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.
Learning Tools
Reinforce what you learned from Command and Control
Mind Map
Command and Control
Dawn of the Nuclear Age+
Cold War Arms Race+
Command Systems & Flaws+
Accidents & Vulnerabilities+
The Damascus Incident (1980)+
The Brink of War & De-escalation+
Core Thesis & Modern Threats+
Quiz — Test Your Understanding
Question 1 of 10
What was the purpose of the 'X-Unit' developed by scientist Donald Horning for the first nuclear bomb test?
Question 2 of 10
Following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, how was the oversight of America's nuclear program restructured under the Atomic Energy Act of 1946?
Question 3 of 10
In 1949, how did the United States decide to strategize against a potential Soviet invasion of Europe?
Question 4 of 10
Why were many in the US government and military initially opposed to building more safety features, such as 'one-point safety,' into nuclear bombs?
Question 5 of 10
What was a deeply disturbing characteristic of the Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) developed in the late 1950s?
Question 6 of 10
What was the initial cause of the devastating 1980 accident at the Titan II missile silo in Damascus, Arkansas?
Question 7 of 10
During the Damascus missile silo incident, what ultimate action sparked the explosion of the Titan II missile?
Question 8 of 10
Why did the 1983 NATO drill known as Able Archer 83 bring the world perilously close to nuclear war?
Question 9 of 10
What unexpected event significantly influenced President Ronald Reagan to declare that a 'nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought'?
Question 10 of 10
According to the book's overall message, what is the fundamental flaw in trying to safely control nuclear weapons?
Command and Control — Full Chapter Overview
- 1Recommendation
- 2A nuclear bomb uses high explosives to ignite a catastrophic, massive atomic energy chain reaction.
- 3Following Hiroshima and Nagasaki, control of nuclear weapons shifted to an uneasy mix of civilian and military authorities.
- 4Throughout the Cold War, the arms race escalated, and nuclear weapons became more powerful.
- 5As America’s stockpile expanded, the likelihood of a catastrophic accident rose in tandem.
- 6Accidents were fairly common, and safeguards against unstable military personnel were then minimal.
- 7Accidents persisted through the 1960s and 1970s; B-52 bombers proved particularly hazardous.
- 8Expanded efforts to develop a reliable command-and-control system did not necessarily make matters any safer overall.
- 9On September 18, 1980, a minor error triggered an emergency at a missile silo in Damascus, rural Arkansas.
- 10A sequence of ill-judged decisions culminated in the Titan II missile’s explosion and the tragic death of an American Air Force officer.
- 11Following the Damascus incident, an even deadlier threat emerged during the Reagan administration.
- 12Additional 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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