Uranium Wars: The Scientific Rivalry That Created the Nuclear Age

by Amir D. Aczel

Book Overview

Uranium, a nondescript element when found in nature, in the past century has become more sought after than gold. Its nucleus is so heavy that it is highly unstable and radioactive. If broken apart, it unleashes the tremendous power within the atom--the most controversial type of energy ever discovered. Set against the darkening shadow of World War II, Amir D. Aczel's suspenseful account tells the story of the fierce competition among the day's top...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0230613748
• ISBN13: 9780230613744
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Science and war comes from scientists and warriors

The atomic bomb, and the doctrine of "mutually assured destruction", has cast its dark shadow over the foreign policy of the second half of the twentieth century, and, sadly, continues into the present century. What this book does is tell the story of the element that made it possible. The author does this by exploring the lives and careers of the men and women, from many different countries of Europe and the US, who had a hand in turning this element into something that can both bring great benefit and great destruction to mankind. I've read a number of Amir Aczel's books, and what I enjoy about them the most is how he tells a scientific story by telling us about what motivates the people who are involved in doing that science. Why does Enrico Fermi decide to come to the US when he does? What events cause Lise Meitner to fail to get the recognition that she deserves for her discoveries. Why does Heisenberg stay in Germany and why does that country fail to produce an atomic bomb during the Second World War? The book also explores the decision of the Truman administration to deploy the two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Citing recently declassified documents Aczel takes a new look at the justifications that we have heard for decades. How would the Japanese war have ended had the bombs not been used? Could the four decades of cold war have been avoided? Give this book a read and form your own opinion.