book review: Hiroshima

Author: John Hersey
Genre: Journalistic Non-fiction
Length: 152 pgs.
Available for purchase here (new $7, used $3)

Author John Hersey's account of Hiroshima offers the best journalistic reporting on the effects of the first atom bomb, dropped on the city of Hiroshima in 1945. The NYU journalism dept. called Hersey's account the "finest piece of journalism of the 20th century." Hersey tells the story with important background information, but largely from the perspectives of six different survivors of the bomb. He introduces each survivor as a character, describing their life in 1945 and what they were doing that day up until the bomb was dropped. Then he describes the horrific devastation on the city--from inside the only remaining hospital's overwhelmed corridors--to the banks of the river, lined with people severely burned and waiting for rescue by boat.

In the following years, those who did survive, were labeled hibakushas by their culture, a discriminatory term which translates to "explosion-affected people." Hersey details the aftermath of the bomb and its long-term physical, emotional and economic effects on the hibakushas. He also went back forty years later and includes a whole chapter of updates on each survivor.

It was a hard book to read as it was an overwhelming tragedy of humanity--that's a given. But it was fascinating to read about this major historical event from what felt like a Japanese or non-American perspective. Considering the great linguistic, cultural and geographic barriers, it is truly remarkable that such an account was written in English by an American--and in the 1940s no less. On another note, it was really interesting to learn about the various scientific factors that played roles throughout the events. Lastly, it was a great way to educate myself further on the Japanese culture.

background info:
about the publication of Hersey's Hiroshima