At 9:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, an American bomber dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, instantly destroying the city and killing tens of thousands. Three days later, a second bomb devastated Nagasaki. In just 75 hours, the United States—once opposed to bombing civilians—killed 120,000 people and condemned many more to slow, painful deaths.

Empire of Ashes examines the final, brutal months of the Pacific War, drawing on survivor interviews and Japanese sources. Author James M. Scott weaves together personal stories, the scientific debates behind the bombs, and the political maneuvering between President Truman and Emperor Hirohito that led to Japan’s surrender. The book confronts enduring questions: What justified the only use of nuclear weapons in war? How does a nation balance the pride of victory with the horror of its actions? With vivid detail, Empire of Ashes explores the moral dilemmas at the heart of America’s decision to unleash total war on Japan.

 https://www.jamesmscott.com/

http://www.yourlotandparcel.org

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