From the author of The Last Mughal and Nine Lives: the classic stories he gathered during the ten years he spent journeying across the Indian subcontinent; from Sri Lanka and southern India to the North West Frontier of Pakistan. As he searched for evidence of Kali Yug; the “age of darkness†predicted by an ancient Hindu cosmology in a final epoch of strife and corruption; Dalrymple encountered a region that thrilled and surprised him. Venturing to places rarely visited by foreigners; he presents compelling portraits of a diverse range of figures—from a Hindi rap megastar through the Tamil Tigers to the drug lords of Pakistan. Dalrymple's love for the subcontinent comes across in every page; which makes its chronicles of political corruption; ethnic violence and social disintegration all the more poignant. The result is a dark yet vibrant travelogue; and a unique look at a region that continues to be marked by rapid change and unlimited possibilities as it struggles to reconcile the forces of modernity and tradition.
#279617 in Books Eri Hotta 2014-08-12 2014-08-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .70 x 5.10l; .0 #File Name: 0307739740368 pagesJapan 1941 Countdown to Infamy
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. fascinating book on a little-known subjectBy tribecanHotta's book is an almost day-by-day account of the deliberations of the Japanese government during the year leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Using surprisingly detailed notes of the highest-level meetings she takes us through the tortured process which led to the infamous; and ultimately self-destructive; launching of the war against the US; a war; the author makes clear; many high officials knew Japan could not win. The degree of debate and uncertainty; the powerful forces trying to avoid the war; the indecision and -- to a westerner -- surprising influence of the emperor; were all to this reader unknown; and extremely interesting. The fact that the US had broken Japan's diplomatic codes meant that FDR knew that Japan was preparing for war even as they sent their ambassadors to try to negotiate a guarantee of peace. The fact that we hadn't yet broken their military codes explains why we didn't know when or where they were planning to attack. This book debunks the old idea that FDR knew the attack on Pearl Harbor was coming and let it happen; in order to get us into the war. He did indeed predict an attack; on December 1; but was not only wrong about the date but had no idea Japan was capable of attacking Hawaii. A wonderfully readable and important book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Infamy on TrialBy DoginfollowThis is an excellent account of the lead-up to Pearl Harbor from the perspective of Japan's military and political leaders. By Hotta's account; a war with the U.S. was not inevitable; nor did most Japanese leaders believe they were likely to win it. Even those who favored the attack recognized it as a tremendous gamble. So how did it happen? Hotta blames a combination of groupthink; institutional weaknesses; and individual cowardice. She dissects the formal and informal deliberations of the key players to show that Japan did not make the decision blindly or quickly. Officials afraid to put their reservations on the record; preferring to talk tough and hope that someone else would stop the march to war. Last-minute peace feelers -- though sincerely intended as such by many -- were so vaguely defined that they became a smokescreen for war preparations; lending further color to Pearl Harbor's stain of treachery.Hotta presents a damning case against the Japanese leadership. However; she goes a bit easy on the Americans; particularly President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull; whose "Hull Note" in late November 1941 seems hardly to have been calculated to grasp what possibilities for peace remained. Still; even if the U.S. took a hard line to provoke the Japanese; that doesn't excuse Japan's leaders from the reckless miscalculations that would drive their country to ruin within four years.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Poor writing style detracts from the story of what prompted ...By CustomerPoor writing style detracts from the story of what prompted Japan's decision to attack the USA at Pearl Harbor. Written exclusively from the Japanese point of view. Good research of a difficult topic. Worth the money and time to buy and read.
