Excellent study of the decision by American leadership to drop the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  The author recounts earlier actions by American forces, including the firebombing of Tokyo, and US plans for invasion and Japanese preparations to defend the Home Islands. The resins for Truman’s decision, the outcome, and Japanese decision making to surrender are explained. The final chapters address the question of whether dropping the bomb was a sound decision or unnecessary. Good read for World War 2 buffs and academic readers.