This is a must book for anyone seeking an understanding of POW life as well as a better understanding of events inside Japan during WWII. Edward Hale takes us on a journey from a carefree life in Guam to Japan as a POW for most of WWII. Helen Gordon, Hale's neice, does a good job of editing Hale's memoirs. After reading the book, I had a much better understanding of how war and POW status impacts human behavior. Gordon is to be commended for making Hale's wonderful memoirs available to the world. This is one of the best books about POW's I have read. For this reason, I gave this book 5 stars.

Beaten, starved and constantly terrorized, Hale's story renews your faith in America and its fighting men. Hale's story of his Navy life in Guam just before the war is a prelude to his poignant experience as a POW. As a reader, you will feel the thunder of bombs, the palpable fear as shot and shell destroy your world... and the gut wrenching fear to know your life is at the mercy of murderous Japanese soldiers.

Hale's is a story or bravery and courage that bears retelling until the end of time. Unknown to the men and women of Guam, they were forfeited to the Japanese months before the war by the decisions of Roosevelt and Churchill, intent upon defeating Hitler. Transported to Japan, the men suffered as slaves to the Japanese war efforts and ultimately saved by the dropping of the atom bombs. Hale's story belongs on the shelf of any student of World War II.

I can't believe the reader from Allentown didn't care for this book. I first read this story in high school and remember how choked up I got over Phillip's absolute and total love for a country he hasn't been able to see or hear about for over half his life due to his impassioned, yet stupid youthful declaration that he "never wanted to hear his country's name again!".

I hope other would-be readers listen to the other reviews and try this book. You WILL NOT be disappointed. You will be fighting back tears by the end of this story. As I said, I read this book while in my teens and still enjoy re-reading it. You will cherish what you have after you finish.

I originally read this book in eighth grade, and recently had the desire to reread the book. The book was just as I remembered it. However, with a greater understanding of the world, I have learned to appreciate this classic even more. While an American may not agree with that the United States does, a perfect country or government has yet to be created. Philip Nolan made a statement in which he disowned his country in his younger days. It was a statement that he would quitely regret for the rest of his life. Even in exile, Nolan reflects loyalty to his country in his behavior. On his death bed, Nolan only wants to learn of what has happened to the country since he was exiled. He was able to die a happy man knowing how the country he loved had prospered.

The story is intended to made readers appreciate their country. Sometimes it may be difficult to agree with the government. In the end, one realizes that they love their country like a parent or their own child. Nolan had to learn this lesson the hard way.

Philip Nolan, a man who is sentenced to remain at sea for his entirelife, with the punishment to never hear nor see of the United States again. Hale captures patriotism and heroic efforts in one man as Nolan bravely tries to hide the fact he still loves his country, but shall never see it again. It makes you proud to be an American and live under the glory that our forefathers fought for. So many times have I read this story, and each time I can barely get past parts that bring a tear to my eye. Ultimately a great and powerful book for any reader who enjoys a story of love, agony, and pride.

This book is the worse book I have ever read. You obviously have no life if you want to read it. The only reason why I read it is because it was for a school project.

Just as did DMX from Wyoming, I read this book for school ... in the 6th grade ... and as an extra credit. I remember it very well since my mother had a first edition ... a precious item to be sure. I was very excited at that time about military genre novels. Like a lot of boys in the 1950's I had family members who served, were wounded or were killed in World War II. I started reading and by the time I finished I was crying. Weeping in pain is a more apt description. Have you ever seen a 6th grade boy of today weep in agony and desparation? I wanted to build a time machine so I could go back and tell them all "Don't do that to him, he just screwed up one little time ... he didn't mean to say what he said ..." I went to the library, which in those days required a 2 hour bus trip ... and tried to find out everything I could about Naval Courts Martial and history and, and, and ... oh my , everything I could to try to go back and save him. But guess what, Friends and Neighbors, I discovered that this was a piece of fiction ... can you imagine my relief? But wait! I went to my 6th grade teacher, Mister Hively, who had returned from Tarawa with one eye, one foot and terrible scars. Mister Hively, the hero ... whose one eye leaked tears when I told him everything I had done after I had finished reading the book. We talked about the fictional message and he asked me "do you think this can happen now in 1956?" The McCarthy era had just ended and of course I knew nothing about the message of the book in modern terms. The message .... the message of Patriotism ... not the "patriotism" of an extremist truck bomber or a sheet wearing cross-burner, but the simple love for Our Country. It today's mirror you could extrapolate to the Kurdish refugees, to the Sudanese, to the Central Americans, to all of the groups of people who are exiled for one reason or another. Matter of fact, you can look at the comments of a previous reviewer, DMX up there in Wyoming, and see a young man exiled from his wonderful country. DMX, a victim of our modern society, has been exiled just as surely as the that young man in 1830 .. exiled by a president who parses the definition of sexual contact; exiled by the school system who filter and water down and massage and marginalize the learning process; exiled by a commercialized multi-media system promoting mediocracy. Poor thing, DMX is adrift just as surely as was that Patriot who sailed the seas for 50 years Without A Country.

Please ignore "DMX from Da Hood." It is obvious from his grammatical error (it should be "worst" book, not "worse" book) that he does not appreciate a wonderfully moving tale of a dark period in American history. "The Man Without A Country" is a quick read but one that will stay with you for a long time. Highly recommended.