Shattered Sword

[marky]

Finally got my hands on a copy of Shattered Sword a few days ago and finished it at 2am. great book, it doesnt just talk about Midway, but it talks about how Midway and japanese doctrine and carrier operations came to be.

anyone else read it? i know there was a topic on it a while ago.

[51st Highland Div]

I'll put it on my "to do" reading list for work downtime after work studying is over in a few weeks..also going to buy "Nemesis" by Max Hastings all about the last years of the Pacific War and gen up for AE lol

[Anthropoid]

Amazingly good book. One of the last ones I can recall not being able to put down.

[John 3rd]

Magnificent.

[DuckofTindalos]

I think a very large proportion of the people around here have read that book by now.

[John Lansford]

Excellent book that goes into a lot of detail into Japanese carrier doctrine and design, and how these issues led to their defeat at Midway.

[Feinder]

Good book.  It's well worth your time Marky. 
 
If you're intent on expanding your reading list, this forum is a good place to get feedback/recommendations on books (there are indeed weekly threads on book recommendations).
 
-F-

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

Excellent book that goes into a lot of detail into Japanese carrier doctrine and design, and how these issues led to their defeat at Midway.

I would love to see that level of work and detail applied to Shattered Sword and Japanese CV Doctrine to the Guadalcanal Battles.

[Crimguy]

I took it from Marky's post that he read it. I am in the middle of reading it now, and am thoroughly enjoying it.

[OldCoot]

ORIGINAL: 51st Highland Div

I'll put it on my "to do" reading list for work downtime after work studying is over in a few weeks..also going to buy "Nemesis" by Max Hastings all about the last years of the Pacific War and gen up for AE lol

Highly recommend both "Shattered Sword" and "Nemesis". Nemesis is also known in the US as "Retribution"

[paullus99]

Great book that I've read several times. It really puts to rest quite a few "myths" about the battle - I would also recommend that you check out their website as well - www.combinedfleet.com

The information you can gleam about the war from the Japanese perspective (at least on the naval side) is unparalleled.

[JeffroK]

While I thought it an excellent work, It only appraoches the battle from the japanese side. It is a little one sided (not too bad, just a little) in its approach.
 
To gain a true perspective you would need a work of similar quality from the US side and then still have to make your own judgement.
 
(I have recently read The Unknown Battle of Midway- about the Torpedo Sqns at Midway which is another good book on the battle)

[bush]

Retribution is VERY good. Because of the quality of that one, I just picked up Hasting's Armegeddon - the final ywar on the European side.

For Christmas I had received Truscott's bio, Code of Honor. It was horrible. One of the worst I have read. Several errors, almost nothing new, and an uninspiring writing style. Avoid at all costs!

[OldCoot]

ORIGINAL: bushpsu

Retribution is VERY good. Because of the quality of that one, I just picked up Hasting's Armegeddon - the final ywar on the European side.

For Christmas I had received Truscott's bio, Code of Honor. It was horrible. One of the worst I have read. Several errors, almost nothing new, and an uninspiring writing style. Avoid at all costs!

If you like Armegeddon, get "Overlord" also by Max Hastings.

[LST Express]

The book threads are a nice witp forums perk imo. I've read Shattered Sword but didn't know about Retribution or Armegeddon until I read this thread and now those two are in the mail! [:)]

[Misconduct]

I never read Shattered Sword, but once I get some money going I will go out and get it.

[bush]

Anyone read Victory at Sea by Dunnigan and Nofi (both of SPI "fame")? I found it to be a nice general info book with some interesting takes on certain topics.

Why the Allies Won by Richard Overy is one of my current favorites - and I too got that name from some earlier forum comment.

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd



I would love to see that level of work and detail applied to Shattered Sword and Japanese CV Doctrine to the Guadalcanal Battles.

Most definately!!!!!!!!!![:)]

ORIGINAL: JeffK


(I have recently read The Unknown Battle of Midway- about the Torpedo Sqns at Midway which is another good book on the battle)

I read that book as well and thought it was outstanding

[Roughtor]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

While I thought it an excellent work, It only appraoches the battle from the japanese side. It is a little one sided (not too bad, just a little) in its approach.

To gain a true perspective you would need a work of similar quality from the US side and then still have to make your own judgement.

(I have recently read The Unknown Battle of Midway- about the Torpedo Sqns at Midway which is another good book on the battle)

I agree, however, the true value of Shattered Sword is its Japanese perspective, and the myths it abolishes for the Western readers, since, as the authors claim, there has been quite a few sources available in Japan, and truths long established in Japan, which haven't been "translated" for the Western reader.
I found the narrative superbly written and the level of detail fascinating (the maps with actual flight paths, the analysis of ineffectiveness of Japanese AA and damage control etc.)
It's a very polished book.