Pearl Harbor

By: Newt Gingrich, William Forstchen

Narrated by: William Dufris

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

"A thrilling tale of the attack that marked America's darkest day." (W.E.B. Griffin)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech on December 8, 1941, lasted a mere six and half minutes. But his words and tone - in a monologue that would later be named the Infamy Speech - sent ripples into a nation and a world that continue even today. The historical implications that emerged from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were unprecedented, launching America not only into the depths of a dangerous war, but forever altering the safety and comfort of everyday living. December 8th became a day of speaking out publicly and declaring war; of action, battle, plotting, and victories. This date's significance is resonant and profound as an indelible moment in American history.

Fresh from their series on the American Civil War, best-selling authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen now launch a new epic adventure by applying their imaginations and knowledge to the "Date of Infamy" - the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor covers the full spectrum of characters and events from that historic moment, from national leaders and admirals to the views of ordinary citizens caught in the chaos of war. From the chambers of the Emperor of Japan to the American White House, from the decks of aircraft carriers to the playing fields of the Japanese Naval Academy, this powerful story stretches from the nightmare slaughter of China in the 1930s to the lonely office of Commander James Watson, an American cryptographer, who suspects the impending catastrophic attack. It is a story of intrigue, double-dealing, the horrific brutality of war, and the desperate efforts of men of reason on both sides to prevent a titanic struggle that becomes inevitable.

Gingrich and Forstchen's now critically acclaimed approach, which they term "active history", examines how a change in but one decision might have profoundly altered American history. In Pearl Harbor, they pose the question of how the presence of but one more man within the Japanese attacking force could have transfigured the war. More than a retelling, the book also serves as a potent warning, valid still today as an example of what happens when communications and understanding breaks down, and a nation is ill-prepared for the onslaught that might ensue. A compelling, meticulously researched saga, Pearl Harbor is also a novel of valor about those who took part in this cataclysmic moment in world history. It inaugurates a dramatic new Pacific War series that begins with the terrifying account of the day that started it all.

©2007 Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen (P)2007 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC

Critic reviews

"Intriguing....it is always fun to re-imagine history, and Gingrich and Forstchen won't disappoint." ( Booklist)

a first class read of what might have been..

Newt Gingrich hits this one out of the park as he is so well at doing..

Pearl Harbor - "What If Yamamoto Led the Attack?"

Interesting exploration of alternative history narrative for Pearl Harbor where the Admiral Yamamoto led the attack on Pearl Harbor. With this basic premise, the authors lay out the lives and careers of some of the key players leading to the attack as well as the strategic and operational background to provide context for the actual events. With this foundation, they make the key change where Admiral Yamamoto led the attack and who would have pressed his advantage more than Admiral Nagumo. The key item where Admiral Yamamoto conducted a third wave in the afternoon of December 7, 1941 and inflicted even more grievous damage. The authors do not speculate here what impact this change would have had on the Pacific War: quick peace, no real change, a longer and more costly campaign? Overall, it is a good read. As always, read the Wikipedia notes on the battle to ground yourself in the real history.

Great Series

A gread read. Gingrich and Forstchen do not disappoint. Their Civil was series has a great Followup with this series, if you loved the civil war series you will love this series almost as much

Interesting point of view

If you could sum up Pearl Harbor in three words, what would they be?

Wasn't just America

What other book might you compare Pearl Harbor to and why?

none

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

A little less routing for one side or the other

Who was the most memorable character of Pearl Harbor and why?

Yamamoto

Any additional comments?

As a student of the Pacific front it gave me more insight into the other side

Riveting

A perfect, logical action thriller. This is what should have occurred in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The actual happening of the attack make no logical sense, this is what should have occurred and did not.
Great storyline and excellent narration.

The pre war mind set of Japan

The pre-war mindset of Japan before Pearl Harbor. The Russian Japanese wars, and the resulting shortages. The story of Japan invading. China was well told. This is a history lesson inside a good storyline.

Great historical account!

I learned a whole new dimension of this tragic piece of our history. Looking forward to the rest of the series

Nothing new

I was hoping for more insight in the backstory of this event. An overall disappointment

Pearl Harbor

This should have been a great book, the right authors,a great topic; instead in my view it was overly long, trite,endless repitition, far to long to get to the point, I am sorry I bought this book, the only redeeming feature as the narration, first class but not strong enough to save this book. Alonzo

Revisionist history

I purchased this book because it promised to bring history alive. Instead it rewrote history. To the casual reader who is not familiar with events of December 7, this a major disservice. I am currently reading part 2 days of infamy and am hoping that I will again be disappointed by rewriting of history.

The performance was over acted. If it was a crime the reader would be in jail

The story was ruined by the rewriting of actual historical facts.