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Toxic: A A History of Nerve Agents, From Nazi Germany to Putin's Russia
Nerve agents are the world's deadliest means of chemical warfare. Nazi Germany developed the first military-grade nerve agents and massive industry for their manufacture - yet, strangely, the Third Reich never used them. At the end of the Second World War, the Allies were stunned to discover this advanced and extensive programme. The Soviets and Western powers embarked on a new arms race, amassing huge chemical arsenals.
From their Nazi invention to the 2018 Novichok attack in Britain, Dan Kaszeta uncovers nerve agents' gradual spread across the world, despite international arms control efforts. They've been deployed in the Iran-Iraq War, by terrorists in Japan, in the Syrian Civil War, and by assassins in Malaysia and Salisbury - always with bitter consequences.
Toxic recounts the grisly history of these weapons of mass a deadly suite of invisible, odourless killers.
From their Nazi invention to the 2018 Novichok attack in Britain, Dan Kaszeta uncovers nerve agents' gradual spread across the world, despite international arms control efforts. They've been deployed in the Iran-Iraq War, by terrorists in Japan, in the Syrian Civil War, and by assassins in Malaysia and Salisbury - always with bitter consequences.
Toxic recounts the grisly history of these weapons of mass a deadly suite of invisible, odourless killers.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 29, 2020
Nerve agents (often incorrectly called “nerve gases”) are unpopular. They are seen as rightly being banned in international law, with only rogue states or organisations making or using them, but it’s never been clear to me why they are so hated compared to, say, explosive bombs and shells. In this excellent book, Dan Kaszeta, one of the world’s experts on the subject, provides a readable, fascinating and well-researched account of their history and use. He also explains why such agents are not as fearsome as their reputation.
This book is, as its title says, a history book. It starts in the 1930s, rightly devotes considerable space to the huge efforts by Nazi Germany to synthesise and test nerve agents, and ends with the use of nerve agents for targeted assassinations in recent years, including by North Korea and Russia to eliminate their perceived opponents. The book is well written, and a page-turner, complete with some interesting characters, ranging from really dodgy individuals to heroes, such as Edmund Tilley, who extracted much valuable information from captured Nazi scientists and technicians. The reader will want to know what happened next, and what happened to a particular individual or group of individuals. At times, it is a spy thriller in Le Carre style, as Kaszeta explains how he, or others, dug out particular pieces of information, which were not intended to see the light of day. But at the same time, it is a scholarly text, with references to sources the author consulted. The chemistry is described in broad terms, but nowhere near enough to show a qualified chemist (such as me) how to synthesise a nerve agent. As it happens, for my PhD, I synthesised compounds related to nerve agents for Porton Down. This taught me that nerve agent chemistry is horrendously expensive and complicated, and requires special equipment and facilities. This is a feature that the author hammers home time and again.
So why haven’t these nerve agents been used more in war? The author argues this is due to the worry that the other side has the same or better capabilities. For this reason, and because of the unreliability of nerve agents thanks to variations in persistence and toxicity caused by rain, temperature and other environmental factors (all described in detail in the book), they have been mostly used to target civilians in, for example, Syria.
I have just one minor quibble about the book. The author makes extensive use of the code names for particular agents, projects or organisations, and a glossary of those acronyms and code names as an appendix would have helped the flow for the reader.
The book is supported by a bibliography and a useful index. Unreservedly recommended for anyone with an interest in the subject.
This book is, as its title says, a history book. It starts in the 1930s, rightly devotes considerable space to the huge efforts by Nazi Germany to synthesise and test nerve agents, and ends with the use of nerve agents for targeted assassinations in recent years, including by North Korea and Russia to eliminate their perceived opponents. The book is well written, and a page-turner, complete with some interesting characters, ranging from really dodgy individuals to heroes, such as Edmund Tilley, who extracted much valuable information from captured Nazi scientists and technicians. The reader will want to know what happened next, and what happened to a particular individual or group of individuals. At times, it is a spy thriller in Le Carre style, as Kaszeta explains how he, or others, dug out particular pieces of information, which were not intended to see the light of day. But at the same time, it is a scholarly text, with references to sources the author consulted. The chemistry is described in broad terms, but nowhere near enough to show a qualified chemist (such as me) how to synthesise a nerve agent. As it happens, for my PhD, I synthesised compounds related to nerve agents for Porton Down. This taught me that nerve agent chemistry is horrendously expensive and complicated, and requires special equipment and facilities. This is a feature that the author hammers home time and again.
