The Power of Nuclear

by Marco Visscher

From the pilot's seat in the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, to the hole in the ground in Finland intended for entombing highly radioactive waste, this is the incredible story of nuclear power.

Providing a vivid account of the characters and events that have shaped nuclear power and our thinking around it, The Power of Nuclear weaves politics, culture and technology to explore the past and future of nuclear power. Investigating the dawn of the atomic age in the 1940s, it goes on to show how the world came to fear nuclear plants after Chernobyl.

In his quest to disentangle myth from facts, Marco Visscher How dangerous is radioactive radiation? What should you do after a nuclear accident? And have nuclear weapons really made the world less safe? Also considering the potential of the atom to provide unlimited clean energy and free countries of their dependence on both fossil fuels and foreign imports, this book demonstrates how nuclear could mitigate climate change and offer energy security.

This is an informed look at what we might do with nuclear - and what nuclear is doing to us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, Politics, Business, Science Nature, Technology

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

Reviews

[Jess ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a proponent of nuclear power by any means, but I was very curious when I came across this book and was willing to keep an open mind while reading. After reading the prologue, I felt that it was written for skeptics like me.

The Power of Nuclear is well laid out, well-researched, and unbiased in its international overview of the history of nuclear physics, introduction of notable men and women who made it possible, the development of the atomic bomb, and the steps toward and away from using nuclear energy as an alternative for fossil fuels.

Understanding the propaganda surrounding nuclear power was a driving point of the book, and Visscher clearly wrote to be understood by a layman or beginner to the subject. Visscher pulls back the curtain of propaganda, exposing where our modern ideas of nuclear energy have originated from. Visscher sheds light on how the ideas surrounding nuclear energy may have been perverted by bad, misled, or ignorant actors over time.

What really struck me and kept me engaged throughout was that the writing in The Power of Nuclear was surprisingly humorous. The author approaches the bitter ironies of the history of nuclear bombs and energy with a cleverness and biting sarcasm that left me chuckling and added a much-needed levity to a heavy subject.

The author provides an accurate overview of all the modern nuclear energy disasters, namely Chernobyl and Fukushima, and provides backstory of how dangerous (or not) these disasters really were when the damage is assessed through a lens critical of the media at the time and our modern understanding of the aftermath of these disasters.

Visscher lays out a thoughtful and well-presented argument in The Power of Nuclear and has convinced me that the perfect is indeed the enemy of the good when it comes to finding a renewable energy alternative that responds to the climate crisis in an adequate and time-efficient manner.

My sincerest appreciation to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA, and Marco Visscher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fantastic and thoughtful new book about nuclear energy and nuclear power’s place in the twenty-first century and the future, Marco Visscher explores a series of questions of nuclear power and seeks to separate myths and facts about nuclear energy in this intriguing and engaging new release. In understanding what nuclear power has done and what it could do in the future, readers really get some incredible insights into the ways that nuclear power is present in the modern world and how they might interact with it. The different topics and historical events mentioned throughout the book reflect on the history of nuclear power and nuclear physics and the people behind it, from the beneficial to the genocidal and destructive, and Visscher balances the pros and cons of this new system very well throughout this intriguing book. The prose itself is very concise and articulated, and Visscher does a good job in bringing multiple viewpoints and a lot of facts and verified information to life in this book. An excellent book for people working to learn more and educate themselves about nuclear power and alternative energy sources, this is a fascinating, immersive, and thought-provoking read perfect for the modern reader.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA, and Bloomsbury Sigma for the advance copy.

[Joey Deptula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nuclear power has always been portrayed to me as some sort of boogeyman, but this book dispels many inaccuracies and fears thought to exist about the industry specifically about safety. Nuclear energy must be part of our solution to solving the climate crisis and expelling the tropes around nuclear energy will be needed to remove roadblocks that are impairing future development of its usage. This read like a 250-page info pamphlet.

[Danny Gletner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ive always kind of been on the nuclear train, but very interesting to learn more about the social, political, and economic powers which influence nuclear investment and adoption. I enjoyed reading about longitudinal research for radiation exposure, something we didn’t have in such detail at the time of the disasters. This book strengthened my opinion that nuclear power is clean, safe, and definitely worth investing in.

Edited: I may have been too strong worded in my initial review. This is definitely promising technology, but is not without challenges of its own.

