The author, with some well-noted help, woke me up to some elements of Japanese culture, especially the extreme discipline in their Navy during empire times. being slapped was normal in their training, and in some wartime matters.

Saburo Sakai was individually one of the best fighter pilots of all time. His survival is testimony enough in that. Many of the pilots he knew did not.

His mental approach to his tasks, and to survive is plenty of reason to reread. It's been a very long time since I carefully laid this one down, knowing my worldview had changed. That was back in 1968.