Merriam Press World War 2 History. It wasn't that the US was mentally and materially unready for war. We weren't ready for the war we got. To say the USA was mentally and physically unprepared for World War II is an understatement. Details the history of the lead-up and beginning of war between the Empire of Japan and the United States. This is essentially a photo book with accompanying text. What Stanley offers, to both the casual reader and the military history buff, is his experience as a photo interpreter to draw information from the imagery. Because aerial photos are often difficult to research and understand without proper training, they are a seldom-used contributor to the study of military history. Stanley considers photos an "original source" equal to first-hand testimony. From the 1800s to Pearl Harbor, Stanley thoroughly explains how Japan and America entered into a war they did not want. Hundreds of photos and illustrations.