Tower of Skulls

A History of the Asia-Pacific War, Vol. 1 (July 1937 - May 1942)

By: Richard B. Frank

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 26 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

An eye-opening, path-breaking account of the onset of the Asia-Pacific War, by the acclaimed author of Downfall and Guadalcanal.

In 1937, the swath of the globe east from India to the Pacific Ocean enclosed half the world’s population, all save a fraction enduring under some form of colonialism. Japan’s onslaught into China that year unleashed a tidal wave of events that fundamentally transformed this region and killed about 25 million people.

From just two nation states with real sovereignty, Thailand and Japan, and two with compromised sovereignty, China and Mongolia, the region today encompasses at least 19 major sovereign nations. This epic World War II narrative describes in exquisite detail the battles across this entire region and links those struggles on many levels with their profound 21st-century legacies.

Beginning with China’s long-neglected years of heroic, costly resistance, Tower of Skulls explodes outward to campaigns including Singapore, the Philippines, the Netherlands East Indies, India, and Burma, as well as across the Pacific to Pearl Harbor.

This story casts penetrating light on how struggles in Europe and Asia merged into a tightly entwined global war. It features not just battles, but also the sweeping political, economic, and social effects of the war, and are graced with a rich tapestry of individual characters from top-tier political and military figures down to ordinary servicemen, as well as the accounts of civilians of all races and ages.

Drawing on rich archival research and recently discovered documentary evidence, award-winning historian Richard B. Frank presents the first unified account of this titanic turmoil that gave birth to the world we live in now.

©2020 Richard B. Frank (P)2020 Recorded Books

Highly recommended

I've listed to a vast amount of Pacific Theater books and I found Tower of Skulls to be incredibly well written, factual, and flawlessly narrated. Great work!

best book I've heard on Japan WW2

Broad and balanced perspective on early part of Japan WW2 war. Superb finish on day before coral sea.

A long overdue re-assessment of the Chinese role

Far too many Western histories of WWII have been tainted by Stilwell via Tuchman and his diaries.

This is a long overdue re-assesment showing the fighting capabilities of the Nationalist army under Chiang Kai Shek.

I look forward to part II and even more to part III as there seem to be no English language histories of the Chinese Civil War despite the huge importance of this event down to the present day where President Xi has committed the PLA to a conquest of Taiwan.

Learned many new things

I've studied and read about the Pacific war for decades now and it's rare that a book surprises me with things I've never heard of. This book did just that many times. Particularly with it's attention to the Japanese viewpoint and also the battles in and around the dutch east indies.

Bravo!

Very thorough review of the Pacific War

A lot of missing detail was filled in, such as what happened in China in the year after after the Nanjing massacre. The narrator is good but he tends to overprounce many Asian surnames such that it is difficult for English speakers to understand. I would recommend a flatter pronunciation rather than trying to sound like a native speaker saying out the names. I understand some Japanese and Chinese and I was having trouble with many of the names. But except for that small problem, the book is well-narrated.

Unexpected treasure

A well balanced account of the early war years, telling Japan’s story as well as that of the Allies. I

When it rains it pours..,

I liked the history not involving US (China/Burma/Dutch/Indian) since I was not familiar with all those stories.

Essential WW2 book

Thoroughly covers the Sino-Japanese War mostly from 1937 on but also before in the first half of the book, and covers the Pacific War from Dec 7, 41 to May 7, 42. Although most information is familiar to those with experience in this area of study, there were several quotes, insights, and annotations that I had not heard previously and make this purchase overall excellent.

The most complete history of the pacific

I’m still trying to find out when volume two comes out. I’ve read this one twice and I’m sure I will the following volumes.

Great book lots of new

This book has more new information and valid information in a good story then 95% of the other books about World War II if you’re unsure and you think you know a ton about the origins of World War II you should listen to this book