2 Books Like Hat Talk

I loved Sledge's humility. Precious few human beings have endured extraordinary experiences like his as a Marine in the Pacific during World War II. Yet he channels the reader's admiration away from himself and toward the Marines he served alongside. It's impossible not to admire Sledge even though he tells his story in a way that never seeks our praise.

Too many people take too much pleasure in talking about themselves, but Sledge—a model Marine, a model American, and a model human being—is a welcome contrast to such people.

This was a fascinating memoir from a unique perspective on World War II. The author is able to recall/reconstruct the action in great precision and detail to how he felt to who said what, turning his accounts of the battles into thrilling stories much of the time. The fact that Hara was able to see the reality of each situation and did not fall victim to the illusory fantasies of the Imperial Japanese high command makes his story all the more interesting. It's a very critical account, both of himself and his mistakes and those of the military around him, and it has given me a great deal of further insight into the IJN and its battles. There are maps of some of them, but the naval maneuvers are very complex and still hard to follow. It's the story of Japan's early victories and inevitable defeat from the eyes of… show more.