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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Had such high hopes for this one but it was super bad writing. Boring as all could be. The material could have been good and interesting if the writing wasnt. Way too science jargon-y for me also. Low key disappointed this one had boring writing. Did not finish.
"Atoms and Ashes" provides a good overview of the most famous nuclear disasters in world history. Plokhy successfully balances narrative and argument throughout. While each of the six cases can stand on their own, "Atoms and Ashes" highlights common issues - secrecy around nuclear technology, dysfunction relationships between scientists and politicians, and a disregard for communities around nuclear sites, among others - that factored into many of the cases. Though there isn't a lot of new historical evidence here, it is compelling to have all these cases laid out together. The global historical approach to nuclear disasters, in Plokhy's capable hands, highlights transnational debates about the promise of nuclear energy and the challenges of separating "atoms for peace" from atomic weapons in the public consciousness.
Oddly, the biggest shortcoming of the book is the way Plokhy moots much of his argument in the introduction by noting that it is cost, not safety, that is the biggest barrier to widespread nuclear energy use. While this recasts some of the disasters as an unnecessary waste of human life, it also begs the question why a global history of nuclear disasters is necessary when a history of the political economy of nuclear energy may be more relevant to its future.
I found this book to be a useful one stop shop to learn about nuclear disasters in the 20th century. Plokhy's writing and argument are clear, though perhaps not written in a particularly dynamic way. A useful addition to the Cold War historiography and a good starting point for exploration into the history of nuclear energy.
Oddly, the biggest shortcoming of the book is the way Plokhy moots much of his argument in the introduction by noting that it is cost, not safety, that is the biggest barrier to widespread nuclear energy use. While this recasts some of the disasters as an unnecessary waste of human life, it also begs the question why a global history of nuclear disasters is necessary when a history of the political economy of nuclear energy may be more relevant to its future.
I found this book to be a useful one stop shop to learn about nuclear disasters in the 20th century. Plokhy's writing and argument are clear, though perhaps not written in a particularly dynamic way. A useful addition to the Cold War historiography and a good starting point for exploration into the history of nuclear energy.
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25 stars //
I already knew quite a bit about the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters, so I didn’t gain much from those sections but I did learn a lot about Three Mile Island. I wish I knew more about the physics behind nuclear power to understand why certain decisions failed so badly at stopping each incident
I already knew quite a bit about the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters, so I didn’t gain much from those sections but I did learn a lot about Three Mile Island. I wish I knew more about the physics behind nuclear power to understand why certain decisions failed so badly at stopping each incident
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
Interesting book but I don’t think the author had a specific point of view or argument to make
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Six great, descriptive narrative accounts of the most significant accidents of the nuclear age. Understanding of math and physics not required, although if that isn't your wheelhouse, some of the hard data may go over your head (I know it did mine).
informative
slow-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Compelling read. As someone who understands virtually nothing about nuclear energy, Plokhy expertly relates information in a way that is easy to comprehend. Glad to have read it but certainly difficult to get through in terms of subject matter.