Synopsis

Subtitled : A Journey through the Nuclear Age, from the Atom Bomb to Radioactive Waste.

At a moment when a new generation of power stations and weapons are being developed, Fallout is a measured and fascinating exploration of our most misunderstood energy source and asks: what can we learn from our past mistakes, and what role should nuclear play in our future? Hiroshima. Bikini Atoll. Windscale. Chernobyl. Fukushima.

These names no longer denote a place, but a disaster. In a few syllables, they evoke the heights of human ingenuity clashing with the worst of human error. Individually, each place has its own sobering story to tell; together, they form a timeline of the nuclear age. In this compelling and deeply researched book,

Fred Pearce investigates the greatest nuclear incidents and accidents of the past 80 years by visiting their now iconic landscapes. He tours former power stations and abandoned testing sites in the company of scientists and engineers, and in previously toxic wastelands, where radioactive wolves now stalk the streets and genetically-malformed flora blooms, he witnesses the surprising resilience of nature. As well as the physical legacy, Pearce also considers the psychological impact of these disasters.

Amid rumours of state cover-ups, corporate deception, and hushed-up medical epidemics, Pearce weighs the evidence on either side of the argument to disentangle the facts from the fear.

Details

• Format : Standard 2nd Hand Paperback
• Condition : As New
• Category : Non-Fiction - Science & Technology
• Published : 2018 (This Edition 2019 - Granta)
• ISBN : 9781846276262
• SKU : B003298
• PPC : LL300gm
• RRP : £9.99
• Quantity Available : 1 only.

External Reviews

"I have found this book to be a thoroughly educational exploration of the nuclear age. It is written in a clear and lucid way, for the layman to easily understand. However, the contents are rather shocking and unnerving, as they outline the sheer incompetence of those we would rather believe are handling this whole arena responsibly. They are not. As with many aspects of mankind's exploitation of the earth, everything is done for short term gain, without any regard for the very, very long term dire consequences in the future. Will we ever evolve into an intelligent species? It seems not. I will be reading more of Fred's books on other important existential topics, based on my enjoyment of this excellent book."

"This book looks at several nuclear catastrophes and the hype around them. Not everything is as the government or big business would want you to believe." - Amazon Reviews.

"Troubling, surprising & ruthlessly entertaining." - The Economist.

"Read this book as if the future depends on it." - Betsy Hartmann.

The Author

Fred Pearce is an award-winning journalist and author, reporting from 87 countries. He has been the environmental consultant of New Scientist magazine since 1992, a regular broadcaster and contributor to the Guardian, Washington Post and others. He has written fourteen books on environmental and development issues, translated into 24 languages.