by Annie Jacobsen, 2004, Kindle Edition, Dutton

This book is actually fairly well done, despite the fact that I hated every minute I spent reading it. The scenario she describes is so awful that reading about it is an awful experience. I have always had a pretty good picture of what the results of a nuclear war would be, and I don’t think the reading of this book was necessary to reinforce that picture.

The author describes some of the strategic thinking that was prevalent in the cold war years (and perhaps still is) that included planning for a first strike capability. I recall seeing the movie Dr. Strangelove, which was a parody of that scenario, but was actually a realistic portrayal of that kind of thinking. Jacobsen isn’t the first one to lament the craziness of the planning that is designed to ultimately eliminate the human race and render our planet uninhabitable for thousands of years.

Jacobsen interviewed numerous scientists and government officials who were involved in the creation and the policies we have in place for the conduct of a nuclear war, so the book is well researched. It’s unfortunate that the experience of reading the book is so awful.