So why haven’t these nerve agents been used more in war? The author argues this is due to the worry that the other side has the same or better capabilities. For this reason, and because of the unreliability of nerve agents thanks to variations in persistence and toxicity caused by rain, temperature and other environmental factors (all described in detail in the book), they have been mostly used to target civilians in, for example, Syria.
I have just one minor quibble about the book. The author makes extensive use of the code names for particular agents, projects or organisations, and a glossary of those acronyms and code names as an appendix would have helped the flow for the reader.
The book is supported by a bibliography and a useful index. Unreservedly recommended for anyone with an interest in the subject.
April 3, 2021
Ако по някаква странна причина искате да научите историята на бойните отровни вещества, действащи върху нервната система, това е точната книга.
Табун, зарин и зоман са открити от германски химици. По време на Втората световна война започва тяхното масово производство, което е свързано с огромни технологични и логистични трудности. В крайна сметка те не са използвани до края на войната и се оказват огромно разхищение на време и ресурси. Изброените бойни отровни вещества действат чрез деактивиране на холинестеразата - ензим, който разгражда невромедиатора ацетилхолин. Натрупването на неразграден ацетилхолин води до характерни симптоми - точковидни зеници, сълзене, хрема. Антидот има (атропин), но твърде често отравянето остава неразпознато докато не стане късно и необратимо.
По време на Студената война разработването на невротропни бойни отровни вещества продължава. САЩ и СССР са в неспирно състезание за технологично превъзходство, като всяка от страните смята, че изостава. Произвеждат се тонове бойни отровни вещества, чието съхранение и последващо унищожаване струва милиони долари и създава рискове за околната среда.
Единствената война, в която бойните отровни вещества оказват някакво съществено влияние е ирано-иракската война (1980-1988). По-известни са случаите, в които невротропни агенти се използват за тероризъм и атентати на конкретни личности. През 1995 г. членове на японската секта Аум Шинрикьо използват зарин за координирани атаки в токийското метро. Невинните жертви са тринадесет, а хиляди търпят различни по тежест поражения. През 2018 г. британският шпионин Сергей Скрипал и дъщеря му Юлия са отровени с Новичок. Изпадат в критично състояние, но оцеляват макар и да не се възстановяват напълно.
На моменти книгата изпада в дълбоки технически детайли и очаква от читателите си ниво на експертиза, което едва ли имат. От друга страна ни напомня, че в момента светът е едно по-добро място без химически оръжия.
Табун, зарин и зоман са открити от германски химици. По време на Втората световна война започва тяхното масово производство, което е свързано с огромни технологични и логистични трудности. В крайна сметка те не са използвани до края на войната и се оказват огромно разхищение на време и ресурси. Изброените бойни отровни вещества действат чрез деактивиране на холинестеразата - ензим, който разгражда невромедиатора ацетилхолин. Натрупването на неразграден ацетилхолин води до характерни симптоми - точковидни зеници, сълзене, хрема. Антидот има (атропин), но твърде често отравянето остава неразпознато докато не стане късно и необратимо.
По време на Студената война разработването на невротропни бойни отровни вещества продължава. САЩ и СССР са в неспирно състезание за технологично превъзходство, като всяка от страните смята, че изостава. Произвеждат се тонове бойни отровни вещества, чието съхранение и последващо унищожаване струва милиони долари и създава рискове за околната среда.
Единствената война, в която бойните отровни вещества оказват някакво съществено влияние е ирано-иракската война (1980-1988). По-известни са случаите, в които невротропни агенти се използват за тероризъм и атентати на конкретни личности. През 1995 г. членове на японската секта Аум Шинрикьо използват зарин за координирани атаки в токийското метро. Невинните жертви са тринадесет, а хиляди търпят различни по тежест поражения. През 2018 г. британският шпионин Сергей Скрипал и дъщеря му Юлия са отровени с Новичок. Изпадат в критично състояние, но оцеляват макар и да не се възстановяват напълно.
На моменти книгата изпада в дълбоки технически детайли и очаква от читателите си ниво на експертиза, което едва ли имат. От друга страна ни напомня, че в момента светът е едно по-добро място без химически оръжия.
March 30, 2022
Horrifying but timely subject. I learned a lot even though I don't know much about chemistry.
