Americans are citizens of the only nation ever to use atomic weapons in combat. Most people believe it was done to end a lingering war and save American lives. But is this the real reason? And more importantly, was it truly necessary? Author Gar Alperovitz examined radio traffic, the transcripts of Manhattan Project meetings, the diaries of military men, and declassified material of all sorts to write this painstakingly detailed, incredibly dense book and try to find the answer. Was Truman's decision affected by the growing Soviet presence? Was using the bomb a military or political move? The book raises more questions than it answers, but that doesn't diminish its quality in the least. The bombing of Hiroshima is, after all, the central trauma of the 20th century. We might not truly understand why the decision was reached, or what course of events the bomb set in motion, for many years. When we do, however, it will be books like this that started us on the path to comprehension.