"9 best books about the Pacific War" Topic

"World War II is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against Nazi Germany, with the war in the Pacific as an after-thought. Yet the pro rata casualty rate among Americans in the Pacific was more than three times higher than in Europe. Fortunately, there is no shortage of worthwhile books about the Pacific War…"
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Amicalement
Armand

To the list, I would add Eugene Sledge's fine first hand account: "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu & Okinawa."

I never card for Gordon Prange's books. It may have decades of research behind it, but the writing never grabbed me.

And conversely, I enjoy Max Hasting's books, though his research is not as thorough as Prange.

Clair Blair seems to strike a good balance between the two in terms of writing. I'll look for that one.

Miracle at Midway has been shown to be very flawed in aspect of what the Japanese were doing. "Shattered Sword" is a more accurate account of the battle.

Thanks for the recomendations boys!… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Shattered Sword, perhaps my all-time favorite book on the Pacific War, although admittedly just a slice of that struggle. Very, very well-written.

Shots Fired in Anger by John George

For naval action the best one I've read is "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" by James Hornfischer. Of course I could be biased since my grandfather was in Taffy 3 on the Gambier Bay, but the author does give a good general overview of the war in the Pacific leading up to the battle of Leyte Gulf. If you want to know what life was like for a US sailor on board an escort carrier or destroyer and what naval combat was like, read this book. Also agree with "With the Old Breed" and "Shots Fired in Anger" and would like to throw in "Helmet for My Pillow" for good measure.

Paul