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108 reviews for:
The 2020 Commission Report on the North Korean Nuclear Attacks Against the United States
Jeffrey Lewis
4.19 AVERAGE
108 reviews for:
The 2020 Commission Report on the North Korean Nuclear Attacks Against the United States
Jeffrey Lewis
4.19 AVERAGE
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This novel, describing a speculative future war between the US, let by the Trump administration, and North Korea is an interesting idea. Facts about NK and its history are included (with references). As for the story itself and as the title suggests, a number of unfortunate coincidences lead to devastating nuclear attacks in March 2020 against South Korea, Japan and the US. I think the beginnings of the hostilities are very realistic. But I am surprised about the authors ideas on the later stages of the war, in particular what the US is (not) going to do. And what about the reactions of China and Russia?
What lets this book down is the author's distaste towards Trump. Yes, I can see Trump acting in a very non-presidential way (including his Twitter feeds at the time when it gets really hot), but I am hopeful that golf will not be on Trump's radar and that he will listen quickly to his advisors if something goes very wrong on the Korean peninsula....
What lets this book down is the author's distaste towards Trump. Yes, I can see Trump acting in a very non-presidential way (including his Twitter feeds at the time when it gets really hot), but I am hopeful that golf will not be on Trump's radar and that he will listen quickly to his advisors if something goes very wrong on the Korean peninsula....
The other day I read a Tom Clancy novel where misguided American policy provokes an Asian nation to attack the US with the goal of ensuring their own national survival. Acknowledging that the book was 23 years old, it was still pretty laughable, because the sheer implausibility of the concept made it hard to swallow the blank-faced seriousness with which the story proceeded.
Not so, here. This book doesn't so much extrapolate currents trends forward to imagine what the future might look like as speculate how things which are happening in the world right now could align differently with catastrophic effect. No part of this account felt at all exaggerated or far-fetched (though I did enjoy a moment where former-president Trump insists that the committee report mention the score of his golf game on the day of the nuclear attack). The events of this book could unfold now, or a year from now, or they could have happened a year ago. As long as there's a mentally-deranged toddler in the White House, the threat remains.
There's one very understated moment in the book that I think is worth amplifying. When the first word of the nuclear attack comes, the president calls for the military attache carrying the nuclear launch codes. The attache, believing the president is planning to order a nuclear strike on both North Korea and China, refuses and removes himself and the nuclear launch capability from the president's hands. In this narrative, that may be the only reason that a nuclear attack doesn't become a fully nuclear World War III. So the question every American should ask is: how confident are you that a career military officer, given an irrational order to launch nuclear weapons, will break with all his training and refuse? How comfortable are you with Donald Trump in the White House, in light of that?
[Edited to add on 1/23/2018]
On a second read, possibly the least believable thing in this entire book is the bit where after learning of a nuclear attack on DC and New York City, Donald Trump's immediate reaction is concern about where his family is (though I note that even in this fictional account, no worries are expressed for either Eric or Donald, Jr.).
Not so, here. This book doesn't so much extrapolate currents trends forward to imagine what the future might look like as speculate how things which are happening in the world right now could align differently with catastrophic effect. No part of this account felt at all exaggerated or far-fetched (though I did enjoy a moment where former-president Trump insists that the committee report mention the score of his golf game on the day of the nuclear attack). The events of this book could unfold now, or a year from now, or they could have happened a year ago. As long as there's a mentally-deranged toddler in the White House, the threat remains.
There's one very understated moment in the book that I think is worth amplifying. When the first word of the nuclear attack comes, the president calls for the military attache carrying the nuclear launch codes. The attache, believing the president is planning to order a nuclear strike on both North Korea and China, refuses and removes himself and the nuclear launch capability from the president's hands. In this narrative, that may be the only reason that a nuclear attack doesn't become a fully nuclear World War III. So the question every American should ask is: how confident are you that a career military officer, given an irrational order to launch nuclear weapons, will break with all his training and refuse? How comfortable are you with Donald Trump in the White House, in light of that?
[Edited to add on 1/23/2018]
On a second read, possibly the least believable thing in this entire book is the bit where after learning of a nuclear attack on DC and New York City, Donald Trump's immediate reaction is concern about where his family is (though I note that even in this fictional account, no worries are expressed for either Eric or Donald, Jr.).
An enjoyable, fast-paced light read with little to offer a reader with specialist knowledge of geopolitics, nuclear strategy or international relations.
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Truly one of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read. I put it right up there with World War Z by Max Brooks, both in terms of making me think and making me fear. The Brooks comparison is useful too, as both books are creative in their presentation (one a series of interviews, this one a governmental report (though I imagine more narrative than a proper one would be)).
The fog of war lies heavy over this book, as does the narrowing of choices. It makes me think of that Aunt Lydia line in the testaments, something to the effect of “I made my choices, and they led me to others”. A simplistic, no shit statement, but when you get to see the effects play out in nuclear war that destroys millions of lives, you see how a narrow range of choices is terrifying.
Makes me want to leave Arlington area.
I’m not discussing the plot very much, because the plot is simple enough (misunderstandings and the like lead to nuclear war). But this is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
Only flaw I’ll point out was the trump statement at the end, which felt like a needless dig. I liked the line in the conclusion, that said “the decisions weren’t great, but don’t politicize it, because everyone would make flawed decisions in the fog”. And then this maga shouting nonsense at the end... just didn’t gel for me. I also would’ve liked to see more about the collapse of DPRK
The fog of war lies heavy over this book, as does the narrowing of choices. It makes me think of that Aunt Lydia line in the testaments, something to the effect of “I made my choices, and they led me to others”. A simplistic, no shit statement, but when you get to see the effects play out in nuclear war that destroys millions of lives, you see how a narrow range of choices is terrifying.
Makes me want to leave Arlington area.
I’m not discussing the plot very much, because the plot is simple enough (misunderstandings and the like lead to nuclear war). But this is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
Only flaw I’ll point out was the trump statement at the end, which felt like a needless dig. I liked the line in the conclusion, that said “the decisions weren’t great, but don’t politicize it, because everyone would make flawed decisions in the fog”. And then this maga shouting nonsense at the end... just didn’t gel for me. I also would’ve liked to see more about the collapse of DPRK
Easy and, at the same time, difficult to read. Feels very real. Decided to read this book after the author gave 40 minutes talk about it. As someone who does not know much about nonproliferation, I feel like, I learned a lot.
Picked it up due to interest in North Korea, and because I like fictional reports on disasters (World War Z comes to mind). I also follow the author on Twitter, where his insights are really fascinating. I finished the book in 2 sittings. Well researched and easy to read over the first 80% of the book. Reading the stories of the people after the attack (many of which are based on real stories from after Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima and Nagasaki) rapidly made the story feel real, and as horrifying as it should.
It was truly frightening how realistic this could become.
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Realistic and exhaustively researched scenario of a limited nuclear war. A little dry - it’s written as a 9/11 report style government document - but fascinating if you’re interested in geopolitics and the threat that nukes post.
My biggest criticism is that sometimes the framing device wears a little thin and it gets more melodramatic, but only on occasion, and also I would have liked a little more aftermath, but these are minor issues.
My biggest criticism is that sometimes the framing device wears a little thin and it gets more melodramatic, but only on occasion, and also I would have liked a little more aftermath, but these are minor issues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War