The Rising Sun

The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945

By: John Toland

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 41 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

This Pulitzer Prize-winning history of World War II chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the Japanese empire, from the invasion of Manchuria and China to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Told from the Japanese perspective, The Rising Sun is, in the author’s words, "a factual saga of people caught up in the flood of the most overwhelming war of mankind, told as it happened - muddled, ennobling, disgraceful, frustrating, full of paradox."

In weaving together the historical facts and human drama leading up to and culminating in the war in the Pacific, Toland crafts a riveting and unbiased narrative history.

©1970 John Toland (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Great comprehensive history of the Pacific War

This is the third big book on the Pacific War I have read recently. Ian Toll's first two books (of a planned trilogy), Pacific Crucible and The Conquering Tide, were a magnificent historical account of the war from both sides. So given that this book covers much the same ground, though it was written much earlier, I can't help comparing it with Toll's books, though I think Toland's book is equally good and you will not find it at all repetitive to read both authors.

As thick as this book is, it's only one volume, whereas Ian Toll is writing three whole volumes on the entire war in the Pacific. Thus, while Toll devotes a great deal of attention to the politics and individual political and military leaders on both sides of the conflict, The Rising Sun, as its title indicates, focuses mostly on Japan. Naturally the planning and personalities on the American and British (and later Chinese and Soviet) sides are mentioned, but mostly only inasmuch as they were pitted against their Japanese counterparts.

The bulk of the book covers the war itself, including all the familiar names like Guam, Guadalcanal, Wake Island, Corregidor, Saipan, Okinawa, Iwo Jima. Toland does not neglect the British defense of India, the tragic fate of Force Z, which blundered on ahead to its doom despite lack of air cover and thus heralded in the new reality that air power ruled above all, and the multi-sided war in China in which communists and nationalists were alternately fighting each other and the Japanese, with both sides being courted by the Allies. Any military history will cover the battles, but Toland describes them vividly, especially the first-hand accounts from the men in them - the misery and terror, and also the atrocities, like the Bataan Death March, and the miserable conditions of POWs taken back to Japan

Toland spends only a little time, in the last few chapters, talking about Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the decision leading up to the use of the atomic bomb on Japan. This is another very loaded historical question in which there are people with strong opinions on both sides. Some have argued that the US didn't need to use the bomb - Japan was already negotiating surrender - and that we did for reasons ranging from racism to a desire to demonstrate them as a deterrent to the Soviet Union. Others claim that Japan was fully willing to fight to the last spear-carrying civilian, and that the atomic bombs saved millions of lives on both sides by preventing the need for an invasion.

Entire books have been written about this subject, and Toland, as I said, does not try to dig into it too deeply, but he does represent much of what the Americans and Japanese were thinking and saying at the time. The case he presents would suggest that the truth, unsurprisingly, is somewhere in between.

If you want one volume that covers the entire span of the war against Japan, I think this monumental work by John Toland leaves very little out, and I highly recommend it to WWII historians. However, I also encourage interested readers to then seek out the more recent works by Ian Toll, who devotes more pages to the American commanders as well, and talks about some of the political issues among the Allies that Toland treats more briefly, as well as going into even more detail about individual battles.

Wonderful Paradox

This is one of the best war books ever written. It is also one of the best anti-war books ever written. It reflects the incredible valor of many people on both sides; the excitement of battle (if war was only just a video game what a grand world this would be); how both egos and misunderstandings play a role in conflict; how sometimes you succeed by just muddling through; how the Iliad may have gotten it right about gods interfering in battle; and the absolute sheer tragedy war inflicts on civilians as well as combatants.

As I have mentioned in other reviews, it is also the kind of history I like best, with detailed personal stories mixed in with historical fact. And, just in case you have always wondered about the backstory on Tokyo Rose, this book provides it.

A true suprise.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Most definitely yes, in fact I just did, and sending him a link to the sight made me want to review it.

What did you like best about this story?

John Toland and the narrator Tom Weiner did an excellent job painting a picture and telling a story to the listener.

Have you listened to any of Tom Weiner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but I will.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing extreme, though I was excited, moved, cheered, and felt down trodden through the course of the recording.

Any additional comments?

I will say, that you may get lost in some of the Japanse names, but don't worry, the names are not as important as what is happening.

Fantastic book

Not sure who the people are who have a hard time following this book - but I’m going to guess they also get most of their knowledge from bumper stickers. The book is easy to follow if you’re paying the slightest attention, and while it is long, it’s never dull or stuffy. The strength of this book is that it covers a ton of ground and goes at a good pace - and to most Americans a lot of the content is going to be new.

Also, just as a note, not a criticism, the book was released in 1970 - which is awesome since it’s not obsessed with being woke - but also there has been some new info that has came out since that time. Nothing huge, but a few things here and there have turned out to be different as more information has been released over the years.

The reader does a great job - he does a few voices to help you keep track of who is talking. I listened at 1.3x speed like I normally do and it sounded perfect, not rushed.

A very very highly recommended book if you have an IQ over 55.

A Riveting Experience into Overlooked Perspectives

"The Rising Sun: The Rise and Fall of The Empire of Japan" stands out as a riveting audio experience that delves into a less explored perspective of World War II. The meticulous research shines through as it weaves together stories of political maneuverings, soldier experiences, and the everyday Japanese citizen's life during this tumultuous period. The narration adds depth, making it easy to visualize key battles, diplomatic exchanges, and the internal struggles within Japan. What's particularly commendable is its balanced portrayal, offering a holistic view without leaning into biases. For history buffs and casual listeners alike, this audiobook offers a fresh lens through which to understand the broader context of WWII.

Great tribute to those who fought Imperial Japan

If you could sum up The Rising Sun in three words, what would they be?

Accurate, informative, suspenseful.

What did you like best about this story?

After reading and listening to Rick Atkinson's Trilogy on the War in Europe, I hoped that this would be just as interesting and informative. It was. The final moments at the end. Though I knew Japan surrendered, the narrative left me in suspense.

Thorough coverage of Japan in WWII

Having learned all I knew about Japanese history in world war 2 from movies I appreciated the fresh perspective offered in this history. Every effort was made to help an ignorant white guy like me understand the nuance of the Japanese culture of that era. Mission Complete.

a must-read for anybody interested in WW2.

there is an unfortunate lack of books describing the view of World War II from the Japanese perspective. this book does exactly that and it happens to be a very good book. I only wish there were more like it

Exceptional book

Fantastic book and with great narration. Highly recommended. Great book about the history of Japan and the Second World War.

Spellbinding

Compelling retelling of one of the great stories of history. The great sadness and horror of Hiroshima and Nagasaki especially showed the tragedy of the extremes of national pride.