was specifically said. A great book raises questions and stimulates thinking far after the last page, and this is what this book does. This is human history of the finest order.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses by M. G. Sheftall is a comprehensive nonfiction on what happened before, during and after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. With minute-by-minute replays from a variety of survivors and endless empathy to them, we get a complete picture that shares the horror of a world-changing event.

Like a lot of Americans, I grew up with the story of Sadako and the Paper Cranes, the true story of a young girl who was slowly killed in a horrific act of war as she endeavors to fold a thousand paper cranes. M. G. Sheftall makes it very clear with the stories chosen, in part because of who is still alive at the time of this book’s compilation and release, that children died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some of them worked in factories to help the war effort because that was what they felt like they were supposed to do, but they were still children in elementary school, junior high, girls’ schools, and infants. Even knowing this beforehand, I was still crying for these young people who lost parents, siblings, classmates, teachers and friends and witnessed their suffering and for all the young people who were lost before they could really have a chance to live their lives. The ways in which they died were inhumane and this book does not shy away from that.

Seki (nee Tominaga) Chieko was one of the most fascinating and heart-wrenching accounts depicted. She stayed home from the factory and junior high classes on August 6th due to a stomachache, which saved her life. But she lost her friend and many of her classmates and had to live the rest of her life with survivor’s guilt, unable to really provide an answer when someone told her how fortunate she was to have survived. As an adult, she went against the grain and criticized her classmates being memorialized at Yasukuni shrine (a war memorial) and has pushed back against the narrative that the people of Hiroshima died for the war effort, instead choosing to openly rail against the government for continuing WWII instead of surrendering sooner. It takes a lot of courage for someone to do that, especially when the people around you don't want to join your call.

Beyond these stories, we're also reminded that the atomic bomb didn't only impact Japanese people. There are brief accounts of a Taiwanese citizen who was in Hiroshima as a student and mentions of Koreans who were in the area and impacted. This matters because the non-Japanese hibakusha (the Japanese name for atomic bomb survivors) often get left out of the narrative, including when it comes to compensation. For decades, it was very difficult for them to get the proper medical owed to them as survivors.

Because so many of these survivors are getting older, we risk not only losing their perspectives and stories, we risk losing sight of what they have been trying to tell us: that this shouldn't have happened and it cannot happen again.

Content warning for fairly graphic detail of the damage left by the atomic bombs on the human body

I would recommend this to readers of WWII and Japanese historical nonfiction and those looking for a book with a perspective from the victims of the atomic bomb

[I received a review copy of this publication from the publisher via Netgalley.]

<B><I>Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses</I></B> by M.G. Sheftall is the first volume in what will be a two-book series covering Sheftall's extensive research into the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This first volume, which covers the bombing of Hiroshima, is the result of years of personal interviews with Hiroshima survivors and research into the atomic bomb and its effects, including literal physical effects and the social and psychological effects that survivors faced down the years.

If I were to choose one word to describe this book, it would be this: unrelenting. Because when the chapters begin to hone in on details clearly gleaned from the personal testimony of survivors, it really does feel like an unrelenting surge of horror that you can’t look away from. Nor should you be able to.

Sheftall’s book begins chronologically, with the lead-up to the bombing, some backstory on its creation and mechanics, before moving into what begins as chronological almost minute-by-minute testimony related to survivors and victims of the bomb.

It is in the information taken from interviews and testimonies that the importance of this book really takes shape.

While Sheftall's book is not the first English-language book to contain detailed testimony from survivors, it is the first one I’ve read which incorporates every possible human detail and, most importantly of all in terms of historical value, places that testimony into its proper context.

We are not just told that a person was at such-and-such a place during the bomb. Those who died, and those who survived, are not vague figures or statistics mentioned in passing. Instead, Sheftall reconstructs who they were, how they came to be in a specific place when the bomb dropped, and even <I>why</I> they were there in the first place.

