What is the main point of the book War Without Mercy?

War Without Mercy by John W. Dower takes a look at the relationship between the U.S. and Japan during WWII through a controversial viewpoint. Dower claims it was racism that drew the war to such a brutal close. Instead of offering more complicated explanations of the events during WWII, Dower focuses on prejudice as the key influencer. 

Dower explains that because the enemy was seen as "subhuman" from both sides of the war, there was a higher amount of civilian deaths. Both the U.S. and the Japanese negatively stereotyped each other, which was perpetuated by their respective news media outlets. As stereotypes of both countries grew more prevalent, so did tensions.

The book explains that the dehumanization of fellow human beings directly causes unnecessary violence, using conflict between the U.S. and Japan during WWII as evidence. War Without Mercy explains that racism, prejudice, and stereotyping is the root of it all.