Great book. Important book. I learned so much and it's the kind of book that made me do outside research and check up on random things Chang didn't spend much time on, which is exactly what I want from a nonfiction history book. This book made me want to know more and educate myself further. I consider that alone a pretty high compliment.

I think the only reason this book got four stars instead of five was just my own personal taste. I much prefer books that take an in depth look at small events, and this book is instead intended as an overview of the whole Rape of Nanking that lasted for weeks. Add to that, the book comes in at less than 300 pages and more than 50 pages of that consisted of notes, and it's just a lot to cover in very little time. This book isn't trying to do anything else and it's great at being an introduction, just not my personal preference. It's made me really want to look into more nonfiction on the subject.

In terms of readability, this book is both easy and difficult. It's intended for an audience who knows little to nothing about the Rape of Nanking, so it sets up the whole history of the event and gives a great overview of the key players and events. It's never hard to follow and works as a great starting point on the subject for an average layperson. I assume it would also be pretty decent if you already had a decent understanding of the events, as well.

But it's painfully graphic. I'm not usually one who's bothered by graphic descriptions of horrific events, but this was getting to me. It's disgusting. Like not through any fault of the author. I'd so much rather read something awful and know what happened than get some watered down version, but it is incredibly hard to get through. My version also had pictures and I may have done better to skip those, if I'm being perfectly honest.

I'd definitely recommend picking up this book if you think you can handle it. It's tough, but incredibly worthwhile and if you're like me, an average American with an average American's education (can't speak for elsewhere in the world, but Chang seemed to suggest that level of knowledge holds true in other countries as well), you will learn so much.