Hiroshima: The World's Bomb

by Andrew J. Rotter

The US decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima remains one of the most controversial events of the twentieth century. But as this fascinating new history shows, the bomb dropped by an American pilot that hot August morning was in many ways the world's bomb, in both a technological and a
moral sense. And it was the world that would have to face its consequences, strategically, diplomatically, and culturally, in the years ahead. In this fast-paced and insightful narrative, Andrew J. Rotter tells the international story behind the development of the atom bomb, ranging from the global
crises that led to the Second World War to the largely unavailing attempts to control the spread of nuclear weapons and the evolution of the nuclear arms race after the war had ended. He details the growth in the 1930s and '40s of a world-wide community of scientists dedicated to developing a weapon
that could undo the evil in Nazi Germany, and he describes the harnessing of their efforts by the US wartime government. Rotter also sheds light on the political and strategic decisions that led to the bombing itself, the impact of the bomb on Hiroshima and the endgame of the Pacific War, the
effects of the bombing and the bomb on society and culture, and the state of all things nuclear in the early 21st-century world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Ebooks, Japan, Science

384 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2008

Reviews

[Peter Miller]

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOOOOOOOOOOM!

[Andrew Sternisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book that anyone interested in this history of the first atomic bomb should read. I wanted more on the arms race after the war, but this is beyond the scope of this volume.

[Erin Moxam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely informative book that was well presented and narrated. It took me a long time to read, but that was because the subject matter was extremely depressing, so I preferred to take it in small doses and is not reflective of the author or the book. I usually try to avoid history books written by Americans because they are so centered on the U.S. a lot can get left out, I was very happy to find that was not the case with this book. This book looks at the invention of the atom bomb and its subsequent use as a world event, which it really was. Scientists from all over the world helped to develop it and using it of course changed things for everyone. There was a lot of detail and I learned everything I wanted to know without feeling like I was just reading lists of technical specs. I also thought the short chapters and the order things were presented in was intuitive and helped make sense of events that were happening all over the world. If you are looking to learn about the construction of the atom bomb, this is a good bet. The context in which these events took place is very well presented which I thought gave a well rounded view and tried to put things in some sort of perspective.

[Aled Owen-Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read this before I remembered it as a history of the (unnecessary) attack on Hiroshima but it's actually far more a history of the atomic bomb. The book doesn't go into too much detail on what it covers while ostensibly covering everything. This makes the book very readable and leaves you with a wide, although not in depth, knowledge of the subject.

[TimEs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written at parts. But I felt that the author downplayed Japanese atrocities, painted a one-sided picture of the bombing of cities (neglecting cases where it ultimately did yield a net benefit), and does not focus on the plight of the Japanese-occupied South East Asians, significantly reduced by the bombing.

[Alya Abdalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt biased .. and the hiroshima part is way less than expected .. talked more about America and the methods they used instead of Hiroshima..
The title and intro indicates something other than what I've read.

[Efi Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s okay kind of dense

[Pei-jean Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this is redundant as it was written nearly 20 years ago, but even 80 years on the consequences of that fateful day in August are ones we are still living with.

[Mohammad Danaie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly suggest this book as a valuabla account of a period in modern history which may never happens again. For those who like to read a pure non fiction & documentary on ethics in science (as a tool for military dominance), use warfare to destruct morale of citizens & politics, I can say this is a must-be read work! I find that author try to keep a neutral position but I have to finish it to explore author's overall impression & finding in this controversy ... the book is amusing for serious reader although the chaptering organization could be better.

[Chrisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tackles a wide breadth of issues related to the first atomic bomb at Hiroshima- the physics of the bomb and the scientific community that developed it, the political causes of WWII and the leaders who chose to seek and utilize the bomb, the event in Japan itself, and the arms race in the aftermath. It is an interesting look at how WWII influenced the creation of the bomb as well as how the bomb came to influence the world.

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book against my will. Begrudgingly, I learned a few things, but nothing that was life-altering. If you’re interested in the subject, I can recommend the writing. If you’re not, you probably shouldn’t bother. If you’re not and you’re being forced to read it, at least it’s decently written? Good luck.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rotter gives a rather chilling introduction to how the indiscriminate aerial murder of civilians prior to and during World War 2 informed the twisted logic that allowed a gifted and multinational group of scientists (and their military task masters) to suspend their moral compasses and create the mother of all murder weapons.

[Chelsey Langland · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is pretty unremarkable. I did like the organization, though.