To Wake the Giant

A Novel of Pearl Harbor

By: Jeff Shaara

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 19 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling master of military historical fiction tells the story of Pearl Harbor as only he can in the first novel of a gripping new series set in World War II's Pacific theater.

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt watches uneasily as the world heads rapidly down a dangerous path. The Japanese have waged an aggressive campaign against China, and they now begin to expand their ambitions to other parts of Asia. As their expansion efforts grow bolder, their enemies know that Japan's ultimate goal is total conquest over the region, especially when the Japanese align themselves with Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy, who wage their own war of conquest across Europe.

Meanwhile, the British stand nearly alone against Hitler, and there is pressure in Washington to transfer America’s powerful fleet of warships from Hawaii to the Atlantic to join the fight against German U-boats that are devastating shipping. But despite deep concerns about weakening the Pacific fleet, no one believes that the main base at Pearl Harbor is under any real threat.

Told through the eyes of widely diverse characters, this story looks at all sides of the drama and puts the listener squarely in the middle. In Washington, Secretary of State Cordell Hull must balance his own concerns between President Roosevelt and the Japanese ambassador, Kichisaburo Nomura, who is little more than a puppet of his own government. In Japan, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto wins skeptical approval for his outrageous plans in the Pacific, yet he understands more than anyone that an attack on Pearl Harbor will start a war that Japan cannot win. In Hawaii, Commander Joseph Rochefort's job as an accomplished intelligence officer is to decode radio signals and detect the location of the Japanese fleet, but when the airwaves suddenly go silent, no one has any idea why. And from a small Depression-ravaged town, 19-year-old Tommy Biggs sees the Navy as his chance to escape and happily accepts his assignment, every sailor’s dream: the battleship USS Arizona.

With you-are-there immediacy, Shaara opens up the mysteries of just how Japan - a small, deeply militarist nation - could launch one of history’s most devastating surprise attacks. In this story of innocence, heroism, sacrifice, and unfathomable blindness, Shaara's gift for storytelling uses these familiar wartime themes to shine a light on the personal, the painful, the tragic, and the thrilling - and on a crucial part of history we must never forget.

©2020 Jeff Shaara (P)2020 Random House Audio

History becomes a personal story.

A subject that has been written about so many times comes to life with Shaara's entertaining and insightful style. It is as though an eyewitness is telling the whole story and historical figures become real people.

History comes to life!

Make a familiar story come to life with facts I never knew! I love the real life stories that ate woven into the historical material.

Better then Perl harbor the movie

This is not a sappy love story built around the worst military attack of our grand parents generation. This is a in your face break down of how it all unfolded from the eyes of people that were involved. Totally worth the read

An Excellent way to look at how and why it happened!

One may think they know all there is to know about Dec. 7th 1941 but I can say with great authority that until you read/listen to Jeff Shaara’ s historical fiction’s version you will learn many new pieces to the story that add up to how the American government and military were totally unprepared for 8am on 12/7/1941 and the war that started with the surprise attack that killed 2,403 and wounded 1178!

Brings the event to life!

I have read many of his books, and loved them all, but this one is a little different in the sense that it focuses on only three main characters and really develops them, more so than some of his other books. This one was very touching and emotional, because of the character development. The forward of the book really describes how the author felt when writing the book, all the emotion he had to deal with to get the book completed. After listening to it, I can sincerely see why. His ability to bring to life the characters in this story, especially Biggs, really takes you to the event as if you were there, more than most authors have the ability to do. This is one of the things that keep me reading and enjoying Mr. Shaara's books. Well done Sir. It is absolutely worth the read.

Graphic novel of Pearl Harbor attack Dec. 7,1941!

Loved it, if weeping is politically correct here. Narrator was great. Was glued to my Bluetooth headset!
So thankful that my Army father (a doctor in Burma 1943) & Navy son did not have to suffer as so many did in their service.
When a small child, I saw & heard a 5 star US Army General admit that he believed that FDR knew about, and allowed the attack to motivate the predominantly isolationist America to chose war. I believe that is true, but not interested in arguing what we will never know with the many morons that have spoken up since. I do know, however, that America is in the same position now with Communist China, and will probably not learn from the past, but repeat mistakes of arrogance, denial, and dysfunctional leadership to suffer worse in the future.
I've enjoyed Jeff Sharra books on much of US History in novel form, and plan to own ALL HIS BOOKS.
Thanks to all of You from this dinosaur.

Excellent

Mr Sahara, again I have enjoyed your books and the clarity you gave for the next generations to understand Pearl Harbor. I have stood on the Arizona Memorial but you brought it to life with Biggs. thank you. Amy Meighan

Great book!

Of the hundreds of audiobooks I've listened to this has to be one of the 5 or so best.

Wonderful!

This is a novel based upon real historical characters and real events! A MUST READ!

Shaara does it again.

Shaara’s ability to assemble a gripping recount of people and action is front and center here. Bramhall’s performance is fitting and moves you through the story with emotion and passion.