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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Hiroshima summary
The Stories of Six Survivors of the Atomic Bomb
20 mins
Brief summary
'Hiroshima' by John Hersey is a journalistic account of six survivors' experiences in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. It provides a sobering look at the devastating effects of nuclear warfare.
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Hiroshima
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The blast
1.
It was exactly 8:15 on the morning of August 6, 1945, and the chance movements of six Hiroshima residents – which way they were walking, where they were sitting, the precise way they were leaning over in their chair – happened to mean they survived.
When the atomic bomb dropped, the Reverend Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto was helping a friend move his belongings to the edge of the city in case an air raid came. It was a still, quiet morning.
A huge flash of light appeared, and the two men ducked for cover. Mr. Tanimoto dove between some rocks. Like others, he heard no noise.
For Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura, a war widow, the flash was an intense white. She’d followed official advice to evacuate the city center, and was on the outskirts with her three young children, watching a neighbor reluctantly tear his house down – a measure taken to prevent the spread of fire, in case of an attack.
The intense white blast hurled her across the room. She was buried in debris, but unhurt. She heard a cry, “Mother!” How lucky they were: all three children survived and she was able to pull them free.
Dr. Masakazu Fujii, a jovial lover of middle-aged prosperity, was sitting on the porch in his underwear, reading the newspaper. At 8:15, before he knew it, he found himself suspended in the river, trapped fortuitously between two timbers – parts of the now submerged private hospital in which he’d been living.
Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge, a German Jesuit, was in the mission house, also reading in his underwear. The next thing he remembered, he was wandering around the vegetable garden, surveying a scene of utter devastation.
The only unhurt doctor at the Red Cross Hospital, the young Terufumi Sasaki, had come into work earlier than usual as he hadn’t slept well. He was walking down a corridor holding a blood specimen when the flash came. He ducked down, saying to himself, “Be brave!” His glasses and slippers flew off and the blood smashed on a wall.
Miss Toshinki Sasaki, a clerk at a tin works – not a relation of the doctor’s despite their shared surname – was at her desk in a room lined with books. She was turning her head away from a window when the entire building collapsed around her, trapping her under a mound of books and bookcases. Her leg hurt horribly.
But, by chance, she was alive.
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What is Hiroshima about?
Hiroshima (1946 and 1985) is journalist John Hersey’s classic account of six survivors of the 1945 atom bomb attack on Japan. Amid the wreckage, these six lived to offer their accounts of the devastating experience.
Hiroshima Review
Hiroshima (1946) by John Hersey tells the devastating true story of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- The book offers a deeply human perspective, recounting the experiences of six survivors and their struggles for survival and resilience in the face of unimaginable horror.
- Through vivid and detailed storytelling, Hersey brings to life the immediate and long-term effects of the bombing, making it a powerful and unforgettable read.
- It sheds light on the historical context, exploring the political, social, and scientific implications of the atomic bomb, providing a comprehensive understanding of this pivotal moment in history.
Who should read Hiroshima?
- History devotees
- Character-driven non-fiction (or fiction) enthusiasts
- Budding journalists
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Hiroshima FAQs
What is the main message of Hiroshima?
The main message of Hiroshima is the devastating impact of nuclear warfare and the resilience of the survivors.
How long does it take to read Hiroshima?
The reading time for Hiroshima varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Hiroshima a good book? Is it worth reading?
Hiroshima is worth reading for its powerful storytelling and historical significance. It offers a glimpse into the consequences of nuclear war.
Who is the author of Hiroshima?
The author of Hiroshima is John Hersey.
What to read after Hiroshima?
If you're wondering what to read next after Hiroshima, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Ordinary Men by Christopher R. Browning
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
- The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss
- Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
- Hope for Cynics by Jamil Zaki
- The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The First Rule of Mastery by Michael Gervais
- Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank