For the Good of Mankind: A History of the People of Bikini and their Islands Paperback – April 14, 2013

The stories of the Marshallese people themselves, as related by Mr. Niedenthal are absolutely intriguing.I thought the book was well written, balanced and interesting.From a social standpoint it does show the tragedy of the Marshallese and what they were subjected to by the US government. However, it also showed the wonderful persistence and yet friendly and forgiving spirt of these relatively unknown islanders in seeking just compensation for their suffering and making the best out of a sometimes dreadful situation.They have been able to maintain their innate peaceful and, in many cases, devoutly religious spirit that may surprise many in our current vicious, accusatory, hyper-sensitive unforgiving society. It is easy to understand why Mr. Niedenthal decided to make his life with these people in these remote and low tech Pacific Atolls, marrying and becoming a member of this small culture of sturdy, rugged, wonderful people.It does make me want to visit these Islands to meet the people and learn their history, as well as the history of the nuclear testing that took place there (Having worked around nukes during my service in the USAF).I would also love the opportunity to dive the lagoon there where rests the "American Nuclear Fleet" which are a collection of WWII ships that were sunk there by the 2 explosions of Operation Crossroads in 1946.Overall, I highly recommend this book.

If you're interested in histories of the Marshall Islands, there aren't many books easy to find. And what is available is generally the terrible story of Bikini and the US nuclear tests. Most Americans know, intellectually, that Bikini is where the bomb was tested. However, to read a book like this one-- made up largely of the words of long-time Bikini community members-- is very different than knowing.Niedenthal is a long-time resident and advocate of the Bikinian community, and has done a real service with this book. In his introduction, he says how shocked he was that "the Bikinian children I was teaching really didn't have a full understanding as to what had happened to their own people". So he had the idea of recording the stories of the elders in order to capture the history, and the struggle to survive. This book is a selection of transcriptions of those recordings. Hearing the story in the voices of the people is much stronger than a simple recounting of the facts would have been.Recommended if you have an interest in Bikini, the Marshall Islands, or the history of the nuclear weapons and nuclear testing.

I picked up this book as the result of falling down a wiki hole by pure accident. While I knew the basics, this story truly spelled out the horror and trauma of the nuclear testing and those who suffered because of it. The author has added the stories, tales and myths of the islanders which brings to light the fact these are real people. Not just figures far away that aren't "our concern" . Part cultural anthropology, part horror story- It leaves the reader sad, angry and wanting to learn more.

If I didn't know that this really happened it would be difficult to believe that humans can be so selfish and cruel. Read about a nation who claims the moral high ground for itself - learn what really went on in the South Pacific.

It is generally accepted that the dropping of two Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought WW2 to an end. Had the Japanese not surrendered, however, no third bomb existed. Whilst the explosions happened just as they were supposed to happen, this new dreadful science was very new and, in a post war-torn world, had to be tested and refined. No western power, however, was prepared to have such weaponry tested anywhere near their own country - not even within distant range of fall-out.For this reason, one of the world's remotest islands in the southern Pacific was eventually chosen. In the summer of 1946 the United States detonated two 21 kiloton bombs code-named Able and Baker. These were the fourth and fifth such bombs ever exploded. Another bomb was also due to be detonated but this was cancelled after the fallout from Baker created far more radiological contamination than was ever expected.In order to conduct such tests, the United States had, in the first instance, to forcibly remove the indigenous population of the Bikini Islands. How powerful is one nation that it is able (apparently quite legally) to remove another from their homes so that the former can practise with big bombs.This book is the story of those Bikini Islanders and their life-long struggle to regain their homeland. Yes, many have now come home, but it will be a long time before they can even hope to resume a traditional existence. Truth is is is highly unlikely `that' will ever happen.The Bikini islanders were removed from their homes "for the good of mankind," personally, I think this book should be read for the same reason.NM

This book has answered my questions about what happened to the people in the Bikini islands; they are still mistreated and forgotten about. Book went into more details and focused on the plights of the people who already had a life (& a kingdom) and we just took over! Shame on us.

Amazing book! Read it with my dad when i was younger but i bought it to add to my collection since my dad loves his copy too much haha

I enjoyed this book very much. It was very detailed and told the true story about the people of Bikini and what they have been through. It is often sad, but confirms the spirit of the people of Bikini.