April 29, 2022
The book contains exactly what the title says. It is a detailed history of the development of nerve agents beginning with Nazi Germany to their transfer to the American and British militaries and to the Red Army and then on to the Russian military, and even continuing there after their signing of the Chemical Weapon Convention. The bulk of the book is about the cost and difficulty of the initial development in Germany. (German has always been very good at turning out skilled chemists, especially organic chemists.) The chemists, chemical engineers, financiers and corporations are named. At the end of the war when the Allies discovered the works, the Americans, Brits, and Soviets worked to get as much of this war booty as they could for themselves, and again there are attributions. It also goes into the use by Iraq against Iran and against Iraq's own civilian population. There is a significant portion that focuses on the development by non-governmental groups such as the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo. There is good description of the group and its structure, and what it did in the two attacks it committed. The author goes into good detail of the use by Russian secret services against civilians in England, and the victims who were affected "accidentally".
What the book does not do is go deeply into the science. The author says this is for security, and while that is a very good reason to not reveal chemical or chemical engineering processes, the author must be aware that these are available. A bit of discussion of the physiology of organophosphates would have been useful for the more technically minded. The author does include many mentions of the symptoms of nerve agent poisoning, and while this is good it would have been better if there had been a chapter dedicated instead of small mentions scattered throughout the book.
The author is a former army chemical weapons officer, so there is discussion on the use of these agents in warfare, and some discussion of the training for defense against these agents. There is some mention of the antidote atropine, but no mention of what the antidote is or how it works physiologically.
Overall the book is good and worth reading for anybody interested in the subject. But it is about three-quarters of what it ought to be by having left out some of the technical, chemical, and physiological discussions that anybody interested in this subject is likely to have.
What the book does not do is go deeply into the science. The author says this is for security, and while that is a very good reason to not reveal chemical or chemical engineering processes, the author must be aware that these are available. A bit of discussion of the physiology of organophosphates would have been useful for the more technically minded. The author does include many mentions of the symptoms of nerve agent poisoning, and while this is good it would have been better if there had been a chapter dedicated instead of small mentions scattered throughout the book.
The author is a former army chemical weapons officer, so there is discussion on the use of these agents in warfare, and some discussion of the training for defense against these agents. There is some mention of the antidote atropine, but no mention of what the antidote is or how it works physiologically.
Overall the book is good and worth reading for anybody interested in the subject. But it is about three-quarters of what it ought to be by having left out some of the technical, chemical, and physiological discussions that anybody interested in this subject is likely to have.
July 20, 2022
From the very early pages of this incredible history, the reader is drawn into the unbelievably true story detailing the development and proliferation of nerve agents in military weapons programs. From the early days in Nazi factories to the cold war arms race to terrorists groups and the surprisingly dark horse nations, this story takes you down a path that is so incredible it is hard to believe it is nonfiction. The people, place, dates, motivations… it’s all here.
As I near the end of my own professional military career, in which I’ve donned chemical protective gear more times than I care to count (both in training and in theater operations), I wish I had read this book years ago! It gives a perspective and relevancy that I had been missing until now!!
Absolutely fantastic work! It should be recommended reading for all deployable military officers.
As I near the end of my own professional military career, in which I’ve donned chemical protective gear more times than I care to count (both in training and in theater operations), I wish I had read this book years ago! It gives a perspective and relevancy that I had been missing until now!!
Absolutely fantastic work! It should be recommended reading for all deployable military officers.
April 16, 2021
Despite having some rich material to work with here, the story told in Toxic fell flat for me.
Author Dan Kaszeta is the managing director of Strongpoint Security Ltd, and lives and works in London, UK. He has published two books and numerous articles in a variety of publications. Kaszeta also works with the agency Bellingcat.
Dan Kaszeta:
Toxic begins with the genesis of chemical weapons. Kaszeta says the Germans were the first to pursue this technology for military applications. A few nerve gas agents were developed. Kaszeta writes extensively about German scientist Otto Ambros, who was instrumental in this research.
Adolph Hitler's Third Reich made great efforts to research and develop chemical weapons. However, for a variety of reasons discussed here, the Nazis did not ultimately use these chemical weapons in warfare.
Although the Germans were the first to develop chemical weapons to be used in warfare, other nations soon caught up. The United States and Russia also developed their own chemical weapons programs; both borrowing heavily from research established by the Germans.
Kaszeta writes that the US Army developed sarin missiles.
Toxic discusses the chemical programs of both the US and Russia in some detail, before moving on to the Iran-Iraq war, and then the March 20, 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack by the cult movement Aum Shinrikyo.
Kaszeta also writes about chemical attacks by the Assad regime in the Syrian war, and assassinations accomplished using chemical agents.
