Taking Midway

Naval Warfare, Secret Codes, and the Battle That Turned the Tide of World War II

De: Martin Dugard

Narrado por: Samuel Roukin

From Martin Dugard, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Bill O'Reilly's Killing series, comes a fast-paced, dramatic account of the famous yet little-understood battle that turned the tide of World War II.

1942. Everywhere around the world, the Allies are losing the war. Nowhere is this felt more completely than in the Pacific, where Japanese sea and ground forces claim victory after victory. Singapore falls. Then the Philippines. The vaunted American Navy fights to a draw with the Japanese at the Battle of Coral Sea. America's lone moral victory is Colonel Jimmy Doolittle's bombing raid on Tokyo—though even that is tinged with tragedy as two crew members are shot down and beheaded.

Meanwhile in Honolulu, a brilliant young naval officer is determined to break Japan's top secret codes. Lieutenant Commander Joseph Rochefort is close to cracking the code by April. He is then startled to learn that the Japanese are planning yet another major invasion somewhere in the Pacific. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is planning to send four aircraft carriers to complete this task, in a bold attack that will be even larger than the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

Rochefort's methods are unique, and those in power in the US Navy find his data flawed. Simply, many don't believe him. The best mind in the US Navy believes the next big attack will come at New Guinea or Australia.

To prove himself, Rochefort must not only find the precise location but predict the date. What ensues is the cat-and-mouse adventure that will become the epic fight known as the Battle of Midway. American and Japanese pilots duel in the skies. Japan's Yamamoto will go toe-to-toe with American admirals Chester Nimitz, Jack Fletcher, and Raymond Spruance. The dramatic battle will involve strategy, luck, heartbreak—and will dramatically alter the course of World War II.

©2025 Martin Dugard (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Dugard’s clipped, no-nonsense prose…and raw style…make this into an immersive adventure. WWII buffs will be engrossed.”—Publishers Weekly

Details are intense!

I loved the book, the details. Understanding the mindset of the major players better than other books and movies I've seen or read. Narrator difficult for me to follow at times as his accent sounds British. I'd like to listen to it again with an American narrator or possibly do the read along while listening.

Great way to learn history

Author can really spin a tale! Lots of astonishing facts are revealed. Can’t help but have even more respect for those who served. Great narration.

Not Bad

I am a big fan of the Battle of Midway. I was disappointed in how much time was given to island history. Would have liked more time spent on the battle. Narrator messed up several Japanese names that are commonly known.

OK...But

It was OK, but some key facts are overlooked or wrong. If you are well read on the Battle of Midway, you will find some silly mistakes, like stating that Marine Major Lofton Henderson was flying an Army Aircorps B26. I thought that the performance was a bit dramatic, but in general his mis-pronouncements of Japanese words, was no worse than most Audio Books on Midway..