Pearl Harbor: The Way It Was, December 7, 1941

by Scott Stone

Describes the Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base that triggered the United States entering the second World War, and includes information on the Japanese warplanes involved in the attack.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1993

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides a brief history of the events of the attack. There isn't any analysis on the events that lead up to the attack or much information about how the attack affected the war, but there are a few good things in this book. The harbor map clearly marks the position of the ships, so it is easy to visualize the attack. Also, those lost in the attack are listed in the back of the book along with their ranks. Finally, there are lots of dramatic illustrations of the attack that bring the attack alive. Most of the book is filled with photos and illustrations, so it'll only take an hour or so to read this. If you want a more in depth book, you should look elsewhere, but if you want something light to read on the plane to Hawaii (or on the way back home), this is worth a read.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

After an emotionally shattering visit to the memorial at Pearl Harbor, I spent an hour or so in the US Park Service gift and book store at the site and came away with several books, this one a lavishly illustrated account of the events. Its lucid and succinct presentation is a good overall summary of Pearl Harbor. Many of the illustrations reinforced nicely what I'd learned by visiting the site.