Due to the ages of the survivors Sheftall interviewed, most of the detailed survivor accounts come from students who had been part of the forced labor mobilization that took Japanese students out of the classrooms and placed them in factories, working on firebreaks, and training for what was expected to be a land invasion. So many of the victims discussed here were killed in schools, or while working with classmates; survivors, more often than not, were those who happened to stay home that day.

It quickly becomes clear when reading Sheftall’s account of events that the difference between life and death in Hiroshima was often due to random circumstances.

One girl survived because her class team leader lost a game to determine which students worked on an area that would end up being close to ground zero, while the others were further away and thus, more likely to survive the bombing. One boy survived because he had a stomach ache and, since his father (who would not have accepted a stomach ache as a reason to stay home from important war work) was not home, his mother let him stay in bed to rest.

It is when exploring these human details that the book is at its most engrossing and informative, despite the unrelenting nature of the information we learn. The reconstruction of events created from invaluable primary sources (I.e, Sheftall’s many interviews, along with published narratives and testimony) provide invaluable information about what was happening on the ground, in addition to sharing what will be far lesser known experiences to English-speaking readers.

However, shortly after the initial set of detailed minute-by-minute testimony about the bomb and its short and long aftermath, the book suddenly seems to stop: it goes from a chronological account based on survivor testimony into modern first person anecdotes from the perspective of Sheftall.

These first person passages(both the initial interlude and then later random passages) tend to revolve around Sheftall’s research. Sheftall recalls how he felt judged when visiting a memorial park, how he convinced a certain survivor to give an interview, how he attended various memorials down the years and his reception there.

In these passages, the book feels like it’s more about Sheftall than the subject of the narrative. This may have felt more appropriate as an author’s note in the introduction, but it is rather strange when it occurs on and off throughout the book proper.

Another jarring element of the book is that while it began chronologically before suddenly shifting to a chapter discussing Sheftall visiting a survivor in the hopes of gaining an interview, after this initial first person interlude, it jumps back to “the beginning,” so to speak.

After the sudden chapter from the author’s point-of-view, the book heads back in time to present another round of testimonies starting before the bomb dropped. From this point on, the chapters go back and forth so often, suddenly stopping the narrative about a certain family or individual before beginning a new chapter about someone else, that it becomes dizzying. It’s essential to take notes to keep track of everyone, and it’s frustrating to constantly go back and forth in the timeline.

While the book excels at presenting detailed information about the survivors and victims that presents a complete picture of the human beings affected by the decisions of the governments above them, sometimes I had to wonder why Sheftall spent so much time on certain elements.

The strongest example of this is a multi-chapter interlude where Sheftall goes into the history of Christianity in Japan and then specifically in Christianity in Hiroshima. This interlude begins after Sheftall ends a chapter by noting a survivor who ended up turning to Christianity in the years after the bombing.

Then we are suddenly thrust into a multi-chapter historical lesson (it takes two chapters to get back to the survivor in question) that veers so far off from the narrative path that I had to go back two chapters to remind myself where we had been.

This type of excessive backstory also tends to happen when companies or organizations are mentioned. Instead of a paragraph or two explaining the history or context of the company, we get multiple pages about them, all simply because one person worked for them at the time of the bombing.

While I absolutely appreciate that Sheftall brings proper context to the people and events in question, sometimes--as with the two chapter Christianity backstory--it feels excessive.

Eventually, the book does fall back into a more-or-less chronological narrative, discussing the social and political aftermath of the bombings for those that survived. This is another element of the book that shines strongly, particularly because Sheftall isn’t afraid to debunk myths and expose the less appealing underside of the narratives built up around the bombing in the decades afterward.

Sheftall, for instance, notes one survivor who became unpopular in survivor’s groups because she wrote about and denounced the ultra-conservative narrative being embraced by the families of many victims; this narrative mirrored the same narrative used in the enshrinement of war criminals at Yasukuni shrine. While other books might shy away from exposing this unappealing element--both the narrative and the treatment of the survivor--Sheftfall lets readers take it in.

