One Sentence Summary
Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan is an enlightening and dramatic account of the Pacific War and its end, through which America ultimately triumphed over the Japanese Empire.
Book Genre
Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan is a non-fiction historical book.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan is the Pacific War between the United States and the Japanese Empire during World War II, and the eventual victory of the United States.
Key Ideas
- The course of the Pacific War: Bill O’Reilly’s book describes the major phases of the Pacific War and examines why the United States triumphed over the Japanese Empire.
- The atomic bombs: The book also explores the decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which ultimately contributed the vanquishing of the Japanese.
- Interim peace negotiations: O’Reilly’s book further analyzes the attempts to negotiate an interim peace between the two sides, and the conditions that led to their failure.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Prologue: The book’s prologue is dedicated to the memory of those who fought in the Pacific War, and provides a brief overview of some of the major events of the war.
- Part I: Part I covers the whole Pacific War, from its beginnings to the final months leading up to the Japanese surrender. The author examines the major battles and Allied strategies that contributed to the defeat of Japan.
- Part II: Part II is devoted to the exploration of the Japanese surrender and the events leading up to it. The author examines the roles of Harry Truman’s staff in the decision to drop the atomic bombs, and the debate over the propriety of their use.
- Part III: Part III details the aftermath of the Japanese surrender, from the war tribunals to the rebuilding of Japan. The author explores the various attempts at reconciliation between the two sides, and the effects of the occupation of Japan.
- Epilogue: The book’s epilogue reflects on the legacy of the Pacific War, and the heroic sacrifices of all the participants.
Key Takeaways
- An understanding of the entire Pacific War, its importance in World War II, and how the United States was ultimately victorious.
- An understanding of the debate over the use of atomic bombs and the decision to drop them.
- An understanding of the peace negotiations leading up to the Japanese surrender, and why they failed.
- An understanding of the post-war occupation and reconstruction of Japan, and the attempts at reconciliation between the two sides.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan is written by Bill O’Reilly, an American journalist, author, and political commentator. He has written numerous best-selling books in various genres, including historical non-fiction, and hosts the political discussion program The O’Reilly Factor.
Target Audience
Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan is a book suitable for readers of all ages who are interested in the history of World War II and the Pacific War in particular.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan was published in September 2016 by Henry Holt and Co., in New York City, New York.