Rating: 
Summary: Thorough, but not too dry
Review: Prange painstakingly recreates the events leading up to Midway, and the battle itself--no small feat, considering the size of the forces involved and the confusion and contradicting accounts inherent in any naval action.
As this is a historical account, rather than a novel, it may be a tad dry and technical at times, but Prange never loses sight of the human beings involved in the action. If you liked "Battle of the River Plate," you will probably like this
Rating: 
Summary: Exceptionally gripping
Review: Reading the new WWII novel, The Triumph and the Glory, rekindled my interest in the Pacific war, and spurred me to read the Gordon Prange books, which I'd meant to do long ago. Miracle at Midway presents both sides of this crucial battle in fine style, and creates great suspense even though we all know the outcome. A great book!
Rating: 
Summary: Indulgent Style Slows Down Great Story
Review: The Battle of Midway stands as the single most important American battle fought in WWII, and quite possibly was the most important engagment ever fought by the US Navy. In many ways, it was truly a 'miracle' for the American forces, as Prange's title claims. And he conveys the sense of urgency accompanying the battle on both sides well. Furthermore, his account is factually exhaustive (and adequately footmarked, most of the time). But Prange's writing style is too self-indulgent and verbose to handle the multitude of names, locations, and times thrown at the reader. Ironically (and frustratingly) he praises certain commanders for the sparse, just-the-facts style of their reports, orders, and so on. And yet Prange himself lacks any economy of words. This poor writing and the sparcity of maps & photographs (to serve as refrences) slowed the text down to a monotonous grind.
Nevertheless, Prange's attentiveness to facts, though obscured at times due to his writing style, is a breath of historical fresh air. This is very much an historian's account of the battle, and worth reading--just do a lot of skimming.
Rating:
Summary: Clear and simple
Review: The Battle of Midway was the most decisive battle in the Pacific in the Second World War. Prior to the battle the Japanese had one victory after another. They had put the majority of the American Pacific Fleet out of action at Pear Harbor, they had sunk the British Battle ships the Prince of Wales and the Repulse in a few minutes and they had won naval actions in conquering the Philippines. The Japanese had in their carrier arm a superb weapon. The Zero fighter at that time was superior to any American aircraft. Their naval pilots had been fighting since 1936 in China and were superbly trained. The Japanese fleet which sailed to Midway had four carriers and a huge battle fleet. The Americans had only three carriers available, one the Yorktown had only just been repaired after the battle of the Coral Sea. Logically the Japanese should have won and dominated the Pacific. Instead at the end of the battle all the Japanese carriers involved in the battle were sunk, the cream of the Japanese fliers had been killed and the Japanese started to lose their confidence. As the war developed the Americans were able to rebuild their fleet and to develop technology which meant by the 1944 the Japanese navy was totally outclassed both in numbers and qualitatively. Unlike the European war there have been no real mysteries about the pacific campaign. The conquest of Japan meant that records of all major battles were available from both sides. Never the less this book is a clear well-written account of an important battle. It can be easily understood by anyone and is a delight to read. In short the victories of the Japanese meant that they became careless. The did not do a proper search for the American forces and their carriers were caught with fully armed aircraft on their flight deck. This meant that single bomb hits detonated the weapons of the Japanese dive bombers causing multiple explosions and the destruction of the carriers. A great book of a battle in which American bravery allowed them to win against considerable odds.
Rating:
Summary: Midway - an inspired victory
Review: The Battle of Midway was truly an inspired victory for the United States. Facing a larger, more powerful Japanese fleet, the United States overcame tremendous odds to turn the tide of the Pacific War. In some ways, the battle was a lesson in management. While Yamamoto micromanaged the battle from preparation until defeat, Nimitz properly delegated responsibilities to those involved in planning and fighting. He relied on Naval Intelligence's deciphering of Japanese codes when others were dismissive of their accuracy. He also provided Admirals Fletcher and Spruance room to maneuver and strategize during the battle. Prange does a wonderful job of explaining these and other components to the battle. He describes in vivid detail both the Japanese and American approach to Midway. In some ways, the 1942 Battle of Midway resembled the 1940 Battle of Britain - both the United Kingdom and the United States overcame tremendous odds in these two clashes to emerge victorious. While much war was left to fight, the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Midway were pivotal in their importance and represent the conviction that, in the end, freedom always wins. Thus, Midway was one of those moments in history when things went right for the right reason.
