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  • The Rising Sun

  • The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945
  • By: John Toland
  • Narrated by: Tom Weiner
  • Length: 41 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (177 ratings)
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The Rising Sun cover art

The Rising Sun

By: John Toland
Narrated by: Tom Weiner
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Summary

This Pulitzer Prize-winning history of World War II chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the Japanese empire, from the invasion of Manchuria and China to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Told from the Japanese perspective, The Rising Sun is, in the author’s words, "a factual saga of people caught up in the flood of the most overwhelming war of mankind, told as it happened - muddled, ennobling, disgraceful, frustrating, full of paradox."

In weaving together the historical facts and human drama leading up to and culminating in the war in the Pacific, Toland crafts a riveting and unbiased narrative history.

©1970 John Toland (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Rising Sun

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • R
  • 26-06-15

The stupidity of war

Where does The Rising Sun rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As a historic piece of work it has plenty of detail. It opens up the political system that shows there was no democracy and the military were the real power and not the Emperor. It shows a different perspective than what we were led to believe.

What did you like best about this story?

The poor quality of leadership. It exposes the fundamental failures of the willingness to waste life for no gain other than that of saving face. The pre Pearl Harbour events especially that took place in the parliament were a real eye opener. It appears no one wanted war with the USA and the European powers but didn't know how to stop it happening.

Which character – as performed by Tom Weiner – was your favourite?

Admirable Yamamoto is an obvious choice as he was the man who took them to war but did warn that he could not give them victory - Tom put Yamamoto into the character of not just the tactician but also the political military man

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Sun that rises, also sets

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Essential reading

Exceptional quality and depth. Good as a thorough recap of a near-forgotten story. Almost forgotten in today's world that is so preoccupied with China's rise.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Miltary history reference.

Very detailed and accurate. particularly liked the eye witness accounts of Iwo Jima and the atomic bombs. Well narated and an in depth insight from both sides.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Mr
  • 17-12-18

A classic work of history, exellently told.

It's not hard to see why Toland won a Pulitzer for this book. He is a particularly gifted story-teller, and the book often reads more like a well told novel than a traditional history. I found myself getting so absorbed in the twists and turns of the tale he was telling, I sometimes had to remind myself that I knew how the story ended. I was willing the diplomats trying to avert the war to succeed, though I knew they didn't. And willing the British to hold out at Singapore, knowing that they did not.

The book is divided into two parallel narratives, the first an overview of the broad political and military situation told from the POV of the major figures in the Japanese and American governments, and the other a series of personal accounts of ordinary soldiers and civilians caught up in the nightmare of the war. Both are well researched, and told with compassion and eloquence.

Toland also does an excellent job of explaining to a western audience the very different cultural norms that affected Japanese society and government in the lead up to the war. How that culture led to a nation obsessed with honour to behave with a stunning lack of honour - and how the west's failure to understand Japanese culture led to one diplomatic debacle after another.

My only criticisms are that for some reason 1943 seems to be glossed over much more briefly than other years, and that perhaps one comes away feeling a little too much sympathy for the Japanese actors in this drama, who were responsible for so much needless suffering.

The narrator is notably good, I really felt I was listening to the author.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Long but worthy bit of military history

Slightly hard to follow the characters with a lot of similar but different names but I enjoyed catching a chunk of history I never studied . Well narrated book and a gripping story with more humanity than i had expected. After some time it moves from the character of the Japanese to be a catalogue of the various military engements and that was its only disappointment , I dint really get to know more about what was hapeining or being said by the average man in japan in this period . Not sure ill ever understand the Japanese culture for the glorification of death at the time and I hope the people of modern Japan don't understand it either . General Macarther doesn't come out to favourably either . Good book though and would recommend if you want a broad sweep of this period of Japanese military history

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Solid history

A good history of the Pacific War. It is very focussed on the iconic American battles, for instance there are a few hours about Iwo Jima but only about 5 minutes to sum up the entire Burma campaign. Good narration but is slightly weird when he’s doing the voices of Japanese females! Enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very detailed

A very detailed look at the Japanese governmental and military structure prior to the war , during , and immediately after the dropping of the atomic bombs. Gives a very interesting look at how the Japanese mind set worked which most westerners still really don’t understand. It also gives a good insight into just how indisciplined Japanese officers sometimes where and how dangerous it could be being a political figure in the Japanese leadership.. a long listen but worth it .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great overview of the Japanese Empire and the war in the pacific overall

Put the speed on 1.1 for the best listening experience and let John Toland take you to Japan during WW2.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

First class research but too many Japanese names without explanation

Poor dull reading performance spoils this great book. Too many Japanese names without explanation spoils the narrative

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Needs more Burma

This book doesn’t lack for depth, and knowledge. At first I found the narrator a bit boring but I got into it eventually. It’s very American-Pacific-specific and I would’ve liked more information about the Chinese battles and especially the Burma campaign.

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