|
|
US Mall 1 - Danger's Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her
|
List Price: $30.00
Our Price: $13.89
Your Save: $ 16.11 ( 54% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.54252294
EAN: 9780743260800
ISBN: 0743260805
Label: Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 528
Publication Date: 2008-11-11
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Studio: Simon & Schuster
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Danger's Hour Flies By
Comment: I could not put this book down. Danger's Hour presents a riveting account of the devestating Kamikaze attack on the USS Bunker Hill, and much more. Maxwell Kennedy weaves consummate personal storytelling with technical exposition and a fine eye for highlighting the details that matter. His comprehensive and original research adds to the historical scholarship and understanding of the attack on the Bunker Hill -- for example, Mr. Kennedy clarifies the historical confusion regarding the type of plane flown by the Kamikaze. In addition, Mr. Kennedy sets this harrowing account within the broader context of the Pacific War and presents the story from both sides. Finally, Mr. Kennedy adds insight to our collective understanding of suicide as an instrument of war, and that has particular relevance for the 21st century.
Excellent Job Well Done.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A remarkable account of a horrific event
Comment: I picked up this book because my uncle served on the Bunker Hill. I found his name referenced on the bottom of page 154. He was the gunner on the TBF avenger that was downed during the February 1945 raid over Tokyo. The account given on page 154 matches that of letter we have from captain George Seitz. This confirmation is incredibly valuable to my family. We feel we have come just a bit closer to understanding what may have happened my uncle on that fateful day he lost his life. Thank you Mr. Kennedy for putting together this detailed account of the Bunker Hill and the men who served on her.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking History
Comment: I read a lot of history but I don't think I have ever read a book quite like Danger's Hour - its combination of technical detail, characterization, military history, political information and psychological perspective seem unique in my experience. Learning how many rods go through what kind of holes in a Zero's engine and reading the poetry of the Kamikazes certainly brought together some pretty disparate stuff.
At the end, I felt very moved. I cried a lot while I read portions of the book and came away feeling that I understood more about a) what happened and b) war and its effect on men generally than I had before. Maxwell Kennedy is certainly to be congratulated on his amazing achievement.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great human story but historically flawed.
Comment: I gave this book three stars because the narrative was engrossing, especially Part II which deals with the actual kamikaze hits by Yasunori Seizo and Kiyoshi Ogawa and and violent explosions, fires and smoke that swept through the ship killing and wounding hundreds of brave US sailors and Marines. The structure and organization of the book is particulary good and juxtaposes the story of Japan's tokkotai (kamikaze corps) and one of the pilots who struck the USS Bunker Hill with the story of that ship, her pilots and crew and its epic fight off of Okinawa. I would have given the book five stars for the quality of the human story-telling, if not for the unforegivable historical errors. The author is not an expert in the subject matter and unfortunately, it shows. Inaccuracies can be found in terminology and references to armaments, individuals and events (all noted by prior reviewers). The casual reader who is less familiar with the subject matter will likely not get hung up on these errors. However, for those who are knowledgeable, the mistakes are unforgiveable and distracting. For example, I found it hard to believe that the author painstakingly researched the type of Zero Kiyoshi Ogawa flew but then made the basic mistake of confusing anti-aircraft armaments mounted (i.e., 20mm with 40mm quad mounts) on the carrier. In the end, better editorial review and fact checking would have made this book much better.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A fantastic Account of Naval warfare and Japanese Kamikazes
Comment: This is a well researched and gripping account of warfare in the Pacific Theater. It brings to life the positions of Japanese soldiers and pilots in what was the single most transformative social movement in modern warfare- the development of the Kamikaze warrior. This book reminds me a great deal of the Eastwood Flags of our fathers type of narrative. This is an extremely well written and gripping account of the War using a single ship as metaphor and literary vehicle. Very innovative and a welcome addition in a genre that too frequently avoids the perspectives of Japanese soldiers- a very humanizing account. Fantastic!- Professor Michael Wilcox, Stanford University.
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Danger's Hour Flies By
Comment: I could not put this book down. Danger's Hour presents a riveting account of the devestating Kamikaze attack on the USS Bunker Hill, and much more. Maxwell Kennedy weaves consummate personal storytelling with technical exposition and a fine eye for highlighting the details that matter. His comprehensive and original research adds to the historical scholarship and understanding of the attack on the Bunker Hill -- for example, Mr. Kennedy clarifies the historical confusion regarding the type of plane flown by the Kamikaze. In addition, Mr. Kennedy sets this harrowing account within the broader context of the Pacific War and presents the story from both sides. Finally, Mr. Kennedy adds insight to our collective understanding of suicide as an instrument of war, and that has particular relevance for the 21st century.
Excellent Job Well Done.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A remarkable account of a horrific event
Comment: I picked up this book because my uncle served on the Bunker Hill. I found his name referenced on the bottom of page 154. He was the gunner on the TBF avenger that was downed during the February 1945 raid over Tokyo. The account given on page 154 matches that of letter we have from captain George Seitz. This confirmation is incredibly valuable to my family. We feel we have come just a bit closer to understanding what may have happened my uncle on that fateful day he lost his life. Thank you Mr. Kennedy for putting together this detailed account of the Bunker Hill and the men who served on her.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking History
Comment: I read a lot of history but I don't think I have ever read a book quite like Danger's Hour - its combination of technical detail, characterization, military history, political information and psychological perspective seem unique in my experience. Learning how many rods go through what kind of holes in a Zero's engine and reading the poetry of the Kamikazes certainly brought together some pretty disparate stuff.
At the end, I felt very moved. I cried a lot while I read portions of the book and came away feeling that I understood more about a) what happened and b) war and its effect on men generally than I had before. Maxwell Kennedy is certainly to be congratulated on his amazing achievement.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great human story but historically flawed.
Comment: I gave this book three stars because the narrative was engrossing, especially Part II which deals with the actual kamikaze hits by Yasunori Seizo and Kiyoshi Ogawa and and violent explosions, fires and smoke that swept through the ship killing and wounding hundreds of brave US sailors and Marines. The structure and organization of the book is particulary good and juxtaposes the story of Japan's tokkotai (kamikaze corps) and one of the pilots who struck the USS Bunker Hill with the story of that ship, her pilots and crew and its epic fight off of Okinawa. I would have given the book five stars for the quality of the human story-telling, if not for the unforegivable historical errors. The author is not an expert in the subject matter and unfortunately, it shows. Inaccuracies can be found in terminology and references to armaments, individuals and events (all noted by prior reviewers). The casual reader who is less familiar with the subject matter will likely not get hung up on these errors. However, for those who are knowledgeable, the mistakes are unforgiveable and distracting. For example, I found it hard to believe that the author painstakingly researched the type of Zero Kiyoshi Ogawa flew but then made the basic mistake of confusing anti-aircraft armaments mounted (i.e., 20mm with 40mm quad mounts) on the carrier. In the end, better editorial review and fact checking would have made this book much better.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A fantastic Account of Naval warfare and Japanese Kamikazes
Comment: This is a well researched and gripping account of warfare in the Pacific Theater. It brings to life the positions of Japanese soldiers and pilots in what was the single most transformative social movement in modern warfare- the development of the Kamikaze warrior. This book reminds me a great deal of the Eastwood Flags of our fathers type of narrative. This is an extremely well written and gripping account of the War using a single ship as metaphor and literary vehicle. Very innovative and a welcome addition in a genre that too frequently avoids the perspectives of Japanese soldiers- a very humanizing account. Fantastic!- Professor Michael Wilcox, Stanford University.
Array
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
