Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York, NY : Vintage Books, 1989.
Description
On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atom bomb ever dropped on a city. This book, John Hersey's journalistic masterpiece, tells what happened on that day. Told through the memories of survivors, this timeless, powerful and compassionate document has become a classic "that stirs the conscience of humanity" (The New York Times). Almost four decades after the original publication of this celebrated book, John Hersey went back to Hiroshima in search of the people whose stories he had told. His account of what he discovered about them is now the eloquent and moving final chapter of Hiroshima.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ksmyth
I reread this book after many years and found it just as powerful as I did the first time
Hersey wrote his book in 1946, focusing on six survivors of the August 6th bombing. The survivors came from various walks of life and their degree of injury from the bombing also varied. Hersey walks the reader
Hersey's accounts/observations originally filled an entire issue of the The New Yorker. His lucid and frank prose, the observations of the witnesses were intended to humanize the experiences of the dead and the living, and perhaps create another dimension to the decision American leaders made to end the war with this new and terrible weapon.
Hersey wrote his book in 1946, focusing on six survivors of the August 6th bombing. The survivors came from various walks of life and their degree of injury from the bombing also varied. Hersey walks the reader
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through the experience from the flash of the bomb, through the survivors observations and experiences in the hours that came after, and through their exposure to radiation sickness. Finally, this being a much later version of the book than the original, Hersey included an afterward that shares with the reader the experiences of each of the six through the mid-1980's. Many continued to suffer affects throughout their lives. Hersey's accounts/observations originally filled an entire issue of the The New Yorker. His lucid and frank prose, the observations of the witnesses were intended to humanize the experiences of the dead and the living, and perhaps create another dimension to the decision American leaders made to end the war with this new and terrible weapon.
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LibraryThing member nyyankees24
This journalistic masterpiece by John Hersey tells what happened on the day that Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atom bomb ever dropped on a city. This one hundred percent nonfictional book gives the readers the story of six people who were greatly affected by this bomb. This is one of those
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books that everyone who can read should read it. Nothing can be said about this book that can equal what the book has to say. It speaks for itself, and in an unforgettable way, for humanity. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cecrow
A year after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hirsohima, American media still remained focussed on the miracle of its invention and the end of World War II. In August of 1946, Hersey's article filled an edition of The New Yorker and the world received a different story, the story of the
Told in a flat style, very sparing with adjectives and a minimal narrative voice, this article-turned-book describes how 80,000 people were killed in an instant, as many as 60,000 by the after-effects. It is told through the eyes of six survivors beginning with how they were spending their morning on a sunny clear day in August 1945 until 8:15AM when the bomb exploded. Destruction, chaos, dark clouds, confusion and bewilderment, fire, death and illness comprised the remainder of that day and the days to come.
Rebuilding was possible, since radiation levels did not exceed four times the norm (it must be 1000 times before humans are affected), but almost seventy percent of the city had been levelled or damaged beyond repair. More horrific accounts have been written, but it's hard to beat a source written so soon after the actual event, comprised of information from interviews with survivors who (I presume) have all since passed away. Editions published after 1985 have an extra chapter called The Aftermath which covers as additional forty years in the lives of these six individuals and their city.
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survivors.Told in a flat style, very sparing with adjectives and a minimal narrative voice, this article-turned-book describes how 80,000 people were killed in an instant, as many as 60,000 by the after-effects. It is told through the eyes of six survivors beginning with how they were spending their morning on a sunny clear day in August 1945 until 8:15AM when the bomb exploded. Destruction, chaos, dark clouds, confusion and bewilderment, fire, death and illness comprised the remainder of that day and the days to come.
Rebuilding was possible, since radiation levels did not exceed four times the norm (it must be 1000 times before humans are affected), but almost seventy percent of the city had been levelled or damaged beyond repair. More horrific accounts have been written, but it's hard to beat a source written so soon after the actual event, comprised of information from interviews with survivors who (I presume) have all since passed away. Editions published after 1985 have an extra chapter called The Aftermath which covers as additional forty years in the lives of these six individuals and their city.
