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108 reviews for:
The 2020 Commission Report on the North Korean Nuclear Attacks Against the United States
Jeffrey Lewis
4.18 AVERAGE
108 reviews for:
The 2020 Commission Report on the North Korean Nuclear Attacks Against the United States
Jeffrey Lewis
4.18 AVERAGE
This book joined my to-read list earlier in 2018, when it seemed a miscalculation could start a hot war in Korea. The book clearly outlines how it COULD have happened, which is all too plausible (and still possible). It's the second thing I've read which makes clear we must discount people who portray the regime in N. Korea as "crazy" or "suicidal" or "irrational." It is a nation that acts in its own interest and often gains concessions from much more powerful adversaries.
Pluses: Projecting accounts of Hiroshima survivors into the future, to remind us of the real horrors of nuclear war. (Though it is also clear-eyed, reminding us a nuclear war would be a global catastrophe, with famine killing millions, but it would not necessarily be Armageddon).
Minuses: This doesn't quite mimic the dry language of many reports, nor does it quite become absurd humor (though there are moments).
Definitely scary and sobering.
Pluses: Projecting accounts of Hiroshima survivors into the future, to remind us of the real horrors of nuclear war. (Though it is also clear-eyed, reminding us a nuclear war would be a global catastrophe, with famine killing millions, but it would not necessarily be Armageddon).
Minuses: This doesn't quite mimic the dry language of many reports, nor does it quite become absurd humor (though there are moments).
Definitely scary and sobering.
challenging
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
An interesting book which tries to be written from the perspective of a neutral report. It doesn't quite come off like that but any enjoyable read anyway. Maybe could.have spent more time on the impact but a engaging read nonetheless.
Extremely readable and frequently terrifying, especially with almost everything being rooted in fact and linked back to true events. It essentially reads like a thriller with footnotes.
Wasn't so keen on the scenes with Trump as Lewis never really captures his voice quite right, which takes you out of the story at key times. The book doesn't go as much as I'd expected onto the immediate psychological effects of a nuclear attack to the wider country (and world), but I guess that's outside the scope of the form being used.
Good read in general, hard to put down.
Wasn't so keen on the scenes with Trump as Lewis never really captures his voice quite right, which takes you out of the story at key times. The book doesn't go as much as I'd expected onto the immediate psychological effects of a nuclear attack to the wider country (and world), but I guess that's outside the scope of the form being used.
Good read in general, hard to put down.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, War
I said I needed to read lighter books, and then went and got myself a book about a hypothetical nuclear attack on US. Not something most would consider lighter reading...
Overall it was a good read. The author knows what he is talking about, for obvious reasons, so there was an added bonus of tracing the events in the book to the real world. That said, the narrative never felt personal enough. Considering the scale of the events, I think it would have been beneficial to see through the eyes of people on the ground beyond a few lines. I realize this is supposed to be a governmental report, no bias or emotional entanglement, but it never felt detailed enough or distanced enough to be just a governmental report. But this is just general nitpicking and my annoyance at not having more of the book to read.
If you enjoyed World War Z you should enjoy this book.
PS: reading this in 2022 I feel the author was a bit optimistic in his predictions. If he chooses to revisit the topic with updated information in mind I will gladly read the resulting book/series.
Overall it was a good read. The author knows what he is talking about, for obvious reasons, so there was an added bonus of tracing the events in the book to the real world. That said, the narrative never felt personal enough. Considering the scale of the events, I think it would have been beneficial to see through the eyes of people on the ground beyond a few lines. I realize this is supposed to be a governmental report, no bias or emotional entanglement, but it never felt detailed enough or distanced enough to be just a governmental report. But this is just general nitpicking and my annoyance at not having more of the book to read.
If you enjoyed World War Z you should enjoy this book.
PS: reading this in 2022 I feel the author was a bit optimistic in his predictions. If he chooses to revisit the topic with updated information in mind I will gladly read the resulting book/series.
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
challenging
dark
informative
slow-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
dark
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved it! Couldn’t put it down and read it almost in a day.