Red Atom: Russia's Nuclear Power Program from Stalin to Today

by Paul R. Josephson

Looks at the Soviet Union's peaceful use of nuclear power

Genres: History, Russia, Science, Nonfiction, Politics

368 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1999

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does contain a lot of interesting information on nuclear power in Soviet Russia, but it was a pain to get through. I seriously disliked the way the book was organized. It feels like the author was trying to present each item or concept as separate from all the other items presented in the book. Some parts also felt like there was too much information on US programs, followed up with a brief explanation of how the Soviets tried pretty much the same thing. I have read a lot about the American effort to build a nuclear powered airplane. I am reading this book to find out more about the Soviet effort, not get a rehashing of what the Americans did.

The book's chapter on nuclear airplanes and rockets was substantially shorter than the section on food irradiation. I was quite frustrated by this. Overall I was disappointed with the book. I felt it didn't contain very much new or insightful information.

Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars

[David Spanagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly vdetailed, researched account of the institutions, people, politics and science that produced Soviet atomic technologies.