The Second World War has up to the present moment a pervasive effect on people’s minds. Directors and writers used the different means of media to analyze and publicize for specific ideas. Some may side with a party over the other, but many others could give you as good of an account as they can. The following are our top ten list of good books written about WWII, to which you can absolutely add your favorite.
10 With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa
Amidst the different battles, events and incidents that happened in the second world war, Eugene Sledge chooses the Pacific War as the topic of his book. With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa is Sledge’s memories of the war he witnessed himself. As he was enlisted to fight in the Pacific War, he managed to record his ideas about it on slips of paper. He then reformed them for the sake of this book.
9 War and Remembrance
A novel written by Herman Wouk, is among the very few and excellent novels that was written on the second world war. It is a follow-up to a previous novel written by Wouk called Winds of War. Wouk’s masterful description and care for the details enable us to relive the cruelness and hardships of the war in our mind’s eye.
8 Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Tarawa
As a marine officer, Joseph Alexander took it upon himself to contribute to the literature of the second world war after his retirement. The Three Days of Tarawa were his beautiful and complete account of the battle of Tarawa. The uniqueness of the book lies in the fact that it is the only one to give much care to analyzing this battle.
7 Strong Men Armed: The United States Marines Against Japan
Robert Leckie is paying tribute to the marine and navy wing in his book Strong Men Armed. The Pacific war was not very much the business of the soldiers on land as it was that of the navy, and they played a great role in winning this war. The tug of war ended when the navy served the Japanese a hot defeat.
6 Stilwell and the American Experience in China
Barbara Tuchman did a good job here! And actually this is what the panel for the Pulitzer prize saw when they decided to nominate her for the prize. Tuchman studied the life and character of General Stilwell in depth in addition to his dealings with the Chinese. Stilwell was the one who supervised the building of Burma road as well as many great things that you should know from this insightful book.
5 Once An Eagle
The responsible people in army have honored Anton Myrer’s novel Once An Eagle. It is on many army professionals’ list of recommendations as being one of the best novels written about war. The novel is a bit tricky as it takes the readers to not only the war but two wars actually, and the protagonists are army officers.
4 The Making of the Atomic Bomb
Richard Rhodes takes a good diversion here, one that is different from the ones above. The Making of the Atomic Bomb does not discuss a war, battle or any of the air raids. The topic instead is one of the most important tools used in the second world war, the atomic bomb.
3 Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle
Richard Frank gives an insightful account of the war in his Guadalcanal. The Japanese defense accounts have been used as a resource for this book. It is precise, critical and a must read!
2 Eagle Against the Sun: the American War with Japan
As a marine veteran, Ronald Spector gives a good account of the war in one big book. Spector blends many of the American, British, and Japanese confidential documents in his minute and professional account.
1 At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor
Gordon William Prange gives a skillful account of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.
