TO END ALL WARS by Ernest Gordon Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of TO END ALL WARS
Book Review: Not your typical POW story
Summary: 5 Stars
While Earnest Gordon's story contains enough description of the atrocities inflicted on him and his fellow POW's by the hands of the Japanese in Southeast Asia during WW2, this does not read like your typical POW story. By typical, I mean a blow-by-blow account (literally at times) of the grueling, horrific experience of Allied soldiers during the war. Though there are passages of such description that aptly set the stage for the story, this book is more about the way in which Gordon and his fellow prisoners of war created the Kingdom of God in the hell of mankind.
It is, then, a differently woven story than you might expect. But given the chance, it is a wonderful story of redemption, forgiveness, love and charity - despite overwhelming odds - and is a story that you can't put down. There were times during my reading, that I found myself asking, "Could this be true?" But it is, as Gordon relates his experience from beginning to end, and concludes with an epilogue that completes his life after the war and puts a dose of realism to balance any incredulity the reader may have amassed.
Gordon's story is not designed to heap more evidence of damnation on the Japanese for the cruelties they inflicted during the war. That is the job for others, as Gordon clearly points out. Gordon's story, rather, is one to demonstrate that love can conquer hate, that goodness can overcome evil, that to "end all wars" mankind must learn to forgive and to love, even our enemies.
A powerful book!
Book Review: One of the Great Events of our Time
Summary: 5 Stars
I am reading the book now, because of the movie which is one of my top three movies of all time. This real-life story portrays true hope and love in the midst of absolute suffering and cruelty. I think it is one of the greatest expressions of the Gospel in our day. This story reveals true Christianity- Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (to the point of the Cross). Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." There is nowhere more horrible than a prison camp and yet in this place of dog-eat-dog survival a true Christian laid down his life for others, as Jesus did.Book Review: This is how Christianity is Supposed to Work
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife and I had watched the movie a couple months ago (be warned: it is incredibly brutal) and been moved by the power of the story. Unfortunately, as it turned out, the book and the move are not the same story. In fact, other than the similarity of the major premise (a British officer in a Japanese POW camp during WW2), they had almost nothing in common.
However. . .
That was only disappointing insomuch as I kept waiting for certain events from the movie to show up. The movie had colored my expectations for the book, which meant I couldn't take the book on its own merits. Which is too bad, because, upon completing the book, I would say it is as powerful as the movie, perhaps even more so. But you have to let the book speak for itself. The story is truly miraculous, as this band of prisoners devolve into a wild bunch of animals at the hands of their captors, only to be transformed by the Spirit of Christ into a true Community of compassion and care. Somehow, in the midst of hell, these men found the power to love each other, to care for each other, to even forgive their Japanese tormentors. When people ask "Does Christianity work?", the story of this book says "absolutely!" And in a day and age of spiteful attacks, divisive language, polarized religions and selfish money-grubbing politicians and religious leaders, there is a real lesson here about what being a True Follower of Christ is all about.
Book Review: To End All Wars
Summary: 5 Stars
An excellent eye-witness account from World War II, telling of Allied POWs building the Burma-Thai railroad and the River Kwai Bridge. In the midst of the horror and suffering, there is an amazingly inspiring story here. We must not forget World War II history in these lesser-known theaters.Book Review: To End All Wars
Summary: 5 Stars
To End All Wars is the story of the author's time in a series of Japanese POW camps during World War II. I originally became interested in Ernest Gordon after viewing the movie by the same name. This is a story of courage, endurance, and resolve and the fact that Ernest Gordon and many of his fellow POW's were able to forgive their Japanese guards despite what they had lived through is a testament to the type of men they were. How many of us could do the same? This is a must read for all WWII buffs.