The Doomsday Machine audiobook cover - Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner

The Doomsday Machine

Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner

Daniel Ellsberg

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The Doomsday Machine
Evolution of Strategic Bombing+
Origins of the Nuclear Age+
Flaws in the US Nuclear System+
The True Cost of a Strike+
Near Misses & Reforms+
Dismantling the Doomsday Machine+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
What was the primary goal of 'strategic bombing' when it emerged as a military tactic in the 1930s?
  • A. To destroy enemy military bases and weapons factories exclusively.
  • B. To purposefully target city centers and kill civilians to dismantle the enemy's society and economy.
  • C. To create a psychological deterrent without actually dropping live ordnance.
  • D. To deploy early forms of nuclear weapons on specific geographical choke points.
Question 2 of 9
What was the original motivation for the scientists who developed the atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project?
  • A. They wanted to initiate a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.
  • B. They were ordered by President Roosevelt to retaliate against the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
  • C. They believed it was necessary to develop the weapon as a deterrent before Nazi Germany did.
  • D. They wanted to test the theories of nuclear winter on a global scale.
Question 3 of 9
According to the theory of nuclear deterrence as understood by Ellsberg and his colleagues at RAND, how could a nuclear war with the USSR be prevented?
  • A. By signing international treaties that banned the production of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
  • B. By maintaining a system so thoroughly prepared for nuclear war that the enemy would fear complete destruction if they attacked.
  • C. By sharing all nuclear technology and research openly with the Soviet Union to build trust.
  • D. By dismantling all US nuclear weapons to set a peaceful example for the rest of the world.
Question 4 of 9
What alarming discovery did Ellsberg make regarding the US nuclear command structure's 'two-man system'?
  • A. The system required the President and the Vice President to both be present to launch an attack.
  • B. Officers frequently shared or had access to both launch codes because the system's true priority was launching as quickly as possible.
  • C. The system was completely automated, removing human decision-making from the launch process entirely.
  • D. The system had a built-in delay that would give the enemy time to strike first.
Question 5 of 9
When investigating the claim that only the US President could authorize a nuclear attack, what did Ellsberg find?
  • A. The claim was entirely true; no other individual had the capability to launch a strike.
  • B. Only the Secretary of Defense had been granted secondary authorization in case the President was incapacitated.
  • C. Congress had to vote to approve any nuclear launch, severely slowing down the response time.
  • D. The authority to launch had been delegated far down the chain of command to numerous generals in case of a communications failure.
Question 6 of 9
Which of the following was one of the key improvements Ellsberg suggested for the new national security policy in 1961?
  • A. Implementing a 'STOP' command to allow airborne planes to be recalled.
  • B. Increasing the number of civilian targets to strengthen the deterrence effect.
  • C. Moving all nuclear authority strictly back to the President with no exceptions allowed.
  • D. Launching a preemptive strike on the USSR before they could build more ICBMs.
Question 7 of 9
When Ellsberg reviewed the estimated death toll of a US first-strike scenario, what catastrophic consequence was NOT yet known or accounted for in the 1960s?
  • A. The immediate deaths of civilians in targeted cities.
  • B. The fatalities resulting from a Soviet nuclear retaliation.
  • C. The onset of a 'nuclear winter' caused by firestorms blocking out the sun and causing global famine.
  • D. The destruction of allied nations in Western Europe.
Question 8 of 9
How was a nuclear launch narrowly avoided during the Cuban Missile Crisis regarding a Soviet submarine?
  • A. A direct phone call from President Kennedy convinced the submarine captain to surface.
  • B. The submarine's communication system was jammed by the US Navy, preventing the launch code from being received.
  • C. A single Soviet officer, Vasili Arkhipov, refused to agree to the launch without authorization from Moscow.
  • D. The submarine ran out of fuel and was forced to surrender to the US blockade.
Question 9 of 9
According to the author, what is the most realistic and crucial first step toward eliminating the threat of a doomsday scenario today?
  • A. Destroying every single nuclear weapon in the world immediately.
  • B. Disassembling the rapid-response, high-alert command systems to prevent knee-jerk reactions.
  • C. Transferring the control of all nuclear arsenals to a neutral third-party organization like the UN.
  • D. Developing advanced missile defense shields that can intercept any launched ICBM.

The Doomsday Machine — Full Chapter Overview

The Doomsday Machine Summary & Overview

The Doomsday Machine (2017) follows famed whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg on his journey from learning about nuclear bombs in school to rewriting the national security policy for the United States of America. It explores the use of nuclear systems throughout history and how close we came to ending the human race.

Who Should Listen to The Doomsday Machine?

  • Modern history buffs with a particular interest in wars
  • International relations students
  • People interested in US nuclear strategy

About the Author: Daniel Ellsberg

Daniel Ellsberg is an activist, whistleblower and former US military advisor. In 1971 he released the classified Pentagon Papers to the public, which detailed US efforts during the Vietnam War. He also wrote Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers.

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