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Hiroshima Nagasaki
- Narrated by: Robert Meldrum
- Length: 20 hrs and 58 mins
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Hiroshima Nagasaki
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Publisher's Summary
"Nobody is more disturbed," said President Truman, three days after the destruction of Nagasaki in 1945, "over the use of the atomic bombs than I am, but I was greatly disturbed over the unwarranted attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and their murder of our prisoners of war. The only language [the Japanese] seem to understand is the one we have been using to bombard them. When you have to deal with a beast you have to treat him as a beast. It is most regrettable but nevertheless true."
The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed more than 100,000 instantly, mostly women, children, and the elderly. Many hundreds of thousands more succumbed to their horrific injuries later, or slowly perished of radiation-related sickness. Yet the bombs were "our least abhorrent choice", American leaders claimed at the time - and still today most people believe they ended the Pacific War and saved millions of American and Japanese lives. Ham challenges this view, arguing that the bombings, when Japan was on its knees, were the culmination of a strategic Allied air war on enemy civilians that began in Germany and had till then exacted its most horrific death tolls in Dresden and Tokyo.
The war in Europe may have ended but it continued in the Pacific against a regime still looking to save face. Ham describes the political manoeuvring and the scientific race to build the new atomic weapon. He also gives powerful witness to its destruction through the eyes of 80 survivors, from 12-year-olds forced to work in war factories to wives and children who faced it alone, reminding us that these two cities were full of ordinary people who suddenly, out of a clear blue summer's sky, felt the sun fall on their heads.
What listeners say about Hiroshima Nagasaki
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jaidee
- 12-10-2021
Comprehensive and thought provoking
Wonderfully researched and written. There is so much more to the ‘should the bomb have been dropped’ debate. Perfectly read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Konar
- 19-04-2016
Greatest Understanding Of Events
Robert Meldrum has presented Paul Hams book well. I now feel like my knowledge of the events leading up to and thereafter the bomb, are factual and expansive.
well presented.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- D Player
- 16-08-2023
Excellent except for…
The content was excellent and well researched, the voice actor was clear and pleasant to listen to except for his pronunciation of some Japanese words- mainly the mispronunciation of the island Kyushu - Cue-shoe not Kai-oo-shoe. This was very grating as it was in the text dozens of times.
Performers should be selected for their ability to pronounce words in a given language accurately.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The reader who failed English!
- 15-07-2017
A remarkable documentary
Would you consider the audio edition of Hiroshima Nagasaki to be better than the print version?
Absolutely, the expression and verbal presentation adds an incredible amount of fulfilment to the documentary
What was one of the most memorable moments of Hiroshima Nagasaki?
The description of a mother finding her daughters aluminium lunch box, with the chopsticks still attached to the lid and still holding her lunch. But never finding her daughter. It is an exhibit in the Peace Museum in Hiroshima, it's something I'd like to see one day.
What does Robert Meldrum bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
The expression and character of the individuals and their thoughts. It's as if you are listening to the actual people at times.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Many
Any additional comments?
I have also listened to "Australia, The Vietnam War". I am an ex serviceman of the Australian Army and even though I did not serv in Vietnam I served with many who did. There are moments in that book that I can relate to individuals whom which I served under. This is another "You Must Read" There will be times that will simply take your breath away, as there are similar in this book.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dom
- 10-09-2021
very moving
very moving and at times hard to not be affected by the suffering of the victims towards the end of the book.
overall a great account of development of the bomb and historical landscape of the times.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Atheos
- 22-08-2021
A comprehen examination of this horrific war crime
This is a comprehensive telling of the lead up, actual and aftermath of this horrific event in humanities history. I found it cuts though the self righteous American propaganda and gets to the heart of the matter. Very well narrated. 5 star recommendation!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 21-02-2023
Outstanding, devastating and incredibly well researched
Furnishes an explanation of the development, building and appalling delivery of the atomic bombs used by America against Japan in WWII. Told at the most human level from every aspect, explains so much of the apparent but flawed justification for their use and the legacy left to us all by their incarnation.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian Simpson
- 21-09-2017
Gravitas that is well examined
A thought provoking look at one of the key historical events of the twentieth century assisted by an excellent narrator.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Deirdre E Siegel
- 24-09-2021
Brilliant, the same history we were taught in school in the 1970’s :-)
An excellent book that looks at the historic ugliness surrounding the uncalled for dropping of atomic bombs by the US Administration on civilians of Japan.
Thanks for a superb read/listen Paul, much appreciated :-)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Moore Ink
- 26-03-2022
A must read!
Informative, incredibly well researched, and a highly engaging read on a subject which has not received enough attention. We have been deluded by the American dumbed down version of events and their impacts on Japan and the world. A must read especially for educators and historians.
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