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Paul Fussell
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Thank God for the Atom Bomb and Other Essays Hardcover – June 1, 1988

by Paul Fussell (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
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Essays discuss nuclear war, George Orwell, tourism, chivalry, nudism, the Indy 500 race, Yugoslavia, modernism, and modern American manners
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  1. Print length
    298 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Summit Books
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 1988
  5. ISBN-10
    0671638661
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0671638665
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A conservative cultural critic with a passion for nude beaches and the Indy 500 auto race, Fussell (The Great War and Modern Memory) explores some of his pet topics in this miscellany of essays and articles. The title piece, a defense of Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, generated lively controversy when it first appeared in the New Republic; a spirited exchange from that journal is included here. Elsewhere, Fussell hails George Orwell's essays as a refreshing counterweight to today's "theory-ridden" criticism. Mulling the difference between tourists and travelers, he offers disarming observations on travel writers Paul Theroux and John Krich. One piece explores how patriotic fervor thrust Carl Sandburg's propaganda tracts into the literary limelight. Fussell has quirky, interesting things to say about gun control, war poetry, chivalry and modernism as an offshoot of the "melodrama of the French Revolution."
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Most of these 14 essayson topics ranging from Hiroshima to the Indy 500originally appeared in the New Republic , Sewanee Review , and other periodicals. One essay praises George Orwell for virtues that Fussell himself has cultivated: an accessible style, a lively interest in the social uses of language, and "a power of facing unpleasant facts." Fussell is even keener on exposing the euphemisms and illusions of others. His most valuable pieces deal with the horrors of modern warfare and its literaturesomewhat extending and generalizing his powerful The Great War and Modern Memory (1975). Libraries with well-educated browsers would find this worthyif not mandatorywhile those covering the two World Wars would find it worthier still. Donald Ray, Manhattanville Coll. Lib., Purchase, N.Y.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Summit Books; First Edition (June 1, 1988)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0671638661
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671638665
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.13 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

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Paul Fussell

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4.5 out of 5 stars
29 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the essays insightful and thought-provoking, providing a fresh perspective on historical and cultural issues. However, opinions differ on their intelligence - some find them fascinating and erudite, while others feel there are too many obscure words and literary references that feel like fillers.

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4 customers mention "Insight"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the insightful and thought-provoking essays in the book. They find the historical and cultural issues examined without unpleasant facts. The fresh perspective provides a lot to think about, and the historical accuracy adds a bit of value.

"This adds a bit of historical accuracy to the dropping of the A-bonb in 1945...." Read more

"...All of these essays are intelligent and insightful. I will be reading more Gorge Orwell because of Paul Fussell...." Read more

"...These essays are thoughtful examinations of historical and cultural issues, free of any euphemization of unpleasant facts and a thought provoking..." Read more

"Despite the provocative title, this book contains a lot of insight and fresh perspective that gives you a lot to think about." Read more

6 customers mention "Intelligence"4 positive2 negative

Customers have varying views on the book's intelligence. Some find the essays fascinating, erudite, and thought-provoking. They recommend it to fans of the genre. However, others feel the book contains too many obscure words and references, making some sections feel like fillers.

"Paul Fussell is a writer of fascinating essays, and these are some of his best - wide-ranging, articulate, penetrating ..." Read more

"Republishing of previously published work. Erudite and thought provoking. Sometimes makes his point over and over again...." Read more

"...This book is recommend to any fan of the essay. Do not let the title or the first few selections lead you to believe that this is only about war...." Read more

"Brilliant collection of essays, esp. the title piece. Author lived a long, fascinating (and curmudgeonly) life." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kermit
    5.0 out of 5 stars as horrible as it was
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This adds a bit of historical accuracy to the dropping of the A-bonb in 1945. Now that history is being re-written by those who weren’t even born then, and who now condemn what was done, hopefully this essay will provide them with the correct information that dropping the bomb, as horrible as it was, actually in the long run saved lives.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • c langridge
    5.0 out of 5 stars Serious fun for your brain!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Paul Fussell is a writer of fascinating essays, and these are some of his best - wide-ranging, articulate, penetrating ...
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  • Jonathan F.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant look at Revisionist History
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2025
    I've spent much of my life documenting aspects of nuclear power and weaponry, and while it might sound contradictory, I found this book to be especially insightful and brilliantly written. He taught at UPenn, so I was able to meet and discuss with him his thoughts. For those who think that the title was his own personal viewpoint, he's repeating verbatim what was in the press, and in the mouths of those around him.

    This is not to justify the bomb's use, but it's vital to view it as it was seen at the time. It always struck me as odd, the hardball opposition by folks, who leave out the firebombing of Dresden, which was purely out of spite, and had little military impact. Just like Japan, the streets melted, asphalt turning to liquid, from the heat of the fires. I don't view this book as being about the bombing, it more to the notion of revisionist history, which is happening as we speak. Look at Texas trying to ban mentions of Thomas Jefferson, or the nimrods in Florida doing even worse. Putin taking children prisoner, and trying to indoctrinate them into forgetting their Ukrainian heritage.

    As for Fussell's writing style, he's smart, opinionated, and rough. Perfect.
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  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fussell was an intectual snob who hated his priveleged life and inheireted genes
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Republishing of previously published work. Erudite and thought provoking. Sometimes makes his point over and over again. Fussell was an intectual snob who hated his priveleged life and inheireted genes .He includes too many obscure and unecessary words and literature references. Title essay includes a disagreeing essay which he easily demolishes. I usually agree with his point although I dislike his attitude. Worth reading and considering.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Phred
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very intelligent writer but a book of ill matched topics
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2016
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    Bottom Line Thank God for the Atom Bomb is my second collection of Paul Fussell essays. The first was The Great War and Modern Memory. Of the two the first was a tighter and better book. Having read the two I count myself a fan of Paul Fussell. This book is recommend to any fan of the essay. Do not let the title or the first few selections lead you to believe that this is only about war. This is a collection, some of it published elsewhere and as it covers several topics. It can feel thrown together.

    Paul Fussel served his nation as a combat officer on the ground in the European theater during WWII. Had the Japanese not been speed to the surrender tables, he would have been among those sent fight them on the Japanese home Islands. Some would say that this fact is all he has to offer when in the opening essay he is certain that dropping those nuclear bombs was correct. Further, those who think otherwise lack the war time experience to have credibility. His argument is far more than selfish. In pointing out the average number of people who were dying every day in the Pacific, and counting out how many would have died had the war continued for even a few days more it is clear that waiting would not have saved lives. Ours or theirs.

    It is to his credit that the next essay is a scholarly disagreement to his case and ending this section is a discussion of American actions that a more peaceful world would consider atrocities. His point was that the War in the Pacific included in its costs, American soldiers who felt it ok to participate in collecting, even gifting the skulls of Japanese dead. Humans in any war do terrible things, this is almost without parallel in American history.

    After this much intensity it is almost jarring as Fussell writes about topics like George Orwell, nudist beaches in the Balkans, several more discussions of the impact of modern war on modem literature, ultimately ending with another near non sequitur, the Indianapolis 500.

    All of these essays are intelligent and insightful. I will be reading more Gorge Orwell because of Paul Fussell. Also in this book is a passage that has changed my outlook on many issues.

    It is the habit of many to believe that their side of any topic is where virtue is to be found. That especially in wartime, but just as passionately in politics the choices are only between the good and the bad. Fussell, quoting others argues that in most cases the choice is between the bad and the worse.
    There are essays, or themes included in this book that are too close to ones included in The Great War and Modern Memory. These essays tended to feel like fillers and should have been excluded or placed earlier in this collection following his thoughts on WWII.

    I will be reading more books by Paul Fussell. His opinions on matters cultural or more practical are the opinions of a writer with important experience and an insightful command of his topics. I want his opinion on topics about warriors and warriors who are also writers.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Rodger C. Thompson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2013
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    Paul Fussell was a literary and social critic of major importance. These essays are thoughtful examinations of historical and cultural issues, free of any euphemization of unpleasant facts and a thought provoking alternative to what Mr. Fussell called the "Disneyfiers of life".
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Louis Irwin
    5.0 out of 5 stars On of his best, and overlooked, works.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2016
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    Brilliant collection of essays, esp. the title piece. Author lived a long, fascinating (and curmudgeonly) life.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Caroline
    5.0 out of 5 stars Despite the provocative title, this book contains a lot ...
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Despite the provocative title, this book contains a lot of insight and fresh perspective that gives you a lot to think about.
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