Day of Deceit

Day of Deceit examines the circumstances and intelligence surrounding the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The book presents documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, including military communications, intelligence reports, and internal memoranda from the Roosevelt administration. Robert Stinnett investigates the role of the McCollum memo, a 1940 strategic document outlining eight specific actions regarding Japan, and traces its potential influence on US policy in the Pacific. The narrative follows the movement of information through military and intelligence channels in the months leading up to December 7, 1941. The book analyzes communication patterns between Washington DC and Hawaii, focusing on the relationship between central command and Pacific Fleet leadership. The investigation extends to the handling of radio intelligence and the chain of decisions that determined how information was distributed. This controversial work raises fundamental questions about government transparency and the complex moral calculations that influence nations' paths to war. The book continues to spark discussion about the balance between national security and public disclosure.

Readers credit the book's extensive research and declassified documents but debate its central thesis. Many note the detailed naval intelligence records and communications intercepts as compelling evidence. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear timeline of events with supporting documentation - Previously unreported historical details - Thorough source citations - Readable writing style for complex material Common criticisms: - Cherry-picked evidence that fits the author's premise - Dismissal of contradicting documents - Overreaching conclusions from limited data - Need for more context around decoded messages Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (100+ ratings) "The research is impressive but the conclusions require too many leaps of faith," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "Important documents are brought to light, but the interpretation feels forced at times."

Pearl Harbor: Final Judgement by Henry C. Clausen, Bruce Lee A military investigation reveals suppressed intelligence and command failures in the lead-up to Pearl Harbor.

Operation Snow by John Koster The book documents Soviet spy Harry Dexter White's role in provoking Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor through economic warfare.

Target Tokyo by James M. Scott The account examines the Doolittle Raid's planning, execution, and aftermath as America's first strike against Japan following Pearl Harbor.

At Dawn We Slept by Gordon W. Prange The work presents decades of research into both American and Japanese archives regarding the Pearl Harbor attack's planning and execution.

Pearl Harbor: Warning and Decision by Roberta Wohlstetter The text analyzes intelligence failures and organizational obstacles that prevented the U.S. from anticipating the Pearl Harbor attack.

🔍 The McCollum memo, a key document discussed in the book, outlined an eight-point plan to provoke Japan into attacking America, written by Lt. Commander Arthur H. McCollum in October 1940. 📚 Robert Stinnett served in the U.S. Navy during World War II alongside future President George H.W. Bush and spent 17 years researching this book. ⚡ The book reveals that American cryptographers had broken Japanese naval codes well before the Pearl Harbor attack, challenging the official narrative of complete surprise. 🏛️ Over 200,000 previously classified documents were obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests during the research for this book. 🗺️ The author argues that President Roosevelt's order to keep the Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor, against naval advice, was part of a deliberate strategy to draw Japan into attacking.