[Hunsoo Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling narrative tracing the trajectory of nuclear energy, written by an environmental journalist from the Netherlands who had originally opposed nuclear power. The focus is on how nuclear energy has been influenced by its history and by social trends, financial interests and political choices. The book begins with the history of the splitting of the atom, before progressing to Hiroshima, the disasters of Chernobyl and Fukushima, and ending with the current interest in innovation, such as Finland’s Onkalo nuclear waste repository, molten salt reactors, SMRs, and nuclear fusion. By asking the basic questions such as “how dangerous is radiation anyway?”, “What is nuclear waste and how harmful is it really?” Visscher challenges and thoroughly dismantles myths that have dominated public discussion and led to widespread fear of radiation, disasters and waste. A few teasers;
• There has been no change in physical health data, including cancer, among those in Chernobyl or Fukushima. Studies show the main impact is really mental, with increases in anxiety, depression etc. Much of that, in turn, can be attributed to the aftermath of forced evacuation.
• The nuclear industry is the most regulated in the world, esp re safety. The ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) regulatory framework for radiation levels is not about setting lower legal limits but rather a requirement to improve perpetually. No such regulation exists for coal, oil etc., despite their much more significant track record of accidents and damage. For example, detection systems for radiation leakage are standard but generally not used for sulphur oxides, dioxin, mercury etc.
• Only 5% of nuclear waste (such as iodine-131) actually gives off radiation within a matter of days or even seconds, while highly radioactive particles decay very quickly. In addition, in contrast to solar, for example, waste is compact in size. Note that radioactivity in waste decays unlike chemicals, heavy metals, and certain types of plastics.
• Nuclear waste can be recycled when a fast breeder reactor is used. The technology has existed since the 50s but the anti-nuclear movement, cheap uranium pricing, excess regulation re new reactor designs etc, all have led to a lack of development. By one estimate, the existing stockpiles of nuclear waste in Europe are enough to provide zero-carbon electricity for the whole continent for 600 years.
Nuclear power has faced a lot of criticism based on myth and dogma. In 2019, Greenpeace actually said, “Sabotaging nuclear is a vital part of any successful attempt to combat climate change”. But nuclear has both the advantages of fossil fuels (constant, reliable) without the disadvantages (pollution, scarcity) and the advantages of renewables (clean, low-carbon) without the disadvantages (weather dependence, land use). It’s high time for policy to stop being dominated by those who do not value science and/or technical expertise. While I would have appreciated the book even more if it had provided overviews of the uranium mining & global nuclear power equipment industry, updates on what is. happening in China etc, that was not its aim. Recommended.

[Emma Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful primer for those interested to educate and inform themselves on nuclear physics, the development of nuclear weapons, the parallel development and challenges that nuclear power has experienced and the opportunity for it to play a role in a future decarbonised energy future.
I highly recommend it for those looking to educate themselves on the above topics, which sit alongside wider themes of environmentalism, climate change change and philosophies of where we are heading as a species and whether we can marry growth and opportunity for all without exacerbating the climate emergency in which we find ourselves.

[Kasen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focused on the evolution of public sentiment towards nuclear energy, and presented hypotheses and for how it shifted and evidence against or for mainstream perspectives. Takeaways:
1. Nuclear presents a win for all political groups
2. Opposition is driven by monetary interests into fossil fuel industry, or calls for a greater societal "repentance" rather than a "technofix" to climate change
3. Deaths and dangers attributed to nuclear meltdowns are overstated; the Fukushima meltdown resulted in 0 deaths but a majority of the news coverage, but the tsunami which caused the meltdown caused 10,000+ deaths and a minority of the news coverage.

[Michael G. Zink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thought-provoking book that examines - and challenges - many of the widely held concerns and fears around nuclear energy and nuclear power plants. The author has changed his views over time and now is a proponent of nuclear energy. He places nuclear energy’s current contribution to energy generation and its untapped potential within the context of all energy options, from renewables to fossil fuels. He also provides a helpful historical summary of the development of nuclear power, and the inevitable link to concerns around the destructive nature of nuclear weapons.

[Paul Weder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book makes a very good argument for nuclear energy and dispels a lot of the most common myths about it while accounting for the political history of the entire thing. This combination makes the book a good read if you are interested in the political history and contemporary state of nuclear energy. I just wished the book had been geared towards the economic aspect of nuclear, as although the book validly states that the emotional arguments are often the reason for the removal of nuclear, it uses this to dismiss the strongest argument against it, this being its cost.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly informative book.
At first I wished the book to be a little more technical, but towards the end of the book, I'd come to understand that many of those 'against' nuclear are not so much interested in the technical, but the emotional - and rightly so, given the years of propagandizing.

I found it an illuminating view into the history of nuclear, and has given me a new-found perspective into this slice of the world.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Its strongest point is that Visscher looks at both sides of the nuclear power discussion and criticizes the extremes on both. The book tells a great story using clear language and good explanations. The tone is conversational and the book is very readable, with fluid writing. There was even some humor. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Sigma for the advance reader copy.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I confess I read through to about 50% in the Kindle version and then loss interest due to incipient repetition and dullness from a background of drumbeat from the Nuclear Energy lobby. Not that I necessarily disagree with the author's researches and conclusions, but I get the picture and need to move on in my life ...

[Larry Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real revelation! I highly recommend it. Despite what the current U.S. administration believes climate change is an enormous threat. Nuclear energy is a vital part of the solution. The author does an exceptional job of reviewing the history of fear of nuclear power and the counter intuitive financial motivations behind restricting its development.

[Brad Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest and authoritative book! The author has done meticulous research to make his case. I’ve gone from worry about nuclear power to wondering how I could a naively support natural gas power. If you are worried about nuclear, read this book and learn to appreciate the importance of quickly moving to nuclear for our energy requirements.

[Blake Dishotel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the best nonfiction book of 2025. There's a lot of information here; every chapter is engaging. I really wish more non-fiction writers would take this writing style that Marco did. Ten out of ten.

[Eva B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucid examination of why people fear nuclear power and why they are wrong, written by a man who through much research changed from opposing nuclear power to advocating a greatly increased role for nuclear in power production.

[Rebecca Shively · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been a big proponent of nuclear power. I lived near a “nuke plant” as my father who worked there called it, for most of my life. It doesn’t cause any issues and has withstood two almost direct hits from hurricanes. Viva la nuke plant!

[Wallace McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review of the history of Nuclear power and it's ups and downs. It does have a place in our overall energy needs. Good reference for the past and how it will play in the future.

[Brian Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will they ever learn?

Very well written. All good considerations. Most folks won’t read this book, but if they did? Let it be so.

[Verminicious Knid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerhouse book