The Day the World Went Nuclear

Dropping the Atom Bomb and the End of World War II in the Pacific

By: Bill O'Reilly

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

Autumn 1944. World War II is nearly over in Europe, but in the Pacific, American soldiers face an enemy who will not surrender despite a massive and mounting death toll. Meanwhile, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team of scientists are preparing to test the deadliest weapon known to mankind. Newly inaugurated president Harry Truman faces the most important political decision in history: whether to use that weapon.

Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's historical thriller Killing the Rising Sun, with characteristically gripping storytelling, this story explores the decision to use the atom bomb and the end of World War II in the Pacific.

©2017 Bill O'Reilly (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Recycled Text

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Nope. It is nothing but recycled information from "Killing the Rising Sun" or whatever the name of his book on the Pacific Theater in WWII. The other book was good and so was this one. Just feel screwed since I had literally already heard every word of it.

The Reader's Digest Version

Where does The Day the World Went Nuclear rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I didn't realize that this was almost an excerpt from Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan. Having reading Killing the Rising Sun and American Prometheus, this was just review.

What did you like best about this story?

I found it interesting that Paul Tibbets Jr. named the plane after his mother, but the plane had been named and flown by another. I didn't know that Paul Tibbets Jr. didn't make the second flight because he wanted another to have the glory.

What does Robert Petkoff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was easy to listen to in one sitting.

O'Reilly Does it Again

Outstanding book that details everything about the atomic bombs dropped on Japan from the political point of view to the scientific communities contributions. just like his other books about WWII, I learned so much when I thought there was no more to learn and it keeps you enthralled throughout the read.

very interesting.

Mr. Oreilly brings history to life. He got me invoved in the events surrounding the development of the end of world war 2 by clealry explaining what happend and why with his own interesting story making history directly relevent to our world today.

Couldn't stop listening.

I reveled in every word, every story, every legend. history at its absolute best, on to the next.

Informative and entertaining look back on World War II history

I enjoyed this look back on the history of World War II and some of the most important things that happened during that war. I like that Bill O’Reilly doesn’t sugarcoat the personalities of many of the characters.

it's an ok book

The book is ok. Well researched and etcetera, but nothing outstanding that wasn't already well known.

History Speaks

It is easy to sit where we all sit today and take for granted how we got here. All our lives would be very different if this event had not happened. Good and bad - glad and sad are the events that changed the world.

Gripping Story

O'Reilly brilliantly writes this in a way that put me in the moment and actually shared the subject's emotions.

A condensed version of Killing the Rising Sun

This version is mainly a condensed version focusing on the history of the nuclear development program, its effects and legacy. some new material was presented in the after material. Still well presented with great research, but I would recommend only one of the two unless the few added historical references are worth it to you.