Eric Schlosser has written a book which should be read by everybody. He avoids the twin traps of falling into anti-nuclear polemicism or of writing military techno porn and the resulting impeccable balance and avoidance of sharpening axes magnifies the books impact. The book is not a history of nuclear weapons development, not a history of nuclear strategy nor of the political issues attached to nuclear weapons although clearly the book does provide much back ground on these comments. The book is primarily a book about the safety of nuclear weapons, the command and control system for US nuclear weapons and a detailed narrative of the disaster which destroyed a Titan II missile at site 374-7 near Damascus, Arkansas in 1980.
The book alternates between the tragedy at site 374-7 and a more or less chronological history of US nuclear weapons safety and command and control. The author has clearly done a huge amount of research both into the specifics of what happened at site 374-7 and the US nuclear weapons program, including extensive interviews with key individuals as well as researching archives, papers, reports and secondary sources. If this is a story with numerous heroes, particularly the men who struggled valiantly to avoid a disaster at site 374-7 and who maintained and stood ready to launch nuclear weapons it is perhaps surprisingly a story with few villains. Curtis LeMay is still a figure of derision and hate to many yet the picture which emerges in Schlosser's book is more nuanced and not unsympathetic. He appears as a tough and uncompromising commander yet one who was certainly no war monger and who had a real sense of care towards his men and who was in many ways a progressive character. And his personal courage is undeniable, Schlosser allows readers to draw their own conclusions after commenting on a man who had flown numerous bombing missions over Germany being assailed by cries of "sieg heil" in 1968. The book examines the nuclear policies of several Presidents including Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter and Reagan as well as men like McNamara. In each case whilst the flaws are recognised the author is far from unsympathetic and presents a balanced picture. And clearly the book tells the stories of many technical, military and scientific specialists. The overwhelming impression is one of decent men struggling to manage a cold war confrontation and walking a tight rope between nuclear armageddon and surrender to Soviet diplomatic/military manouevring.
The book recounts numerous nuclear accidents, the events at site 374-7 are told in great detail whereas other incidents are summarised. The sheer number of these accidents is really rather terrifying. The book highlights the beaurocratic inertia and in-fighting which hampered efforts to improve the safety of nuclear weapons yet also at the end recognises that no accidental or unintended detonation of a US nuclear war head ever took place despite numerous major incidents and a multitude of vulnerabilities.
Those looking for a hatchet job on the US military and policy will be very disappointed. Equally those looking for a celebration of nuclear deterrence will be equally disappointed. Those looking for a very balanced, non-sensationalist and well researched examination of nuclear weapons safety will find this to be a truly outstanding work. The book is very well written and never feels laboured or dry. Very highly recommended, 5*.
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in this set of products- The Secret State: Preparing For The Worst 1945 - 2010Paperback£4.15 deliveryOnly 10 left in stock (more on the way).
Control Is Just An Illusion
I bought this book used and as you can see from the photo the issue is that the cover is a little faded, apart from that the rest of the book looks and feels brand new. A great investigated journalist, this is the second book I have bought from the author Eric Schlosser. If you don't want to know a terrible truth about the world we live in and how poorly important infrastructures and industrial accidents are managed, secured and then covered up then don't buy from this author, he shines a light on something the whole world takes for granted from our leaders and the people they put in place in regards to top level national security and a total respect of the lives of their citizans and their safeguard to prevent all catastrophic destruction at all costs. This as Eric Schlosser proves is all just an illusion and that the reality is horribly terrifying. A great work of out and something that should be taught in schools.
Top reviews from other countries
- KevinReviewed in the United States on 21 July 2016
Chilling. Technical and Dark but NEVER boring. Stories that must be told of men who kept us safe while trying not to kill us all
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Stefano F.Reviewed in Italy on 7 February 2016
Un resoconto dettagliato ed avvincente sullo sviluppo degli armamenti nucleari statunitensi
