About the Author

Dr. John Prados is a senior research fellow on national security affairs, including foreign affairs, intelligence, and military subjects, at the National Security Archive. He also directs the Archive s Iraq Documentation Project, as well as its Vietnam Project. He holds a PhD in International Relations from Columbia University. His books "Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945 1975";" Keepers of the Keys"; and "Combined Fleet Decoded" were each nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He has published articles with "Vanity Fair," "The" "Journal of American History," " Scientific American," " The New York Times," " MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History," " Los Angeles Times," " The Washington Post," and "The Boston Globe.""

Reviews

John Prados is a clever and prodigious digger of historical fact. Using new sources, especially from the Japanese side, he offers a fresh and compelling account of the true turning point of the Pacific War. " "Evan Thomas, "New York Times" Bestselling Author of "Ike s Bluff: ""President Eisenhower's Secret Struggle to Save the World" and "Sea of Thunder" John Prados has done it again: He has taken a well-known, oft-described military campaign and has brought new and important perspective and insightto the events. " "Norman Polmar, Author of "Project Azorian: The CIA and the Raising of the K-129"
John Prados has turned his considerable talents to the Navy s Solomons campaign, not only shedding light on an oft-neglected aspect of World War II, but shedding "new "light by carefully evaluating the influence and impact of intelligence on that vital struggle. Thomas J. Cutler, Author of The Battle of Leyte Gulf
"Move over, Midway.John Prados wants to bump the famed naval battle from its vaunted spot as the Allies' Big Turnaround in the Pacific. Instead, the historian argues, the tide really turned during the long, complicated, and messy land-and-sea battles of the Solomon Islands...And his reasons are very persuasive...With his storytelling's rich depths and surprising perspectives, "Islands of Destiny" is essential reading for anyone interested in the Pacific War." World War II Magazine
"In vivid, immediate prose, Prados details battles fromGuadalcanal to a late-1943 siege at Rabaul inNew Guinea, showing how cunning strategy allowed the Allies to overcome the Japanese at sea and in the air...Prados provides an accessible history that avoids excessive jargon.Even casual readers of World War IIhistory will find it engaging, and they will likely agree that the author makes a strong case for his revisionist assessment. A well-crafted addition to the canon of World War IImilitary histories." "Kirkus Reviews"
"Authoritative..."Islands of Destiny" serves as a powerful reminder of the geography, the strategy and the ferocity of the Solomons campaign...this book won't disappoint." "WallStreet Journal"
[Prados] argues that Guadalcanal and the Solomons campaign, not Midway, were the Pacific War s true turning point. His use of Japanese primary sources is especially impressive. Imperial Navy figures, often treated as ciphers, regain their humanity in this author s sympathetic hands. " San Diego Union-Tribune""

"John Prados is a clever and prodigious digger of historical fact. Using new sources, especially from the Japanese side, he offers a fresh and compelling account of the true turning point of the Pacific War.""--"Evan Thomas, "New York Times" Bestselling Author of "Ike's Bluff: " "President Eisenhower's Secret Struggle to Save the World" and "Sea of Thunder" "John Prados has done it again: He has taken a well-known, oft-described military campaign and has brought new and important perspective and insight to the events.""--"Norman Polmar, Author of "Project Azorian: The CIA and the Raising of the K-129"
"John Prados has turned his considerable talents to the Navy's Solomons campaign, not only shedding light on an oft-neglected aspect of World War II, but shedding "new "light by carefully evaluating the influence and impact of intelligence on that vital struggle."--Thomas J. Cutler, Author of The Battle of Leyte Gulf
"Move over, Midway. John Prados wants to bump the famed naval battle from its vaunted spot as the Allies' Big Turnaround in the Pacific. Instead, the historian argues, the tide really turned during the long, complicated, and messy land-and-sea battles of the Solomon Islands...And his reasons are very persuasive...With his storytelling's rich depths and surprising perspectives, "Islands of Destiny" is essential reading for anyone interested in the Pacific War."--World War II Magazine
"In vivid, immediate prose, Prados details battles from Guadalcanal to a late-1943 siege at Rabaul in New Guinea, showing how cunning strategy allowed the Allies to overcome the Japanese at sea and in the air...Prados provides an accessible history that avoids excessive jargon. Even casual readers of World War II history will find it engaging, and they will likely agree that the author makes a strong case for his revisionist assessment. A well-crafted addition to the canon of World War II military histories."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"Authoritative..."Islands of Destiny" serves as a powerful reminder of the geography, the strategy and the ferocity of the Solomons campaign...this book won't disappoint."--"Wall Street Journal"
"[Prados] argues that Guadalcanal and the Solomons campaign, not Midway, were the Pacific War's true turning point. His use of Japanese primary sources is especially impressive. Imperial Navy figures, often treated as ciphers, regain their humanity in this author's sympathetic hands.""--San Diego Union-Tribune"