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Hiroshima Audiobook

Hiroshima Audiobook, by John Hersey Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: George Guidall Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.75 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: February 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781436125765

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

10

Longest Chapter Length:

53:52 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

15:48 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

32:29 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

7

Other Audiobooks Written by John Hersey: > View All...

Publisher Description

A journalistic masterpiece. John Hersey transports us back to the streets of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945-the day the city was destroyed by the first atomic bomb. Told through the memories of six survivors, Hiroshima is a timeless, powerful classic that will awaken your heart and your compassion. In this new edition, Hersey returns to Hiroshima to find the survivors-and to tell their fates in an eloquent and moving final chapter.

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"This book vividly paints a picture of what it was like to withness an atomic bomb explosion and survive its effects, through the personal story of six survivors of the Hiroshima attack. As with many disasters -- though somehow I did not expect it from this one -- more people died and suffered from the aftermath (fires, starvation and thirst, untreated injuries, not to mention radiation sickness) than from the explosion itself. The stories of the camps that formed spontaneously, the attempts of ordinary citizens to scavenge for food and water and understand what had happened to them, and the absence of help from authorities are remarkable. I am stunned to hear how long it took for information to travel; it was days before the survivors even knew of the trajedy at Nagasaki, much less what it was exactly that they shared. This story is also enlightening for the six survivors' very different perspectives on the war, the US, and the bomb."

— Loraine (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Nothing can be said about this book that can equal what the book has to say. It speaks for itself, and in an unforgettable way, for humanity.”

    — New York Times
  • “To this day nothing tells better the horror of Hiroshima…One of the most powerful writers of modern times.”

    — Washington Post
  • “Everyone able to read should read it.”

    — Saturday Review of Literature
  • “Whether you believe the bomb made the difference in the war or that it should never have been dropped, Hiroshima is a must-read for all of us who live in the shadow of armed conflict.”

    — Amazon.com, editorial review
  • “One of the most important books to come out of World War II…Compelling, unforgettable, and more timely than ever, this is absolutely essential.”

    — Library Journal
  • “Brilliant…In its clean, classic restraint, its simplicity, its severity by implication, this is an artistic achievement as well as a threat to this still unsettled world…What they saw, what they felt what—through satiety of terror and suffering—they did not feel, what they had and what they lost, is all told here. No one can remain unconcerned or unmoved. Hersey has risen to the heights of impartial recording that makes this a human document transcending propaganda.”

    — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Hiroshima Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 (4.00)
5 Stars: 19
4 Stars: 20
3 Stars: 8
2 Stars: 4
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " "Hiroshima" is such a captivating book reflecting all the horrible events during World War 2. Although I usually don't like reading history books, something about this book made me pick it up. It's disturbing events are serious that sometimes I feel as if I was living during that time period. John Hersey made this book even more universal by taking the accounts of what other people said. This book is just one of the few World War 2 books that uses the drama of the explosion taken from the people who have lived during the time period. It also explained how deadly the effect a bomb set of can cause. Bombs are deadly whether they are fission bombs or fusion bombs. Both are dangerous but fusion bombs consist of Hydrogens combined together which can be ten times more damaging then fission bombs. Nevertheless the bomb was dropped whether viewers liked it or not and that changed the world forever. This difference make some Americans feel ashamed that they did so much damage without meaning to. I liked how this book opens up peoples' eyes into seeing the different perspectives of the people involved during this time period. This book clearly demonstrates how Gandhi's saying of "Nonviolence will lead to victory". Sometimes people and groups of people just have to comprehend each others opinions, ideas and thoughts about what actions should be taken. If organizations are created this way, why do people seldom choose the path of violence? Violence will only inflict damage and hurt people. Even after people die, the next generation will come out and seek revenge creating a cycle that is endless. Nonviolence on the other hand helps create and influence peace between two groups. I recommend this book to anyone to see the power the governments and authorities have over the people and also to view the consequences of taking a wrong turn. "

    — Tony, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book was definitely part of historical journalism and made famous for it, but I wasn't personally ecstatic about it. It was honest about the personal accounts of survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima, yet I found myself wandering mentally while reading it on multiple occasions. Possibly the reason for this was because I felt compelled to do so for my student (who had to read this for his history class), but I felt like the writing was somewhat dry and lacking emotion in parts, especially since this would be such an emotionally-charged subject. Writing in the journalistic style probably led to this lack of emotional involvement, as they are focused on telling the story and not necessarily how the story should make you feel. I do recommend it as an interesting historical account of the bombing incident and its aftermath, as John Hersey actually returned to Japan 40 years after the incident and tracked down his original subjects in order to track how the bomb affect the lives of these individuals. "

    — Amy, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very informative! I was not yet born (of course) when the bombing in Hiroshima happened and what I read so far are cold fact history books. In this novel, John Hersey effectively used 6 characters to describe without any bias what happened in Hiroshima the day before the bombing up to a year after. I read most parts while waiting for my family roaming around Fort Santiago one Sunday afternoon and the surrounding was perfect! "

    — K.D., 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is disturbing and often gruesome, but it is a history we should know, even in the gut. If you have never read it, do! "

    — Margaret, 2/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Disturbing. But a book everyone should read. I hope a nuclear weapon is never used again. "

    — Summer, 2/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A great way to learn about the effects of that terrible event and the time afterwards. The author managed to leave the politics behind and concentrate solely on the people who actually experienced it.Written in a matter-of-fact style without overt sentimentalities which I would suppose mirrored the actual way people dealt with it at the time since they were all deeply in shock and uncomprehending of what had happened although the writing feels a little old-fashioned now.Overall a very quick read - just a few hours - and well worth it. "

    — Janine, 2/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I read this during study hall a couple years back and snatched the school's copies for my kids who HATED it. I think they simply had a hard time with the Japanese names, but I was disappointed. I've always liked this one. "

    — Hendo, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Basically the book version of Grave of the Fireflies. Will make you hate humanity, 100% "

    — Gregory, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I started reading this book over the summer because it was one of the choice for our summer reading. At first, it interested me because I like to read about Asian stories and non-fiction. However, I abandoned the book half way and didn't finish it until now was because I think the book contains too much detail. I understand why John Hersey did that because showing all the details can emphasize the change on the people's life after the bombing incident. But I didn't like it too much because it bored me with all the details. Overall, John Hersey is still a great writer because he can illustration a character's life in words soo lively as if I was seeing the character living he/she live. "

    — Amy, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A quick history lesson of the bombing of Hiroshima. If you like history, this is a quick read. "

    — Selena, 1/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " True story of the human aspect of the United States' dropping the atom bomb on an innocent population at the end of World War II. Gripping and tragic; it will make you think. "

    — Gwenda, 1/11/2014

About John Hersey

John Hersey (1914–1993), a prolific and acclaimed writer of both fiction and nonfiction, won a Pulitzer Prize for A Bell for Adano. Yet throughout his life, he was most respected for Hiroshima. According to the New Yorker, “[It] remains his crowning achievement. Though it is imbued with a profound moral sense, it does not preach. It does not hector. It simply tells. The power of it, and of its author, is in the reporting.”

About George Guidall

George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.