Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II

Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II by Evan Thomas

The United States had an atomic bomb. Japan was still fighting. Should the bomb be used to end the war? This book explores the decision made by American and Japanese to end the war. There was a delicate balance made to help allow the Emperor to end the war without losing power. Did the bombing save lives? Maybe? But situations also changed. Fire bombing or an invasion may have been worse for both sides. Dealing with Japanese culture and an unwillingness to surrender was a huge challenge to navigate when ending the war. The Russian involvement was also forthcoming. This book brings in the "bigwigs", but the big focus is on the underlings that are steering policy. It provides a different view of what led to world-altering decisions.

Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan

Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan by Richard Overy

The United States is unapologetic in the use of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. It is believed that the bomb saved half a million American lives - more than the Japanese lives lost in the explosions. We often second guess the use today. However, the important question to ask is why did America of the time choose to drop the bomb? Americans were tired of the war. Germany had surrendered and Americans wanted to go home. However, Japanese kept fighting what seemed to be a losing cause. The American public now saw Japanese as less than human and wanted to do whatever it took to end the war as soon as possible. The atomic bomb seemed like a great solution. 

The firebombing of Tokyo was the most destructive conventional bombing in history. More people were immediately killed in this bombing than immediately by either of the atomic bombs. The Japanese initially dismissed the atomic bombs as just another big bomb. It is uncertain whether this bombing changed the timeline of the Japanese surrender. However, they did finally surrender not long after the bombing, leading to a cause and effect alignment in the minds of Americans.

This book is an interesting exploration of the bombing that looks at it from the lens of 1945 America while tying in modern knowledge of the Japanese mentality. It does a good job of exploring how people felt and why things were done as they were.

Nuclear War: A Scenario

Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

This is a nonfiction "scenario" detailing how a nuclear war could unfold. This seems like a recipe for dry technical material. However, this book reads more like a thriller, despite being filled with technical details. In the scenario here, North Korea launches a missile at DC. The US identifies it, but is unable to shoot it down. They try to evacuate the president to a safe zone. However, there are delays due to arguments among other people about not having enough parachutes. (This bickering illustrates some of the challenges of even the most well-made plans.)

After the east-coast missile is launched, a submarine-launched missile is shot towards the west coast. This destroys a nuclear power plant causing extensive damage. The military leaders pressure the president to give them codes to retaliate against North Korea. They also try to reach other powers, such as Russia. However, they can't connect and by the time they can connect the president is out of commission and they will only talk to the president. The Russians see the missiles heading towards North Korea and think they are heading towards Russia. They launch a massive retaliatory strike on the US. In the end, billions are killed and much land is made uninhabitable. The nuclear winter kills off even more.

The book just paints a scenario without much judgement. The reader gets to choose how to avoid it. Should we go ahead and destroy North Korea? What about having Trump in leadership of the US? What is the point of the massive nuclear retaliation? Would it be better to spend more effort on anti-nuclear missile defenses?

Question 7

Question 7 by Richard Flanagan

This seems to be mostly a history book, but written in novel form to be "flexible". The narrator's father was in a Japanese internment camp. The Japanese at the time were keen on fighting to the death. However, the atomic bomb helped to kill their resolve and dad was free. He later had an awkward meeting with the jailor that involved a hug photo op. This pivots to a few related topics. There was H.G. Wells and his life and affairs and his use of "atom bomb". There are German scientists and their research into the bomb. They stopped because it would take "too long" and Germany expected to be fully victorious by 1943. It also jumps to life in Tasmania. It was once a cruel prison colony that lead to killing of many of the aboriginal population, something that would later be termed genocide. There is also talk of World War II movies and how they are more a projecting of the creator's thoughts than actual experiences. Life of father and family is also brought in. It interestingly jumps from topic to topic to give something of a coherent story.

Level 7

 Level 7 by Mordecai Roshwald

I was concerned when the introduction droned on a while about why this book was so important and that the author chose "fiction" to better communicate his ideas. Luckily, the book itself was well written and did not seem problematic. In the book, "Level 7" refers to the 7th level beneath he ground. This was the most secure fallout shelter. The "button pushers" are located there. They will be the ones that will push the button to nuke the enemies if hostilities break out. There are resources to sustain life for hundreds of years down there. The higher levels have greater populations of gradually decreasing importance.

The structure of the novel is the journal of one of the inhabitants of Level 7. At first he doesn't realize why his there. He gradually learns and steadily adapts to the monotony of life underground with the repetitive music and bland food. They picked people with few attachments in the world, however, they do allow the people in this level to get married. Eventually the time comes and the buttons are pushed. They learn the world has been mostly destroyed. Some of the "button pushers" struggle with their role in the operation. The non-belligerents suffer almost immediate destruction. The belligerents each claim victory. However, those on the upper levels soon fall ill and die due to radiation poisoning. The sickness gradually comes down to the lower levels. The 7th level is initially preserved. Alas, the nuclear reactor powering the level starts to leak radiation leading to their poisoning. The book has a grim warning of the futility of nuclear war.

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

The quest to build the first atomic bomb required a lot of work - and subterfuge. Despite being allies at the time, the Soviets and Americans did not trust each other. The Soviets were keen to insert spies into the research establishment in order to get the secrets. The Americans had responded with their own degree of secrecy and misleading paths. The work eventually succeeded and the bomb was created and dropped on Japan. This book targets children, but doesn't talk down to them. It makes for an easily accessible history.