Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I approached this book with some trepidation. Non-fiction books written as "popular history" always seem to come loaded with errors. When I read of the author's selection of "22 days that decided World War II," I thought he would be picking days throughout the six years of the war. Instead, he choose 22 consecutive days. "Well, that can't be right," I said to myself. Yet I think the author did a good job in his presentation.
This was a very easy read, especially if you are already well-read in World War II history. I found very little I could argue against and was more than happy when he exposed MacArthur's incompetence in even stronger terms than I usually use.
For each day the author cuts back and forth between events happening world wide, yet does it in a way which doesn't confuse the reader. I did find it interesting he included events and people which really had no impact on the "days that decided the war." An example would be the German raider ship making it back to Germany. I'm not sure why he did this, but he obviously had a reason.
There was only one serious mistake I thought the author made. On page 177, he alludes to the Ethiopians fighting on the side of the Italians in the British Abyssinian campaign. Considering that the Italians happily massacred as many Ethiopians as they could before World War II began, I found this astonishing. Actually, the Ethiopians fought on the Allied side in this campaign.
Still, I think the author did his homework as he presented in one volume important details on the war which I only gained by reading way too many books. So this book is valuable in that it might lead readers to pursue books covering specific events the author mentions.
This was a very easy read, especially if you are already well-read in World War II history. I found very little I could argue against and was more than happy when he exposed MacArthur's incompetence in even stronger terms than I usually use.
For each day the author cuts back and forth between events happening world wide, yet does it in a way which doesn't confuse the reader. I did find it interesting he included events and people which really had no impact on the "days that decided the war." An example would be the German raider ship making it back to Germany. I'm not sure why he did this, but he obviously had a reason.
There was only one serious mistake I thought the author made. On page 177, he alludes to the Ethiopians fighting on the side of the Italians in the British Abyssinian campaign. Considering that the Italians happily massacred as many Ethiopians as they could before World War II began, I found this astonishing. Actually, the Ethiopians fought on the Allied side in this campaign.
Still, I think the author did his homework as he presented in one volume important details on the war which I only gained by reading way too many books. So this book is valuable in that it might lead readers to pursue books covering specific events the author mentions.
