The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945 (Modern Library War)
by John Tolandbook data
68 ratings,
4.10
average rating, 7 reviews
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published
May 27th 2003
(first published 1970)
by Modern Library
binding
Paperback, 976 pages
literary awards
Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction (1971)
isbn
0812968581
(isbn13: 9780812968583)
description
This Pulitzer Prize–winning history of World War II chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the Japanese empire, from the invasion of Manchuria and C...more
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avg 4.10
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in January, 2003
Read it as a companion to Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer. Allowed me to contrast Japanese motives for seeking empire with that of the Germans. Introduced me to Manchurian and Indonesian conquests of the 30s and the emperor worship/nationalism that endured during this troublesome time.
The book detailed Pearl Harbor and the naval battles that ensued throughout the war, culminating in the napalm bombings of Tokyo and the atomic bombs that caused the empire to capi...more
The book detailed Pearl Harbor and the naval battles that ensued throughout the war, culminating in the napalm bombings of Tokyo and the atomic bombs that caused the empire to capi...more
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Read in July, 2008
Wow, Japan had logical reasons for attacking us. Who knew? Japan viewed its expansion in Asia as equivalent to the U.S. continental expansion and power grab in the western hemisphere.
Why would the U.S. stop another with a near identical view of national destiny. Japan adopted All-American values like crushing "lesser" people, gobbling resources for exploitation, and providing economic opportunity for a burgeoning population at home. All this was conducted under a parliam...more
Why would the U.S. stop another with a near identical view of national destiny. Japan adopted All-American values like crushing "lesser" people, gobbling resources for exploitation, and providing economic opportunity for a burgeoning population at home. All this was conducted under a parliam...more
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Read in January, 1975
recommends it for:
serious historians
This history of the Second World War focusses on the Pacific Theater. It is quite detail and very long.
John Toland really, really does know his subject thought and I found it interesting and learned a lot about the Japanese perspective of the war.
If you are not a real history buff though, it is quite long! Nowadays, they would have issued this book as a trilogy for easier reading.
John Toland really, really does know his subject thought and I found it interesting and learned a lot about the Japanese perspective of the war.
If you are not a real history buff though, it is quite long! Nowadays, they would have issued this book as a trilogy for easier reading.
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Read in January, 2008
I was quite intimidated by this book at first because its so big and I haven't read anything this thick (content wise) in a long time, but I'm so engrossed in it right now that its been hard to convince myself to put it down and go to sleep.
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My now ex-boyfriend made me read this. A non-fiction history of Japan's involvement in WWII is definitely not something I would have picked up on my own, but I can't say I hated it. Managed to read all 950-ish pages.
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Pure history of World War II in the Pacific written from the Japanese perspective. One needs to be a real history fan to slog through this.
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