Rating:
Summary: Midway - an inspired victory
Review: The Battle of Midway was truly an inspired victory for the United States. Facing a larger, more powerful Japanese fleet, the United States overcame tremendous odds to turn the tide of the Pacific War. In some ways, the battle was a lesson in management. While Yamamoto micromanaged the battle from preparation until defeat, Nimitz properly delegated responsibilities to those involved in planning and fighting. He relied on Naval Intelligence's deciphering of Japanese codes when others were dismissive of their accuracy. He also provided Admirals Fletcher and Spruance room to maneuver and strategize during the battle. Prange does a wonderful job of explaining these and other components to the battle. He describes in vivid detail both the Japanese and American approach to Midway. In some ways, the 1942 Battle of Midway resembled the 1940 Battle of Britain - both the United Kingdom and the United States overcame tremendous odds in these two clashes to emerge victorious. While much war was left to fight, the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Midway were pivotal in their importance and represent the conviction that, in the end, freedom always wins. Thus, Midway was one of those moments in history when things went right for the right reason.
Rating:
Summary: Hoody-hoo
Review: This book gives a great amount aof incite into what the battle was really like. It shows you the strategy of both ides and how they were either successful or disasterous. I would reccomend that anyone, with more then just a minor interest in this battle, get this book
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but is it accurate?
Review: This book is one of the best works I have read about the Pacific War and it is one of my favorite accounts of the Battle of Midway. Even though it is not a Pearl Harbor-only volume like other books by Prange, Dillon, and Goldstein, I agree with Penguin's characterization of Miracle at Midway as a sequel to At Dawn We Slept, Prange's definitive account of the events before, during, and after the Day of Infamy. Miracle at Midway picks up the narrative of events soon after the Pearl Harbor Striking Force under the command of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo returns to Japan, hailed as heroes by everyone in the Empire. It then, economically and without bogging down in detail, describes the events that led to the battle of Midway, a small atoll at the far end of the Hawaiian island chains. Attention to detail is given to the planning and execution of both American and Japanese operations in the Midway battle. Prange and his co-authors point out that Midway was Pearl Harbor in reverse; the Japanese, who had been careful and canny in December 1941, were overconfident and somewhat sloppy in planning and executing Operation MI. The Americans, who had been caught unprepared six months earlier, were able to break Japan's JN-25 Naval Communications Code and set a carefully laid ambush in the path of Japan's mighty First Air Fleet. This book is highly readable (though I prefer Walter Lord's Incredible Victory), and I give it a strong recommendation, even though it has very few pictures and even fewer maps.
Rating:
Summary: Miracle at Midway is a Gripping Read!
Review: This book is one of the best works I have read about the Pacific War and it is one of my favorite accounts of the Battle of Midway. Even though it is not a Pearl Harbor-only volume like other books by Prange, Dillon, and Goldstein, I agree with Penguin's characterization of Miracle at Midway as a sequel to At Dawn We Slept, Prange's definitive account of the events before, during, and after the Day of Infamy. Miracle at Midway picks up the narrative of events soon after the Pearl Harbor Striking Force under the command of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo returns to Japan, hailed as heroes by everyone in the Empire. It then, economically and without bogging down in detail, describes the events that led to the battle of Midway, a small atoll at the far end of the Hawaiian island chains. Attention to detail is given to the planning and execution of both American and Japanese operations in the Midway battle. Prange and his co-authors point out that Midway was Pearl Harbor in reverse; the Japanese, who had been careful and canny in December 1941, were overconfident and somewhat sloppy in planning and executing Operation MI. The Americans, who had been caught unprepared six months earlier, were able to break Japan's JN-25 Naval Communications Code and set a carefully laid ambush in the path of Japan's mighty First Air Fleet. This book is highly readable (though I prefer Walter Lord's Incredible Victory), and I give it a strong recommendation, even though it has very few pictures and even fewer maps.
Rating:
Summary: Dry read=Excitement?
Review: This book was terrific to read. I was inspired to buy this book by the National Geographic special on the USS Yorktown. Miracle at Midway leaves nothing out...personal accounts from both sides. It is, however, an extremely objective account. Instead of flag-waving feelings, you're left breathing a sigh of relief. I found the account of retooling the Yorktown at Pearl to be the most inspirational aspect of this book.
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