Nuclear Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know®

by Charles D. Ferguson

Originally perceived as a cheap and plentiful source of power, the commercial use of nuclear energy has been controversial for decades. Worries about the dangers that nuclear plants and their radioactive waste posed to nearby communities grew over time, and plant construction in the United States virtually died after the early 1980s. The 1986 disaster at Chernobyl only reinforced nuclear power's negative image. Yet in the decade prior to the Japanese nuclear crisis of 2011, sentiment about nuclear power underwent a marked change. The alarming acceleration of global warming due to the burning of fossil fuels and concern about dependence on foreign fuel has led policymakers, climate scientists, and energy experts to look once again at nuclear power as a source of energy.

In this accessible overview, Charles D. Ferguson provides an authoritative account of the key facts about nuclear energy. What is the origin of nuclear energy? What countries use commercial nuclear power, and how much electricity do they obtain from it? How can future nuclear power plants be made safer? What can countries do to protect their nuclear facilities from military attacks? How hazardous is radioactive waste? Is nuclear energy a renewable energy source? Featuring a discussion of the recent nuclear crisis in Japan and its ramifications, Ferguson addresses these questions and more in Nuclear What Everyone Needs to Know ®, a book that is essential for anyone looking to learn more about this important issue.

What Everyone Needs to Know ® is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Academic

222 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2011

Reviews

[Frank Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A near-perfect primer on the main issues surrounding nuclear energy, in the US and across the world. The book explains everything from the nuclear fuel cycle (mining, milling, enrichment, operating and either removal or reprocessing) to issues around climate change and weapons proliferation. Like other parts of this series, it gives everything a casual but interested observer lacks but might want.

The book grounds its analysis with a 50 page overview on the science and history of nuclear power. Most importantly, it explains the different kinds of reactors that provide about 15% of the world's energy (and 20% of the US's). Due to the importance of Hyman Rickover's nuclear naval program in the US, most of our reactors are based on an either "pressurized water reactor" (2/3s of the US's 104 reactors) or "Boiling water reactor" (1/3), with the first having a separation between the moderator water (which reduces neutron activity in the core) and a second water loop that turns the turbines, while the latter just has a single water system. The US also focuses on "light water reactors," which constitute 80% of the global total, while Canada's "heavy water" CANDU reactors power that country's as well as South Korea's and few others. From 1976 to 2005, the US banned "reprocessing" or taking the highly enriched uranium and plutonium from existing plants and using them in "fast reactors," which need such highly fissile material but which therefore don't require moderators. The US stopped using them partially because of the high cost and low benefits in terms of waste reduction, but also because the creating plutonium is easier to proliferate, although France, UK, Russia, Brazil, and Japan all keep running them.

The book explains the long ramifications of the Gilpatric Committee, convened in the Department of Defense in the wake of China's nuclear explosion in 1964, which recommended dealing with the proliferation threat, and which lead to the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970. It now has 188 members, all but five non-nuclear weapon states. The Treaty empowered the International Atomic Energy Agency, created in 1957, to demand "comprehensive safety agreements" with countries acquiring peaceful nuclear power, and those powers were expanded after the revelations of Iraq's nuclear program in 1991 to include "additional protocols." The Nuclear Suppliers Group, formed from the Zanger Committee after India's 1974 nuclear test, organized most nuclear industry producing countries to enforce the treaty and only export to treaty-abiding countries.

This book provides most of what an informed reader would want to know about nuclear energy in the world today. Without belaboring the point, it shows that the promise of nuclear energy should still be alive, and that irrational fears and bad policies have prevented us from achieving that promise.

[Shawn M. Connors · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've done a lot of reading about nuclear energy over the last couple years, it physics, history, current events, and what the future holds for it. I'd recommend this book as a fantastic first or early book to read about the subject. I was especially impressed at how objective the author was. I was surprised to see another viewer felt it was a good antinuclear read. But I am very pronuclear and didn't think that at all. I felt the author gave accurate facts. The book is a little bit dated now. It was published in 2012, shortly after the Fukushima Daiici accident in Japan. There was some information about that accident in the book. I believe the author reported accurately, but now we know the reports of widespread radiation contamination were over blown. The damage is isolated to the footprint of where the two reactors melted down. Read this book whether you're pro or con on nuclear energy. Either way, you'll know a lot more about the subject matter. It's an interesting, fun read too. I highly recommend this book.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for the topic I know nothing about this stuff so it was very useful was expecting more about what goes on and interesting bits are glossed over but enjoy it none the less

[Sasha]

Countries fighting with nuclear weaponry like bombs is quite extreme and can be very interesting. Charles D. Ferguson's book, "Nuclear energy: what everyone needs to know," is a non fiction book that talks about what nuclear energy is and most of its uses. The in depth explanations and the stories used for explaining the different uses for nuclear energy in the past allows the reader to learn the material while still enjoying the story. When Charles uses things like wars being fought using nuclear weaponry, it informs and ingages readers. During the stories, the information about the advancements in nuclear weaponry used by the different people/countries for different purposes makes readers feel different emotions but keeps them on their feet throughout the book. Explaining the effects of nuclear weapons makes readers feel sorry for those who were harmed but then creates a sense of understanding that makes readers see the reasons why things were done and see other helpful uses of nuclear energy. Authors like Charles know how realistic descriptions can be interesting, informing, and can make things come to life. Describing like Charles did gives readers the information needed and makes readers feel in the scene during some parts. This book is very informational and would be a really great option for people of all ages that are curious about nuclear energy.

[Matt Heavner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really well collected overview of everything, at a general level, about nuclear energy in one place - from working concepts to safety and non-proliferation issues. This is a good introduction, overview, and quick reference.

[Aaron Otterstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the surface of all the main facets of nuclear energy. It’s a good book to read to begin to understand the topic however the conclusion of the book is arguably wrong. Although nuclear energy is not renewable under the definition provided, the supply of nuclear fuel, especially if we adapt Thorium fuel practically is. The other main topic not covered in the book is that reactors can be used for hydrogen fuel production as well as coupled with a desalination plant to produce clean water. The author correctly states that nuclear is the bridge energy source to a more sustainable energy source but that source will be fusion reactors not wind or solar. I would recommend that anyone who wants to read more check out ‘beyond fossil fools’ to find out why that is the case. Wind and solar is useful but it will never be a base load energy source. We need to stop viewing it as such.

The factual information in the book is well put together and I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end. Again I simply believe that the ending is not well researched or thought out or developed. The reader is left thinking wind and solar are the best options ultimately and that just is not the case. If this is the first bit of information you are reading about nuclear energy, you will need to read more to get the full
Picture.

[Matthew Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

With global warming becoming an increasing problem daily, this book takes a look into nuclear energy, which is a greener form of energy, and the risks that come with it. Nuclear Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know by Charles D. Ferguson, is a very wordy book, that informs the reader with great detail, everything one would need to know, about nuclear power. This book includes topics that may interest the most basic of readers, including topics about nuclear bombs, nuclear disasters, and how nuclear reactors function. Charles goes into great depth in this book, especially when he talks about how the reactors work, through pictures and such. The author structures this book in such a way that is goes with the more basic things at the beginning like reactors, to more complex things such as nuclear proliferation. This book is very informative, especially when it talks about specific meltdowns that may occur in nuclear power plants. People who are looking for a really informative book about nuclear reactors and/or weaponry, would really enjoy this book however, people looking for more of a easier read might have a hard time with this book.

[Michael Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book to better understand the technical details of nuclear power. It provides a good basic understanding of nuclear fission, fuel cycles as well as the benefits and risks of nuclear power. The book als contains parts on global warming and sustainable energy systems. Those I found less than optimal. They do not fit well into the rest of the otherwise well structured book and needed to be more detailed to provide a good understandig of those issues. I would recommend the book to everyone who wants to learn the basics of nuclear power.

[Kristinn Hróbjartsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough and detailed overview

The author provides a thorough overview of the nuclear power industry, the science behind it, possibility for society, as well as criticism, threats, and political debates around it.

Set forth in a matter-of-fact written text, by answering questions on the topic. A bit dry and encyclopedia-like at times. Recommended for those interested in the topic.

[Sudheer Reddy Tenali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Introduction to Nuclear Energy

The author provided comprehensive understanding of Nuclear Energy and related issues. He covered the topics of public debate such as energy security, nuclear proliferation, physical security aspects, renewal energy on nuclear energy without any bias.

[Boobyj Gard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book to understand the basis of nuclear. Cover a wide range of topics from everything in muclear in General. Skipped few parts since that wasn’t what I was looking for but the parts I read that was more than better. Very well explained. Used. Chatgpt to translate and redo in simple terms in some parts but very great

[Peter S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry and thorough. Have no idea of what he is saying is true. I don’t know enough about nuclear to confirm or deny his claims.

Overall it reads like a textbook. Like any elementary textbook, it is a good primer on the subject it seeks to cover: nuclear power, especially the first 40 pages or so.

[Gado · Rating 1 out of 5]

good book

[John Crippen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good primer, which should serve as a good reference. I was particularly happy to see the fully expanded level of detail in the Table of Contents, so I did not have to annotate it while reading!

[Stephen Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straightforward book about nuclear energy.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this book does what it sets out to do and that's the most important thing this particular style of nonfiction can do.

[Samuel Gaeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that addressed FAQs about nuclear energy. Some sections were too technical or dull for me to be super into, but it gave a good overview of the nuclear industry.

[Luis Espinoza · Rating 1 out of 5]

It´s a rather straightforward book with punctual questions and relatively short answers (3 pages max per question). I was interested in the fundamental aspect of the energy generation and its relevance regarding climate change (that´s like 25% of the book) but the theory behind nuclear energy is presented in a simple and not very engaging manner, and regarding Climate Change it didn´t presented much data (although it did provide relevant facts). I´m aware that the point of the book is to give a general presentation of Nuclear Energy as a whole, and when it comes to that the book does meet the objective, but the writing isn’t very engaging and I don´t think it really makes a compelling case for Nuclear Energy for someone at least mildly informed about the subject.

[Jurij Fedorov · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best antinuclear book I have read so far. A lot of useful information but the title is misleading. It's about nuclear safety not nuclear power.

Pro:
A lot of useful information in some easy to read text. It's a pleasure to read and only 200 pages gold.

Con:
The title is misleading and it's too much antinuclear for my taste as it seldom mentions the good things in nuclear power. There are no academic style sources in the book. And even the numbers seems taken out of the thin blue air. Still a great read but not the best or most useful book on nuclear power.

[Tue Le · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat little book about an important topic of our time. Unfortunately, the writing can be a bit dry and repetitive at times. I really enjoyed the discussions of Generation IV reactors and a possible nuclear renaissance. Perhaps this book could be updated some time during the 2030s. Today, there is already a resurgence of interest in next-generation nuclear reactors to deal with energy shortages and, of course, climate change.

[Gwendoline Dct · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy read