Product Description
Now in paperback, War Without Mercy has been hailed by the New York Times as "one of the most original and important books to be written about the war between Japan and the United States." In this monumental history, Professor John Dower reveals a hidden, explosive dimension of the Pacific War -- race -- while writing what John Toland has called "a landmark book...a powerful, moving, and even-handed history that is sorely needed in both America and Japan."

Drawing on American and Japanese songs, slogans, cartoons, propaganda films, secret reports, and a wealth of other documents of the time, Dower opens up a whole new way of looking at that bitter struggle of four and a half decades ago and its ramifications in our lives today. As Edwin O. Reischauer, former ambassador to Japan, has pointed out, this book offers "a lesson that the postwar generations need most...with eloquence, crushing detail, and power."

Amazon.com Review
Dower's premise in War without Mercy is a startling one: Though Western allies were clearly headed for victory, pure racism fueled the continuation and intensification of hostilities in the Pacific theater during the final year of World War II, a period that saw as many casualties as in the first five years of the conflict combined. Dower doesn't reach this disturbing conclusion lightly. He combed through piles of propaganda films, news articles, military documents, cartoons--even entries in academic journals in researching this book. Though his case is strong, Dower minimizes other factors, such as the protracted negotiations between the West and the Japanese.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 34 reviews)

A+, I was satisfied 100%

I got the product right on time and i couldnt be satisfied more with it. Thank You.
October 01, 2008

Not fantastic, but good.

I had to read this class for a WWII 300 level History class. I'm not a History major, but decided to take my elective in this. From that perspective, I found the book to be interesting, but dull. Very dull. Getting through the pages was a struggle for me. Concepts were valuable as well as Dower's analysis of propaganda on both Japanese and American sides. The included comics and cartoons was great--it really gave an idea of feelings at the time and what people were seeing. Book is very long winded, but does provoke deep thought.
August 12, 2008

One of the best J-history books I've ever read

There are many other excellent reviews, so I'll keep this brief. I'm a grad student in Japanese Lit, and I focus heavily on history and historical works - Kobayashi Takiji, for instance, or Kurihara Sadako. I've been blessed with a great history professor and the opportunity to read a number of books and articles, particularly on this period in time. Dower's War Without Mercy is one of the best I've ever read, in any time period for any country. It is amazing. I also recommend that readers buy Embracing Defeat, which is Dower's post-war book. Both are fantastic.
April 08, 2008

No balance

Among the many flaws which significantly discredit his thesis, Dower fails to provide a serious look at how the war in the Pacific was fought as compared to the war in Europe, or really any other wars for that matter. Worth the read if only to discover errors in his analysis, and should not be taken as a definitive account of how the US fought the Japanese in WWII.
February 01, 2008

A Look At Selves and Others

This is a thought-provoking treatise about the hate and racism found in all peoples of the world. It causes one to take stock of what is, and what was in a very violent and trying time. Both the Japanese and the Americans, among others, propagandized their populations to get them to hate "the enemy." This book looks at the techniques and substance used by both sides in the Pacific War of 1931 to 1945 and how it affected the attitudes of each toward the other.

I recommend this as a good read for anyone who is interested in the Pacific conflict and what was used to fan the antagonists into the fury that brough about, fought, and ended the bloody Pacific War.
August 22, 2006

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