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LibraryThing member dele2451
A succinct and stark historical account of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan as experienced by 6 blast survivors. The cover has a statement by the Saturday Review of Literature which states "Everyone able to read should read it." While it may be 65 years after the event, I'd have to say I
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concur with Saturday Review's opinion. An important read and a definite recommend. Show Less
LibraryThing member dareone32988
The citizens of Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, experienced possibly the most devasting, horrendous event in history. It was on this day that the first Atomic bomb was used as a means of warfare, and it was dropped by the United States. Although it is an event our nation has tried to forget,
John Hersey's book titled Hiroshima presents the horrific stories of survivors of this event. Hersey takes on a journalistic perspective--staying objective throughout the book--and simply lets the first-hand accounts speak for themselves.
Readers can only imagine what it must have been like to experience such a Hell, but these accounts are so descriptive in nature that they make it possible to get a glimpse of the travesty as it unfolded. The stories will evoke intense sympathy for the survivors, and an eventual wonder of how anyone could commit such a terrible crime against humanity.
Herey's book is a must read for those searching for the TRUE history of the U.S. It is a grim reality that must be remembered and never forgotten.
This is a book that I first read in high school, and it has never left my mind as one that had an immense impact on my view of the world. With that said, I would not hesitate to present this book to my class and explain that although it is disturbing, it is an undeniable truth of American history.
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it is one that should always be remembered as one of the darkest days in history. John Hersey's book titled Hiroshima presents the horrific stories of survivors of this event. Hersey takes on a journalistic perspective--staying objective throughout the book--and simply lets the first-hand accounts speak for themselves.
Readers can only imagine what it must have been like to experience such a Hell, but these accounts are so descriptive in nature that they make it possible to get a glimpse of the travesty as it unfolded. The stories will evoke intense sympathy for the survivors, and an eventual wonder of how anyone could commit such a terrible crime against humanity.
Herey's book is a must read for those searching for the TRUE history of the U.S. It is a grim reality that must be remembered and never forgotten.
This is a book that I first read in high school, and it has never left my mind as one that had an immense impact on my view of the world. With that said, I would not hesitate to present this book to my class and explain that although it is disturbing, it is an undeniable truth of American history.
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
The thing that strikes me most when reading this is how completely unknown this kind of horror was at the time. I have grown up in the atomic age, and have vivid memories of "duck and cover" and backyard bomb shelters. When the bomb fell on Hiroshima, it was something the world had never
This book, together with the Hiroshima Maidens (I can't remember who wrote it, but Norman Cousins played a big piece in it, though I don't think he wrote it) put this event in perspective as to what happens to people when acts of history occur.
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experienced. I pray we never experience it again.This book, together with the Hiroshima Maidens (I can't remember who wrote it, but Norman Cousins played a big piece in it, though I don't think he wrote it) put this event in perspective as to what happens to people when acts of history occur.
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LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
This is an amazing, important account of actual experiences of people who lived through the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. There is nothing I can say here to do it justice. It's a hard read, but incredibly worthwhile.
LibraryThing member RBeffa
I first read this book as a young man, or possibly as a teen in high school. Hiroshima was first published in 1946 and it is a reconstruction of the experiences of six people who were there and who survived. There are fascinating accounts in here, stunning, terrible. The book I just read was a new
This is a horror story, the horror of war on everyday people. Not one to soon forget. Despite the horror, the book is an account of the moment, the minutes, the hours, the days, the weeks that followed the Hiroshima blast and the additional trials visited upon the survivors.
I probably would have rated this higher except that the manner of storytelling bothered me a bit. There was too much shifting of focus among the characters, primary and secondary in the main part of the story. The long final chapter "The Aftermath" was rather anti-climatic. Still, recommended.
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edition published in 1989. Forty years after Hiroshima, Hersey returned to Japan to chronicle the lives of his survivors. The final chapter, "The Aftermath" is a bit more than one third of the book. This is a horror story, the horror of war on everyday people. Not one to soon forget. Despite the horror, the book is an account of the moment, the minutes, the hours, the days, the weeks that followed the Hiroshima blast and the additional trials visited upon the survivors.
I probably would have rated this higher except that the manner of storytelling bothered me a bit. There was too much shifting of focus among the characters, primary and secondary in the main part of the story. The long final chapter "The Aftermath" was rather anti-climatic. Still, recommended.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
Reread this classic; shows human effects of 1945 nuclear event. Seen through the eyes of several survivors, it leaves to the imagination many questions. First published in 1946, this edition includes a 1989 update. As a high school student, I remember "analyzing" this book--without a lifetime's
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experience, that made no sense. Now, it does. Show Less
LibraryThing member thatotter
Mostly what I remember about this book is how unbelievably upsetting it was.
