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Nuclear War
- A Scenario
- Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen
- Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
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Nuclear War
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
There is only one scenario other than an asteroid strike that could end the world as we know it in a matter of hours: nuclear war. And it could start in as little as 26 minutes and 40 seconds from now…
A pulse-pounding non-fiction thriller for listeners of American Prometheus by Kai Bird or Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham.
The first rule of nuclear war is that there are no rules.
Up to now, no one outside of official circles has known exactly what would happen if a rogue state launched a nuclear missile at the Pentagon. Second by second and minute by minute, these are the real-life protocols that choreograph the end of civilisation as we know it.
If a single nuclear missile is launched, it provokes two dozen in return. Frantic calls over secure lines work to confirm the worst as armoured helicopters are scrambled outside. Decisions over hundreds of millions of lives need to be made within six minutes, based on partial information, knowing that once launched, nothing is capable of halting the destruction.
Because the plans for General Nuclear War are among the most classified secrets held by the United States government, this book takes the listener up to the razor’s edge of what can legally be known. Based on dozens of new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, been privy to the response plans, and been responsible for the decisions that will be made, this is the only account of what a nuclear exchange would look like.
Nuclear War is at once a compulsive non-fiction thriller and a powerful argument that we must rid ourselves of these world-ending weapons for ever.
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What listeners say about Nuclear War
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Hellserch
- 01-04-24
Absolute Clarity
Her earnest vocal delivery and impressive research made it impossible for me to put down. A terrible, sobering encounter with the truth.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- DANIEL T.
- 08-04-24
scary
interesting and eye opening book. sad that there is a real possibility my daughter's generation may not get to see what life has to offer them. I may not get to see her become a women, walk her down the isle abd maybe become a grandad. unfortunately I don't feel that the international war machine will allow nuclear dearmamant. peace in our time, is what we should all hope for.
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- Jim Vaughan
- 22-04-24
Shockingly Realistic and Plausible!
Could the World end in the next 55 minutes? We would probably not know until the first detonations hit us. This well researched book pulls no punches about the devastation caused by a one megaton bomb, and the hair trigger nature of the escalation that would inevitably follow should a rogue state like N.Korea (who already have nuclear capabilities) decide to launch Armageddon with a single ICBM on, for instance, Washington DC.
The research behind the book is impeccable, the scenario frighteningly possible, and the politics contemporary. It is convincingly narrated in real time as the envisioned situation develops. The book draws substantially on the testimonies of the actual decision makers: politicians, military chiefs, scientists, security services and planners most involved with the business of managing the huge arsenals of weapons of “Mutually Assured Destruction”.
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- Dave
- 25-04-24
Well, it seems we’re all doomed.
Amazing, morbid, detailed, dark, realistic, fascinating, and overall great. I’ll be buying more books by Annie for sure but I won’t be listening to this again any time soon!
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- MR STEVEN MARSHALL
- 18-04-24
Terrifying.
This stays with you . Very hard to get it out of your mind. Its had a profound on me . Just watching the sun rise or rain fall is special. This planet , this life is so precious.
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- Melissa
- 26-05-24
Fascinatingly terrifying!
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." (Albert Einstein)
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- Christoph
- 16-06-24
Essential listening / reading
A comprehensive and thoroughly compelling narrative laying bare the devastating folly of nuclear armament. Makes one wonder what it would take for one leader of a current nuclear power to see beyond the borders of nation states and say "no" to the perpetuation of this terrifying absurdity.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Dean Smith
- 18-06-24
An interesting take on nuclear holocaust
A good listen with an interesting perspective on a potential nuclear holocaust.
What slightly let's the story down is the assumption that the Russian military and political systems would not have detected the initial and subsequent launches from the rogue state and so blatantly reject attempts at communications by US officials.
whilst war is good for business, nuclear war certainly is not.
ultimately, there is no place to hide. So gather family and friends, fix a drink, put on some music and wait for the bucket of sunshine!
with regards to the performance, in the beginning, the authors voice can seem quite monotonous and monotone but it becomes better as they relax into it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Dave
- 19-06-24
exceptional
this is a heart pounding listen, the topic is scary and made horrific in the matter of fact delivery.
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- Garrett Byrne
- 22-06-24
Terrifying but essential
This is a very well researched book and it constantly stopped me in my tracks as every part is terrifyingly real and should be read or listened to by everyone. The delivery is excellent and the historical reminders are excellent too and the technical explanations are well thought out and delivered. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it anyone.
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