Overall, while I have some misgivings about the structure of the book and the sometimes jumbled focus, I do think that Sheftalls’ incredible intimate, detailed reconstructions of the experiences of those who survived--or didn’t survive--the bombing of Hiroshima will make this one of “the” books on the subject in the years to come.

Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses by M. G. Sheftall Receiving this pre-publication copy was very timely for me as I am preparing aa talk on before and after of John Hersey’s Hiroshima. Hersey’s New Yorker Magazine article appeared 31 August 1946, one year after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. He had gone to Hiroshima a few months before this and met with six survivors of the bombing and exposed the coverup by the US Government about the knowledge already gained that the A Bomb was more than just a very large firebomb. People were continuing to get sick and die who survived the Atomic Bomb uninjured. I have also read Lesley M.M. Blume’s recent book Fallout which describes how Hersey got to Hiroshima and the secrecy at The New Yorker about the publication and the enormous interest in the article and the new-strengthened discussions regarding how to control nuclear weapons. I have also read Wilfred Burchett The Atomic Plague from his trip to Hiroshima a few weeks after the bombing as well as George Weller’s trip to Nagasaki just after the bombing as well.
Mr. Sheftall’s book is an excellent addition this work as is comes well after the events and for the most part like Hersey’s book focuses on the survivors and how they were haunted the rest of their lives. Partly from the stigma of visible scars, illness as well as trying to understand – Why Me ? When so many of their friends died. Mr. Sheftall is a professor in Japan and has lived there I believe for over 30 years so he does have some sensitivity in getting survivors to talk about that day and the days that followed. Two very important points I learned from his book were (1) approximately 30,000 Koreans and Taiwanese died who were working in Hiroshima at the time and (2) an equally large number of students ages 13-14 who were outside working instead of school clearing firebreaks throughout the city in the hopes of stopping firebombs from burning the complete city. Their stories make up most of the book. The book is well over 500 pages long and I found it well written and compelling reading for anyone wanting to understand more about the damage to mankind from nuclear weapons. There are people today who think perhaps the use of a 15kT “tactical weapon” may be acceptable. This is the size of the Hiroshima bomb.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Group Dutton for an advance copy of this book in a two part series that looks at the nuclear bombing of Japan, one that ended a war, but set a peace that we are still grappling with today.

As a person who reads a lot of history, and as a person who lives in this world today, I am very surprised that nuclear weapons have not been used since 1945. Sure there has been talk, Cobalt belts in Korea, use in destroying dams and waterways in Vietnam, even in Russia's current war with Ukraine. However this has been talk. The military is known for abstinence in use of force. We destroyed the village to save it for example. Maybe somehow deep down the human animal knows that nuclear usage is just one step too far. Everything up to firebombing civilians is ok, releasing the atom, no one wants that responsibility. One sees this kind of thinking in this book. However what readers see is something that is rare in many books of history, the story of those literally at ground zero. The lives they had, the lives the survivors went on to lead, and what they saw. Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses by M. G. Sheftall is a powerful book, the first of two that look at nuclear bombing of Japan, told from those who saw the light in the sky, not knowing how the world would be changed forever.

The book begins on an island, with a plane, military brass preening, a determined reporter, scientists and a bomb that no one was sure would even work. The plane, the Enola Gay, lifts into the sky, joins a group of planes to accompany and watch their mission, and heads to the city of Hiroshima. Hiroshima had been spared much of the damage done to other Japanese cities, firebombing and constant raids that had left thousands dead. Of course people feared what Hiroshima was been spared for, but many tried best to go on with their lives. An American plane, checking the meteorological conditions of the city had set off air raid warnings, but on the morning of August 6, when the Enola Gay passed over the city all was quiet. Students were going to school, or working in factories because of shortages, or out in the fields creating firebreaks in case of bombing. People were going to work, or looking at the two planes in the sky, who suddenly peeled off in different directions. And then came the flash.

