The Fight of Their Lives presents a sweeping narrative of World War II, tracing the conflict from the fallout of the Treaty of Versailles to the dawn of the Cold War. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Well, there is certainly no shortage of books about World War II out there, but the vast majority are written for an audience of World War II history enthusiasts. I wanted to write–substantively and stylistically–something for a broader audience. Readers who are interested in history and want to learn more about the war, but would never pick up an 800-page book on the subject. The Fight of Their Lives is for them.

How much research did you undertake for this book and how much time did it take to put it all together?

I spent about two years researching the material for this book, but thankfully there are tremendous resources out there, from the National World War II Museum to the Holocaust Museum and Memorial, to all the historical documents, images, and records available from the US Army, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. I also relied a great deal on secondary sources, of which there are so many out there – all credited in my book.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

First, the utter inhumanity that swept across the world in those years, and the horrific scale of death and destruction, particularly among innocent civilians. Second, the importance of global alliances and partnerships – we were hardly close friends with the Soviets, but very simply, we wouldn’t have defeated Hitler without them. And finally, although there are countless stories of perseverance, courage, and sacrifice in that era, it’s important for people, particularly Americans, to understand there was also tremendous social injustice at that time in our own country, most notably racial inequality and the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans. Winning the war was imperative, but we had quite a bit of work to do at home.

What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?

I think a lot of readers are taken aback by the degree of suffering among civilian populations. And to be honest, I’m glad that is making an impact – people really need to understand how profound that suffering was if we are to ensure it never happens again.

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