This is a short book about the landings on Tarawa and Makin in November 1943, the essential (but bloody) proving ground for major amphibious assaults in the Pacific. I was pretty disappointed in it - no map of the island to provide context, and the narrative was disjointed and not very helpful. Halfway through in exasperation I dug out the December 2008 issue of Naval History, 
which had a package of issues and art commemorating the 65th anniversary of the landings. It was far superior to this, providing detailed maps, artwork, articles explaining the broader context of the invasion, and providing important context.
It got me to thinking, because Hoyt's book on the Battle of the Coral Sea was the major one I read growing up, and in retrospect I wonder if these type books may have been the '70's historical equivalent of pulp fiction - short books that recycled the primary sources. This is actually the shortest of Hoyt's books I have, and I suspect that the choice of subject - a single invasion and a restricted time frame ended up making it briefer than he may have intended.