John Hersey's Hiroshima has been on summer reading lists as long as I have been in bookstores, and hopefully will remain there. M. G. Sheftall's Hiroshima should be on there also. The book has the power to shock, to make a reader cringe in disgust, be amazed at human resilience, and cry page after page. Sheftall details that day from various stories and points of view, mostly from survivors that Sheftall was still able to meet with. Sheftall goes into the American reasons lightly, spending most of the book on the survivors. Sheftall also looks at how the Japanese government has dealt with the survivors, and how the victims have been brought into the political issue of the honored war dead. Sheftall is a professor who works in Japan, and writes with an understanding that many would be unable to capture. There are many stories of loss, pain, death, and even worse quilt from those who did nothing but survive, while so many people they know did not. This is an incredible book, one that has taken quite a while for the author to write, and I am sure one that took quite a lot of him.

There is a passage in the book, by Americans about the dropping of the bomb. One is about how it will end the war, save lives, and that's ok. The other by an observer who told a fellow soldier, I want to be a doctor, and if I work day and night the rest of my life saving every one I can, it still won't be anything to what we did here. That's the nuclear argument in a nutshell. I look forward to the second book in this series. And I can't recommend this book enough.

I thought the book was good, waiting for the Pearl Harbor version. seems well-written and well researched.

This was an excellent book. I have known several Hiroshima survivors who told me in relative detail what happened on that morning. This book is not only accurate but discusses in greater detail what those survivors told me. This book will become a classic.

Thank you Dutton for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I just finished Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses, by M.G. Sheftall.

I am not normally a fan of military history and I have never shown any interest in any other particular military weapon. But, for some unknown reason, ever since I’ve been a child, I’ve been fascinated by the atomic bomb. Not just its two times being used, but also the other times we’ve come close to nuclear war and what the preparations for nuclear war have been. I don’t know why this is the case. It just is. So, when I saw this book was available, I immediately knew I needed to read it.

One of the things I love about history books is the little tidbits that they always contain. I don’t remember ever hearing about this story: before the Enola Gay took off, Paul Tibbetts, the pilot, was given 12 cyanide pills—1 for him and one each for his crew. Tibbetts accepted his, along with only one of his crew. The only other crew member to accept, Captain William Parsons, was the only person, other than Tibbetts, who knew anything about the atomic bomb and the US plans for further use. So, even if something had gone wrong and, they were captured, none of the other crew members who declined to accept their pills would have had any useful information about the bomb to reveal to Japanese captors.

The first part of the book is on the Enola Gay and its journey to Hiroshima, along with a brief discussion of the history of the building of the bomb. We are also introduced to the Japanese civilians who would be affected when the bomb was dropped.

Then, the book moves into more about the building of the bomb and the science behind it. Whenever the book describes the scientific aspects, it is always in clear, easy to understand for laymen language.

One of the most interesting discussions in the book is exactly what happened when the bomb went off. The book does a good job dispelling the myth that people were just instantly and painlessly vaporized by the bomb.

A big chunk of the book is telling the stories of survivors.

One story really stands out. On August 5, 1945, Professor Mimura Yoshitaka, a physicist, came to speak at a seminar. In a Q&A session afterwards, a lieutenant colonel asked what is the atomic bomb and can Japan get one in time to use it during the war. He was told that this was investigated by Tokyo University that “found that although such a weapon would have an unimaginably destructive capacity, there is no way that it could be developed in time to use I the current conflict. Just to give some idea, if a single weapon with a nuclear core the size of a caramel were exploded over Hiroshima, the entire city could be completely destroyed.”

The next day, the professor was one of the survivors who watched as the bomb was falling to the earth.

This book was filled with good information and stories. The author is also planning on a second volume, covering Nagasaki. I look forward to reading that one too. After finishing this book, I placed my preorder for the audiobook version.

I give this book an A+, which also means that it has been inducted into my Hall of Fame. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews.