If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- Did you know that the United States has come within seconds of accidentally detonating a nuclear bomb on its own soil more times than the public was ever told?
- Have you ever wondered how a single dropped tool in a missile silo almost triggered a nuclear catastrophe that would have changed history forever?
- Are you curious about the terrifying "near-misses" and technical glitches that have brought the world to the brink of Armageddon without anyone knowing?
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Key Takeaways from Command and Control
- Understand why the threat of nuclear annihilation didn't end with the Cold War, as rogue states continue to push the risk of escalation to its highest point since 1991.
- Discover the intense scientific breakthroughs of the Manhattan Project, where researchers used precisely timed high explosives to trigger unprecedented fission chain reactions.
- Learn the harrowing details behind the deployment of the first atomic bombs, including a dangerous last-minute rewiring of the 'Fat Man' bomb right next to live explosives.
- Explore the ongoing struggle for nuclear control that began with the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, which forced an uneasy alliance between civilian politicians and military officials.
- Find out how fears of a Soviet invasion prompted the United States to abandon conventional warfare in favor of an 'atomic blitz' strategy, sparking a terrifying nuclear arms race.
Command and Control — Full Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Recommendation
Chapter 2: A nuclear bomb uses high explosives to ignite a catastrophic, massive atomic energy chain reaction.
Chapter 3: Following Hiroshima and Nagasaki, control of nuclear weapons shifted to an uneasy mix of civilian and military authorities.
Chapter 4: Throughout the Cold War, the arms race escalated, and nuclear weapons became more powerful.
Chapter 5: As America’s stockpile expanded, the likelihood of a catastrophic accident rose in tandem.
Chapter 6: Accidents were fairly common, and safeguards against unstable military personnel were then minimal.
Chapter 7: Accidents persisted through the 1960s and 1970s; B-52 bombers proved particularly hazardous.
Chapter 8: Expanded efforts to develop a reliable command-and-control system did not necessarily make matters any safer overall.
Chapter 9: On September 18, 1980, a minor error triggered an emergency at a missile silo in Damascus, rural Arkansas.
Chapter 10: A sequence of ill-judged decisions culminated in the Titan II missile’s explosion and the tragic death of an American Air Force officer.
Chapter 11: Following the Damascus incident, an even deadlier threat emerged during the Reagan administration.
Chapter 12: Additional safety measures were adopted in the 1990s, yet a very real threat still remains today.
Command and Control Summary & Overview
Command and Control (2013) uncovers the disturbing truth behind the troubled and accident-prone US nuclear weapons program. Find out what’s really been going on since World War II, when the first nuclear bomb was invented, and how lucky we are to still be here despite numerous accidents and close calls that could have kicked off Armageddon. If you think the stockpile of nuclear weapons in the United States has always been safely stored under lock and key – think again!
Who Should Listen to Command and Control?
- Readers interested in nuclear threats past and present
- History buffs
- Anti-nuke advocates
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