LibraryThing member steadfastreader
Heartwrenching. I believe that this account is something that everyone should read at least once, much like Eli Wiesel's Night. It helps to give humanity the destruction caused by the bomb being dropped on Hiroshima.
LibraryThing member Benedict8
An astonishing book. Read it after Memoirs of a Geisha for a terrific emotional punch.
LibraryThing member rsplenda477
One of the best ways to understand the events of the past is through the eyes of individuals who experienced them. John Hersey does just that in this haunting, yet inspiring, novel about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945.
Hersey tracks the lives of about 8 individuals who
Hersey tracks the lives of about 8 individuals who
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survived the bombing. Although written in a reporter-type fashion, Hersey brings to life the horror that these people were exposed to, as well as highlights the overarching positive triumph of the human spirit when it is faced with ultimate darkness. As a history buff, I highly recommend this short book to anyone interested in the WWII era. It exposes the cultural beliefs of the 1940s while also cautions against the usage of such devastating technology. Show Less
LibraryThing member RussellBittner
I realize that John Hersey is a name few people under 60 will recognize. In my late teenage years, his was a name to be reckoned with. A Bell for Adano and White Lotus are titles I still carry in my petrified memory. And after (finally) getting around to reading Hiroshima, I know why.
Hiroshima is
John Hersey was from the old school of journalism — which is to say, he reported accurately, without embellishment, without hyperbole, without slant. The story of Hiroshima doesn’t need embellishment, hyperbole or slant. The story of Hiroshima (and Nagasaki) is monolithic.
You might well read Cervantes’ Don Quixote and be as swayed by its message. But for that, you’d need at least a couple of weeks (if you’re lucky), a couple of months (if you’re not). Hiroshima is something you can read in a couple of days. I know. I did. And yes, “everyone able to read should read it.”
RRB
8/07/13
Brooklyn, NY
Hiroshima is
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pure journalism — make no mistake about it. But it’s journalism with integrity. It’s journalism in which the writer has put himself aside, and accurately reported. Since he, personally, wasn’t there the day the bomb dropped, he reported what he found out first-hand from survivors — about both the players and the props upon that dreadful stage.John Hersey was from the old school of journalism — which is to say, he reported accurately, without embellishment, without hyperbole, without slant. The story of Hiroshima doesn’t need embellishment, hyperbole or slant. The story of Hiroshima (and Nagasaki) is monolithic.
You might well read Cervantes’ Don Quixote and be as swayed by its message. But for that, you’d need at least a couple of weeks (if you’re lucky), a couple of months (if you’re not). Hiroshima is something you can read in a couple of days. I know. I did. And yes, “everyone able to read should read it.”
RRB
8/07/13
Brooklyn, NY
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LibraryThing member Tahlil77
This was a strange and sad read because you're going into it knowing full well of the destruction that is about to follow. As you're reading accounts of the everyday lives of the main protagonists, you can begin to feel unease, especially if you are able to empathize and consider that in any
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moment, your own life can be turned upside down and dragged into a major global conflict. The accounts of the pain, horror, and trauma experienced by the individuals and those closest to them is epic in scale...and something that we all need to be aware of and strongly consider when we are about to be, or are presently engaged in conflict and destruction of this nature. Show Less
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
A short, but information-packed, read about the effects of dropping an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. The author closely examines six survivors of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and recounts their experiences in the days and years after the bomb was dropped. These varying
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stories - of an injured girl left lying outside for days afterwards, of a mother and children sick in the park after drinking river water - vividly illustrate the effects on ordinary people and display how little was known about the effects of nuclear radiation at the time. The author stops short of advocation for disarmament of nuclear weapons, but the theme emerges strongly in the final chapters, as the long-term effects of the atomic bomb are discussed. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kreho
This Non-fiction young adult book is a classic. Although it is not a true biography is touches upon the experiences of many people after the bomb was dropped. As a reader you are able to learn more about each person and their own personal experiences.
LibraryThing member TerriS
A very interesting non-fiction, heart-rending story of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan in August of 1945. It follows six people who survived, and the story is told in such a way that the reader can follow what happened chronologically through time and see what the people there
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went through. So sad :'( Show Less
LibraryThing member engpunk77
A journalist captures the accounts of six H-bomb survivors. Hersey produced this "most sifnificant piece of journalism of modern times" (1946) shortly after the bombing of Hiroshima. This descriptive, gut-wrenching, retelling of the events as experienced by six survivors will touch your soul. I
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can't imagine a more pertinent read in this day and age. It's a quick read if you can sail through your emotions with ease--I read it on a 2-hour train trip. Please read this, and release, and release. We each need to make a connection between war rhetoric and humanity. Hopefully this will jolt you into action... Show Less
LibraryThing member msf59
John Hersey was an American journalist and was one of the first writers allowed into Hiroshima, right after the bombing. First published in 1946, this short, powerful account centers on 6 of the survivors. In their own words they describe the day of the bombing and the horrifying aftermath. It is
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painful to read at times but their own resilience shines through. Forty years later, Hersey returned to Hiroshima and updated their stories. I am so glad I stumbled on this classic book and it made a terrific audio experience too, narrated by the masterful George Guidall. Show Less
LibraryThing member Andjhostet
The first half of the book was fairly good. It follows 6 survivors of the Hiroshima bomb, and the details of the day of the bomb are harrowing. However in the second half, the book falls off a lot. It continues to follow these survivors, but goes far into the mundane details of their lives years or
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even decades after the bomb. I understand that the intent was to show the long lasting effects of the bomb, physical (radiation), spiritual, and psychological. But it just wasn't interesting, plain and simple. Show Less
LibraryThing member jonbrammer
The atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were at least 100x weaker then the missiles currently in our nuclear arsenal. Despite this, roughly 100,000 people were killed both from the immediate blast and the lingering effects of radiation sickness. The morality of this decision
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are not really discussed in _Hiroshima_ Rather, Hersey focuses on the stories of individual survivors, the hibakusha. What was most striking about the immediate aftermath of the bombing was that the people of Hiroshima acted selflessly and with a sense of humanity and community. People suffered through the horror uncomplainingly, with politeness and a gambare spirit. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
First published in 1946, Hersey recounts the story of the first atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima, through the recollections of six survivors.
The tale begins with the residents starting their day on an August morning, completely unaware of the devastation to come. Hersey follows each of
It's a gripping story, made more so by the personal accounts.
Some years after initial publication, Hersey updated the text to include more information about long-term effects on the six of their experience that August morning. Part of this section details the efforts of one of the survivors, in particular, to raise awareness worldwide of the horrors of nuclear war.
The tale begins with the residents starting their day on an August morning, completely unaware of the devastation to come. Hersey follows each of
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them through their initial experiences – digging themselves out of rubble, helping a child or neighbor, making their way to hoped-for shelter. Some were severely wounded, others had barely a scratch visible (though all were exposed to radiation). Some had to wait for rescue and medical treatment, while others worked tirelessly to help their fellow residents in the aftermath. Two of the survivors were doctors and two others profiled were religious leaders. It's a gripping story, made more so by the personal accounts.
Some years after initial publication, Hersey updated the text to include more information about long-term effects on the six of their experience that August morning. Part of this section details the efforts of one of the survivors, in particular, to raise awareness worldwide of the horrors of nuclear war.
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LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
John Hersey's Hiroshima recounts the lives of six survivors of the atomic bombing on 6 August 1945. His matter-of-fact reporting is as powerful now as it was when it first appeared in The New Yorker in 1946. Hershey humanizes an event so easily condensed into statistics (100,000 dead) and forces
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his American audience to wrestle with the implications of the terrible power the U.S. unleashed at the end of World War II. This early account of the atomic age should be read and re-read until nuclear weapons no longer menace humanity. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kristelh
Reason Read: TIOLI challenge, January 2023. This book is relevant today as we stand at the brink of another use of nuclear warfare and as quoted in this book. Memory of how this should never happen has faded from peoples memories or has never been a part of that memory. We should not forget. This
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is nonfiction, amazing work that tells about the aftermath of the bombs dropped by the US on the citizens of Japan. Show Less
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Language
Physical description
152 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0679721037 / 9780679721031