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Hiroshima Nagasaki

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Hiroshima Nagasaki

By: Paul Ham
Narrated by: Robert Meldrum
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About this listen

 ′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 eighty 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.©2011 Paul Ham (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Military World War Imperialism Disturbing Air Force

Critic Reviews

"It is to Paul Ham's credit that his hefty new study, Hiroshima Nagasaki, never loses sight of the most central and most compelling aspect of the bombings. The book's strength lies in Ham's extensive interviews with survivors and in his imaginative and moral engagement with the two cities as living human communities." (The Sydney Morning Herald)

What listeners say about Hiroshima Nagasaki

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Profile Image for Jaidee

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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Profile Image for jpublic

an epic sweep of history

very well written an narrated, a gripping account of one of the most important episodes of history. unputdownable.

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Profile Image for Konar

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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Profile Image for D Player

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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Profile Image for The reader who failed English!

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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Profile Image for Dom

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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Profile Image for Atheos

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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Profile Image for Anonymous User

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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Profile Image for Ian Simpson

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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Profile Image for Deirdre E Siegel

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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