BLURBS for: 140 Days to Hiroshima: The Story of Japan's Last Chance to Avert Armageddon

Richard B. Frank

140 Days to Hiroshima is deeply researched and carefully nuanced narrative that is especially powerful on US and Japanese decision making throughout 1945 culminating in Japan’s surrender. It shrewdly integrates essential military realities with the potent domestic cross currents affecting leaders on both sides of the Pacific. Highly recommended.

--Author of Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War, Volume 1: July 1937-May 1942,  Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire and Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle

Flint Whitlock

Reading like a Tom Clancy thriller, David Barrett’s 140 Days to Hiroshima is a gripping, day-by-day account of the run-up to, and the aftermath of, one of the most cataclysmic and world-changing events of all time—the atomic bombing of two Japanese cities. With scrupulous attention to detail, the author’s fact-based narrative lays bare the fateful decisions that were made by both sides—and the inside story of why the Japanese high command was so determined to plunge ahead toward defeat in a war they could not possibly win. 140 Days to Hiroshima is required for anyone seeking the truth behind history-altering events.

--Editor WWII Quarterly magazine and Co-Author of The Depths of Courage: American Submariners at War with Japan and Desperate Valour: Triumph at Anzio

Dennis Giangreco

Author Barrett’s comprehensive examination on the decision making process in both Tokyo and Washington reveals that while the United States focused on forcing a Japanese “surrender” through use of atomic bombs, direct invasion, or both, the Imperial leadership’s focus was on “bleeding” the invading Americans and stringing the war out through “mediation” leading to an armistice that would leave not only the Emperor on the throne, but the core empire intact. Barrett’s detailing of the ruling militarists’ iron grip on Japanese decision making --- even after both bombs and the Soviet entry into the war --- should finally put to rest any notion that the Japanese were trying to surrender. As 140 Days to Hiroshima clearly shows, it was the bomb that influenced the Emperor to make his historic interventions forcing his government to finally surrender. Yet even then, Japan’s military almost derailed Hirohito’s decree to end the war.

--Author Hell to Pay: Operation Downfall and the Invasion of Japan, 1945-1947

Robert James Maddox

This book provides close-in analyses of the discussions and decisions of both American and Japanese policymakers during the weeks before Hiroshima.

Barrett's work is most notable for utterly destroying revisionist fictions such as: that Japan would have surrendered months earlier if only they had been notified that they could retain their emperor and that Truman dropped the bombs to awe the Soviets rather than to defeat an already defeated Japan.

It is an important book and a gripping read.

--Author Weapons for Victory: The Hiroshima Decision Fifty Years Later and Editor, Hiroshima in History: The Myths of Revisionism

Michael Kort

David Dean Barrett’s 140 Days to Hiroshima offers a comprehensive and definitive account of the events and decision making that culminated in the American use of atomic weapons against Japan in August 1945. Barrett’s meticulous and balanced review of the evidence makes it clear that the circumstances at the time justify Truman’s decision to use atomic weapons. He convincingly demonstrates that the Japanese government was not prepared to surrender on terms acceptable to the United States and its allies prior to the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that President Truman and his top advisors understood this, and that Truman’s sole objective in resorting to atomic weapons was to end the war as soon as possible and thereby save American lives. Barrett further demonstrates that there were estimates for American casualties in the projected invasion of Japan that exceeded 500,000 and that the use of atomic bombs against Hiroshima and Nagasaki was the key factor in bringing about Japan’s surrender. Highly recommended for both general readers and college courses that deal with this issue.

--Professor of Social Sciences at Boston University and author of The Columbia Guide to Hiroshima and the Bomb

A.J. Baime

Barrett drops you right into the situation rooms with the most powerful figures in the world during the most critical days of the 20th century—the climax of World War II. Innovatively structured, highly detailed, and well-documented, this book will draw you in from page one.

—A.J. Baime, New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months that Changed the World

Kazu Togo

The interplay between the leaders of Japan and America during the conclusion of the Pacific War—when some leaders in Japan did their best to lead their country to surrender¬—is a narrative of human drama that still challenges minds around the world. David Barrett’s work is an important contribution to an in-depth understanding of those events that took place 75 years ago.

--Kazuhiko Togo, Professor, Kyoto Sangyo University, former Ambassador of Japan to the Netherlands, grandson of Shigenori Togo

May 7, 2022 - Book signing at Barnes & Noble 960 South Colorado Blvd. Glendale, CO 80246, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

August 14, 2021 - David presented his "Reign of Ruin" talk (follows the content of his book 140 Days to Hiroshima)" to the Broomfield Veterans Museum. The entire presentation can be viewed at Coffee and Conversation, 456: Barrett, David "140 days to Hiroshima" - YouTube  - David presented his "Reign of Ruin" talk (follows the content of his book 140 Days to Hiroshima)" to the Broomfield Veterans Museum. The entire presentation can be viewed at  Coffee and Conversation, 456: Barrett, David "140 days to Hiroshima" - YouTube 

August 6, 2021 - David will be doing a Q and A with Robert Citino of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The Zoom webinar will begin at 12:00 pm EDT, 11:00 am CDT, 10:00 am MDT, and 9:00 am PDT. The interview can be viewed by following this link at the National WWII Museum's YouTube Channel 140 Days to Hiroshima: The Story of Japan's Last Chance to Avert Armageddon - YouTube 

March 16, 2021 - Received word today from my publisher, Diversion Books that the hardcopy edition of 140 Days to Hiroshima had a clean sell-through and they will now be printing the paperback edition, due to be released May 18, 2021. 

