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Finished ch 9 the submarine war with the IJN is described.

work interfering with reading... thru Chp 9 summary of Halsey & staff, clearing Guadalcanal, the fight for Bismark & Admiralty Islands, troop life in Australia and San Francisco and intro to sub warfare.

Intro covers Dr. Ehrman's evolutionary understanding of the New Testament writings and his struggle with accepting the facts surrounding the New Testament's development. Ch 1 provides the historical backdrop for the coming storym debunks the myth that writing under another person's name was acceptable practice during late antiquity and provides the academic terminology which will be used throughout the book.

Ch 3 finishes with the Battle of the East Solomon Sea - the Enterprise limping away and the Japanese Guadalcanal invasion force recalled. Ch 4 starts with a recounting of the political challenges created by the isolationists faced by FDR and the on-going politics of the quasi-Joint Chiefs, and the appointment of Leahy as the President's primary military interface to the Joint Chiefs.

This has been on my reading list for almost four years. Looking forward to listening and pondering the contents.

Ch 1 finishes with the naval battle at Guadalcanal. Ch 2 starts with the evaluation of the same battle examining the historical critiques of both Adms Mikawa - for departing before finishing the job, and Fletcher's departure with the carriers and air cover. Ian Toll reviews these actions from different perspectives, but leaves the decision to the reader if the correct action was take.

Introduction provides a brief summary of the war in the Pacific to date, and then discusses the Solomon Islands in detail - British and Native inhabitants when the war started, the desertion of all Caucasians from the island except for the island watchers, etc. Interesting details I never knew about. Decision by US to strike back, Guadalcanal planning and the initial invasion, role the coast watchers played.

Chp 5 Churchill visits Roosevelt and the Arcadia Conference, establishment of the ABDC, confirmation of Europe first while maintaining the Pacific. Great insight into the interaction of several key players - Hopkins, Marshall, King. Very interesting compare and contrast of Nimitz and King with short bios on both.