The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

I have been listening to audo books for quite a while now and this is by far one of the best I have ever heard. The narrator adds dimension to the book that a reader could not possibly generate. This is a truly wonderful story, not just about a great battle, but of great people. It transcends a war story and really is a story of bravery and courage. Needless to say I highly recommend it. The listener will definitely not be disappointed. The only down side is that some of the chapters are long and you will find it hard to get out of the car when you get to the office! :)

This is an EXCITING story! I was only casually familiar with this fierce battle before I read the book. Now I am sorry that I did not learn the full story sooner. The author has gathered an extensive library of facts and eyewitness accounts of the incredible bravery of our sailors. The biographical sketches at the beginning of the story seem a little long, but do offer good insight into the character of these valiant men. Then, when the battle is joined, I could not stop listening until the end. One can only stand in awe of their bravery.

The more I read about the war in the Pacific and the more I talk to the men who lived throught that nightmare the more I really apprieciate what they did for me. It is hard to imagine the horror those boys lived through and most of them were only young boys. They sure didn't stay boys for long. They became men in a matter of minutes. Very nice work by Mr. Hornfischer,

An Excellent true story depicting the David versus Goliath naval battle in 1944 Philipines.
Author James Hornfischer provides outstanding insight into the lives of our heroic sailors. He provides deep background information as to how Admiral Halsey got caught between a rock and a hard place. Most readers will broaden their WWII knowledge after reading/listening to this book.

The author dug deep and put together an amazing true story, one that any person interested in World War II history should read. I agree that, sometimes, there was too much detail; but, one gets an amazing impression of battle, heroism and, most importantly, the stupidity of war.

I wish the author had written with stricter chronology in mind. On multiple occasions, the same ship sunk several times. It would have been better if each ship that sunk were described as sinking only once, with all related details chronologically related at all once.

In all, however, this is an unforgettable book. It was worth the sometimes-struggle to get through it.

While the author sometimes gets hung up with details that lend little to the heart of this book, the story itself leaves the listener in awe of the bravery shown by the sailors of the United States Navy's Task Force Taffy in the 1944 Battle of the Samar. This is non-fiction history that is as exciting as any adventure novel.

Barrett Whitener does a good job of narration but this book is too graphic regarding injuries suffered during battle to be an Audible Kid's Pick.

Though the beginning of this book left me dizzy with the nonstop barrage of facts, it evened out into a fantastic, truly unbelievable story. Highly recommended.

This book is an unusual blend of nail-biting excitement and well-developed characters that seem normal like your friend or next-door neighbor. Most of the heros here are rather typical sailors until they find it within themselves to rise to a level of bravery that few of them could have probably believed themselves capable.
Other reviewers have complained about the detail into the participants' backgrounds. I, on the other hand, feel that these sketches make the characters seem real and that the sailors almost become friends.
The reader does an excellent job. He is always easy to listen to and has a natural voice for this type story.
Great book!

This was an excellent book, well written and narated. a Must read.