Book Review: Nagasaki by Susan Southard

“The basis of peace is for people to understand the pain of others.”

Susan Southard, Nagasaki

Review:

I knew going into this book that it was going to be upsetting, but even when you imagine the worst about a nuclear strike, it’s still worse than you could ever envision on your own. 

Nagasaki is a full history of the nuclear attack. Though there is some discussion of life before the bombing, it largely focuses on the aftermath. Despite efforts to cover up the extent of the devastation, we know now how truly inhumane this weapon is. The fact that a bomb of this magnitude was used on civilians is something I’ve yet to grasp. What’s worse is knowing that the ones that exist now are even more destructive. 

The book also follows the survival stories of, I believe, three people who were children/young at the time of the attack. (I listened to the audiobook, so it was difficult to keep track. For this reason, I’ve ordered a physical copy because I want to revisit the book.) They went on to share their stories with the world and spread awareness of the dangers of nuclear weapons, as well as making a cry for peace. 

Aside from learning about the immediate and long-lasting impact of a nuclear weapon, I learned a lot about the history and culture in this region of Japan. I never realized that there was such a large population of Christians, and I found some of the perspectives of the Christian survivors remarkable. 

Again, I listened to the audiobook, so I can’t say for certain until my physical copy arrives, but I suspect that there might be images in this book. With or without pictures, please be warned that this book depicts burns, injuries, loss of life and limb, medical content, and long-term illnesses due to the effects of radiation. While I do consider this important reading, I feel it’s only fair to make a note so that the reader can make an informed decision about whether or not this is something they can handle.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Thorough and informative. A lot of research went into writing this book.
• Not too long and not too short.
• Respectful to the victims as well as maintaining neutrality between the U.S. and Japan.

What I didn’t like:

• I wish a PDF had come with the audiobook.

Afterthoughts:

Truly a haunting and enlightening reading experience.

Where to buy the book: