The Day the World Went Nuclear

Dropping the Atom Bomb and the End of World War II in the Pacific

By: Bill O'Reilly

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Autumn 1944. World War II is nearly over in Europe, but in the Pacific, American soldiers face an enemy who will not surrender despite a massive and mounting death toll. Meanwhile, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team of scientists are preparing to test the deadliest weapon known to mankind. Newly inaugurated president Harry Truman faces the most important political decision in history: whether to use that weapon.

Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's historical thriller Killing the Rising Sun, with characteristically gripping storytelling, this story explores the decision to use the atom bomb and the end of World War II in the Pacific.

©2017 Bill O'Reilly (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Excellent follow up to Killing The Rising Sun.

I highly recommend this historical follow up to Killing The Rising Sun! very Excellent read!

The Reader's Digest Version

Where does The Day the World Went Nuclear rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I didn't realize that this was almost an excerpt from Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan. Having reading Killing the Rising Sun and American Prometheus, this was just review.

What did you like best about this story?

I found it interesting that Paul Tibbets Jr. named the plane after his mother, but the plane had been named and flown by another. I didn't know that Paul Tibbets Jr. didn't make the second flight because he wanted another to have the glory.

What does Robert Petkoff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was easy to listen to in one sitting.

Informative and entertaining look back on World War II history

I enjoyed this look back on the history of World War II and some of the most important things that happened during that war. I like that Bill O’Reilly doesn’t sugarcoat the personalities of many of the characters.

very informative and moving!

with the detail and word mastery one has come to expect from Bill O'Reilly! very educational, riveting and informative.

Gripping Story

O'Reilly brilliantly writes this in a way that put me in the moment and actually shared the subject's emotions.

A gathering of facts

What made the experience of listening to The Day the World Went Nuclear the most enjoyable?

The book is well written.

What did you like best about this story?

The United States Won.

What does Robert Petkoff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I felt like he was telling a story.

A condensed version of Killing the Rising Sun

This version is mainly a condensed version focusing on the history of the nuclear development program, its effects and legacy. some new material was presented in the after material. Still well presented with great research, but I would recommend only one of the two unless the few added historical references are worth it to you.

it's an ok book

The book is ok. Well researched and etcetera, but nothing outstanding that wasn't already well known.

History Speaks

It is easy to sit where we all sit today and take for granted how we got here. All our lives would be very different if this event had not happened. Good and bad - glad and sad are the events that changed the world.

An old story but fascinating

If you could sum up The Day the World Went Nuclear in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, historic, and well told

What did you like best about this story?

Narrative of each person's involvement

What about Robert Petkoff’s performance did you like?

His voice did not intrude on the story

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The discussion of what an invasion would have cost America