March 4, 2021 - I was the featured speaker for the Central Pennsylvania WWII Roundtable. I gave a substantially expanded version of my "Reign of Ruin", talk, from my book 140 Days to Hiroshima, which can be viewed from the immediately preceding link.

February 15, 2021 - Nick Shepley of Explaining History invited me to participate in another Podcast, this time related to my work as the Historical Consultant/Producer of the documentary "Heroes of the Sky: The Mighty Eighth Air Force." The podcast is entitled "The Eighth Air Force over Germany - Explaining History in conversation with David Dean Barret‪t‬."

September 8, 2020 - Dennis (D.M.) Giangreco and I were the invited speakers to the 34 year old Dr. Harold C. Deutsch World War II History Round Table in Minneapolis, MN. My talk, "Reign of Ruin," drew from my book 140 Days to Hiroshima. You can see the entire program by clicking on the following link, entitled Final Victory in the Pacific. My presentation begins at 57:00 minutes and runs for just under 30 minutes. 

August 14, 2020 - 140 Days to Hiroshima is now available in the UK from The History Press . 

August 14, 2020 -  My article VJ Day: the evidence shows why atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were vital to end the Second World War was published in inews in the UK.

May 22, 2020 - "Heroes of the Sky: The Mighty Eighth Air Force," aired on National Geographic (now available On Demand and YouTube). David served as the Historic/Consultant and Producer.

May 1, 2020 - David recorded a second podcast about his book 140 Days to Hiroshima for Nick Shepley/Explaining History. This episode begins with a summary of the important elements of the Potsdam Declaration and then focuses on the nine days following the atomic attack on Hiroshima as Japan's government struggled to surrender.

April 17, 2020 - David recorded the first of two podcasts about his book 140 Days to Hiroshima for author Nick Shepley/Explaining HIstory. This episode follows the invasion planning (of Japan) in the U.S. and counter invasion planning in Japan in the spring and summer of 1945, along with the projected casualties on both sides.

April 6, 2020 - My Op-Ed, entitled "The Atomic Bomb, War Room Intrigue and Emperor Hirohito's Decision to Surrender" has been published by HNN (History News Network).

October 2018  - WWII Quarterly magazine published my second article, Japan's Hellish Unit 731, Japan's biological and chemical weapons development and use in World War II. 

July 16, 2018 - Diversion Books agreed to publish my book Reign of Ruin: Countdown to Armageddon in the Pacific (original working title).

March 6, 2018 - I signed an agreement to be represented by Savvy Literary Services. My agent is Leticia Gomez.

March 2017 - WWII Quarterly magazine published in their Spring 2017 edition, my 8,000 word article Reign of Ruin about the final year of World War II in the Pacific.

"As someone who has written multiple articles for my magazine, David Dean Barrett is always especially insightful and skilled at telling a story in a fresh and very compelling way." --Flint Whitlock, Editor, WWII Quarterly

"For several years now I have invited David Barrett to my Introductory Survey of World War class to discuss the historical context of the decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Barrett’s knowledge of the subject is immense, and students frequently find his presentation to be the highlight of the course."  --Gabriel Finkelstein, Associate Professor University of Colorado at Denver History Department

"Putting the Atomic Bombs into the Context of the Last Year of the War in the Pacific" was informative intriguing and entertaining all at the same time. David’s story telling style took us not only on a journey into the events of the war, but gave us a tour behind the scenes into the political strategy and tactical planning on both sides. David was able to distill what could fill books into one hour. That was masterful."  --Sam Muzaffer

"I just wanted to say thank you for bringing in Mr. Barrett as the guest speaker. I spent 8 years in Japan and visited a lot of the areas that he talked about and it was great hearing him bring it all together. I could have listened to him speak a few more hours."  --Ed L. Johnson, Marine Corps Retired 

"Thank you so much for coming out and giving a great presentation for the GSA Denver Federal Center Memorial Day Event on May 21, 2015. I loved it! I learned so much about the end of WWII casualties and Japan's response to the bombing of Hiroshima . I consider myself a history buff and thought I knew a lot of WWII history. Well, I was thrilled to learn something new and interesting. I found your presentation to be both educational and entertaining. My husband Lanny was also in attendance and we had a great conversation about your presentation."  --Debbie Rojas Cook, GSA 

"You are an excellent storyteller and really provided a descriptive overview and context for the final days of the war leading to its final end, despite Japan’s relentless strategy to never surrender. I found your descriptions of the leadership in Japan, along with the military strategies employed by both sides absolutely fascinating. Your presentation really highlighted the high cost of freedom and the tremendous suffering and sacrifice of our veterans during the Pacific War."  --Vickie Deal, GSA