Unfortunately, I found much of the writing here to be overly verbose, dry, and slow. Despite fielding a super-interesting topic full of possibilities, I found my attention wandering numerous times while reading this one. Kaszeta's writing style just did not resonate with me at all...
2.5 stars
Author Dan Kaszeta is the managing director of Strongpoint Security Ltd, and lives and works in London, UK. He has published two books and numerous articles in a variety of publications. Kaszeta also works with the agency Bellingcat.
Dan Kaszeta:
Toxic begins with the genesis of chemical weapons. Kaszeta says the Germans were the first to pursue this technology for military applications. A few nerve gas agents were developed. Kaszeta writes extensively about German scientist Otto Ambros, who was instrumental in this research.
Adolph Hitler's Third Reich made great efforts to research and develop chemical weapons. However, for a variety of reasons discussed here, the Nazis did not ultimately use these chemical weapons in warfare.
Although the Germans were the first to develop chemical weapons to be used in warfare, other nations soon caught up. The United States and Russia also developed their own chemical weapons programs; both borrowing heavily from research established by the Germans.
Kaszeta writes that the US Army developed sarin missiles.
Toxic discusses the chemical programs of both the US and Russia in some detail, before moving on to the Iran-Iraq war, and then the March 20, 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack by the cult movement Aum Shinrikyo.
Kaszeta also writes about chemical attacks by the Assad regime in the Syrian war, and assassinations accomplished using chemical agents.
Unfortunately, I found much of the writing here to be overly verbose, dry, and slow. Despite fielding a super-interesting topic full of possibilities, I found my attention wandering numerous times while reading this one. Kaszeta's writing style just did not resonate with me at all...
2.5 stars
May 20, 2022
This book had a great deal of technical detail and history about Nerve Agents and the people who created and used them. But the book wasn't what I had expected... it was very clinical and had much technical history data and even trivia... which I suspect is how the author liked to remain clinical with the subject. The author concludes that Nerve Agents have mostly used as "deterrents" (to war or other horrific things). I've read many books on science and technology and many get disgusting fast (e.g. Parasite Rex_ Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures and Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry). This book didn't! Which was a bit disappointing considering the use of the words Toxic Nazi and Putin in the books title. I was expecting a much less clinical description of nerve agents effect; much more than that provided by the appendix.
Also, the book 'appears' politically biased and generally supportive of Western media news story which some of us might think are always (routinely) biased by those controlling Western countries' governments and military industrial complexes. We can't Know who is telling us things truthfully But I get the feeling of bias whenever I hear stories (as proof) which I've heard in headlines!
Generally, it was a good book and I hope I haven't learned anything useful to me from it! :-p
Also, the book 'appears' politically biased and generally supportive of Western media news story which some of us might think are always (routinely) biased by those controlling Western countries' governments and military industrial complexes. We can't Know who is telling us things truthfully But I get the feeling of bias whenever I hear stories (as proof) which I've heard in headlines!
Generally, it was a good book and I hope I haven't learned anything useful to me from it! :-p
August 2, 2024
Excellent book that provided a good history of nerve agents. Been afraid of these since basic training! If directly hit, you're not going to have a good day. The author not only described some battlefield uses, but went into terrorist use of such weapons to provide more evidence of his theories. I thought those vignettes were very interesting from the attacks on an ex-Russian living in the UK, the assassination of the North Korean leader's brother, the US EOD guys who responded to an IED only to find it was an old sarin shell, etc. Great read! Key excerpts are below.
- In modern figures, the Nazis spent billions developing chemical/nerve agents that were never used during WWII. What would have happened if they used this resource elsewhere? PJK. Interesting question. Hitler was gassed at the end of WWI which is the speculation why he never used the weapons on the battlefield. He of course did use chemical weapons… in the concentration camps. It’s still a huge investment which he never used in battle.
- As the US was not as advanced in chemical weapons as Germany was, after WWII a supply if German Tabun bombs were taken back to the US as an interim capability until a US supply was created. PJK. I wonder how long those bombs were kept in storage in the US until being destroyed.
- Immediately after Germany surrendered, quick assessment teams were sent to Germany’s chemical facilities and weapons storage facilities to see if they could be used in an invasion of Japan. Unfortunately, the shell sizes wouldn’t fit US artillery systems, and regardless, the war ended soon after. PJK: I remember similar teams being described during the prep for OIF I in Iraq. After WWII, we had catching up to do via our opponent’s research/facilities. In Iraq, it was more be prepared to find it, identify it, protect it, and then move it somewhere safe if required.
- In the 1950s, chemical facilities were built but required lots of electricity. Companies had to build them near power plants to include at least one near a TVA dam vic Muscle Shoals, AL. PJK: Interesting reference to the TVA dam as my previous job with USACE had some of our employees still working there for navigation purposes. It’s also a common theme today for power intense industries. Bitcoin miners have to set up near available mass power infrastructure. Now AI infrastructure is requiring the same.
- Author’s conclusions are the following:
- World wide use/study of synthetic nerve agents have their roots in the Nazi government. PJK: Kind of disturbing.
- Nerve agents would not exist as viable weapons without the activity of the 3rd Reich. PJK: Again, disturbing that the influence continues.
- Making nerve agents is very challenging. It requires lots of collaboration between industry and government. It’s challenging to make step by step, and requires lots of funding. Once made, these weapons continue to require incredible amounts of funding to store, maintain, cleanup, and eventually de-mil. Nerve agents are not cheap.
- Use of nerve agents on the battlefield is very challenging, and not very effective. Weather has a huge influence on effectiveness (temp, humidity, winds, etc). These weapons rarely live up to expectations. The track record of their use is very mixed. Tactically in Syria, they were used in seemingly bizarre ways but there was a reason. Syria would drop one such nerve agent bomb, and the heavy gas/nerve agent would leach into underground bunkers driving those in hiding out into the open… upon which the conventional bombs would then start to rain. If Syria had just used conventional bombs to blow out the bunkers, a considerable number would be required.
- In modern figures, the Nazis spent billions developing chemical/nerve agents that were never used during WWII. What would have happened if they used this resource elsewhere? PJK. Interesting question. Hitler was gassed at the end of WWI which is the speculation why he never used the weapons on the battlefield. He of course did use chemical weapons… in the concentration camps. It’s still a huge investment which he never used in battle.
- As the US was not as advanced in chemical weapons as Germany was, after WWII a supply if German Tabun bombs were taken back to the US as an interim capability until a US supply was created. PJK. I wonder how long those bombs were kept in storage in the US until being destroyed.
- Immediately after Germany surrendered, quick assessment teams were sent to Germany’s chemical facilities and weapons storage facilities to see if they could be used in an invasion of Japan. Unfortunately, the shell sizes wouldn’t fit US artillery systems, and regardless, the war ended soon after. PJK: I remember similar teams being described during the prep for OIF I in Iraq. After WWII, we had catching up to do via our opponent’s research/facilities. In Iraq, it was more be prepared to find it, identify it, protect it, and then move it somewhere safe if required.
- In the 1950s, chemical facilities were built but required lots of electricity. Companies had to build them near power plants to include at least one near a TVA dam vic Muscle Shoals, AL. PJK: Interesting reference to the TVA dam as my previous job with USACE had some of our employees still working there for navigation purposes. It’s also a common theme today for power intense industries. Bitcoin miners have to set up near available mass power infrastructure. Now AI infrastructure is requiring the same.
- Author’s conclusions are the following:
- World wide use/study of synthetic nerve agents have their roots in the Nazi government. PJK: Kind of disturbing.
- Nerve agents would not exist as viable weapons without the activity of the 3rd Reich. PJK: Again, disturbing that the influence continues.
- Making nerve agents is very challenging. It requires lots of collaboration between industry and government. It’s challenging to make step by step, and requires lots of funding. Once made, these weapons continue to require incredible amounts of funding to store, maintain, cleanup, and eventually de-mil. Nerve agents are not cheap.
- Use of nerve agents on the battlefield is very challenging, and not very effective. Weather has a huge influence on effectiveness (temp, humidity, winds, etc). These weapons rarely live up to expectations. The track record of their use is very mixed. Tactically in Syria, they were used in seemingly bizarre ways but there was a reason. Syria would drop one such nerve agent bomb, and the heavy gas/nerve agent would leach into underground bunkers driving those in hiding out into the open… upon which the conventional bombs would then start to rain. If Syria had just used conventional bombs to blow out the bunkers, a considerable number would be required.
August 14, 2020
The 5 starts mean, of course, that I enjoyed the book and that I recommend it to anyone interested on the topic.
Summary: this book is a historical account of the development and use of nerve agents, with particular focus on their large-scale production, storage, weaponisation, and effects on victims. Politics involved in nerve agents (for example, why would a country invest heavily on complicated weapons of questionable efficiency, and the chemical weapons convention) are briefly mentioned, but they are not the main focus of this book.
The author provides a historical account on the development of nerve agents (and not) chemical weapons in general, since their Nazi beginnings until more recent usages in assassination plots.
The book provides a definition of nerve agents, how they work, and how they differ from other chemical warfare agents.
Problems involved in the large scale production of weaponised nerve agents is also discussed at length, which provides valuable information to better interpret news pieces where nerve agents are involved; for example, the author deconstructs the notion that the danger of nerve agents is that anyone with a rudimentary laboratory equipment on their kitchen can start producing nerve agents and planning assassinatios.
In order to better explain the issues involved, the chemistry involved in their production and storage is also discussed (with no details, for obvious reasons), and the author also has a very interesting section in which he talks about what we know regarding short and long term exposure to nerve agents.
Summary: this book is a historical account of the development and use of nerve agents, with particular focus on their large-scale production, storage, weaponisation, and effects on victims. Politics involved in nerve agents (for example, why would a country invest heavily on complicated weapons of questionable efficiency, and the chemical weapons convention) are briefly mentioned, but they are not the main focus of this book.
The author provides a historical account on the development of nerve agents (and not) chemical weapons in general, since their Nazi beginnings until more recent usages in assassination plots.
The book provides a definition of nerve agents, how they work, and how they differ from other chemical warfare agents.
Problems involved in the large scale production of weaponised nerve agents is also discussed at length, which provides valuable information to better interpret news pieces where nerve agents are involved; for example, the author deconstructs the notion that the danger of nerve agents is that anyone with a rudimentary laboratory equipment on their kitchen can start producing nerve agents and planning assassinatios.
In order to better explain the issues involved, the chemistry involved in their production and storage is also discussed (with no details, for obvious reasons), and the author also has a very interesting section in which he talks about what we know regarding short and long term exposure to nerve agents.
April 21, 2022
(Audiobook) More than you ever really wanted to know about chemical weapons, primarily nerve agents. Most of this work stars with the interwar Germans (aka Nazis), and how their work spawned the modern chemical weapons arms race. Fortunately, they were not used all that much in combat, but Kaszeta does offer good insight into various eras, from the US vs USSR, the use by Iraq in the 1980s, terrorist use by a cult in Japan in the 1990s and Syrian usage in the 2000s.
The author provides his experiences in dealing with Chemical Weapons, with emphasis on nerve agents, so far the most dangerous. I actually learned more from this book than I had in other settings. Good but scary history (and smart of the author and the reviewers to not add the recipes for making this stuff in detail). Worth a read, but a scarier topic to dwell on.
The author provides his experiences in dealing with Chemical Weapons, with emphasis on nerve agents, so far the most dangerous. I actually learned more from this book than I had in other settings. Good but scary history (and smart of the author and the reviewers to not add the recipes for making this stuff in detail). Worth a read, but a scarier topic to dwell on.
March 12, 2022
A bit to unpack here.
So far the book of a year for me. Extremely engaging, even when technical. However, no background is really needed. Dan Kaszeta is an ex-us military man, with a background in chemical forces and is now a contributor to the OSINT site Bellingcat. His expertise is unquestionable.
Topic of nerve agents is a one that might rise hair on your neck, as everyone equals them to chemical weapons. This book explains everything about what they are, where they come from (Nazis!) and why there were banned. Also, when you read it, you will certainly know who the bad guys are.
Can recommend it to anyone that has at least passing interest in cold war history.
So far the book of a year for me. Extremely engaging, even when technical. However, no background is really needed. Dan Kaszeta is an ex-us military man, with a background in chemical forces and is now a contributor to the OSINT site Bellingcat. His expertise is unquestionable.
Topic of nerve agents is a one that might rise hair on your neck, as everyone equals them to chemical weapons. This book explains everything about what they are, where they come from (Nazis!) and why there were banned. Also, when you read it, you will certainly know who the bad guys are.
Can recommend it to anyone that has at least passing interest in cold war history.
January 15, 2023
A brilliant and detailed historical review of the development and use of nerve agents by a chemical and biological weapons expert. A lot of chemistry, logistical, and political information is provided in succinct and easy-to-understand format for the reader to understand circumstances of modern use in warfare as well as in assassinations. The author’s conclusions leave no doubt that this technical improvement over existing chemical warfare agents provides no tactical benefit over other weapons of war and affects primarily those who cannot defend themselves, such as civilians, including children. (Kindle Audiobook format).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
Toxic: A History of Nerve Agents, From Nazi Germany to Putin's Russia
by Dan Kaszeta is extremely well written, expertly researched which the layperson, history enthusiast and partitioners with security related issues could all benefit from reading this primer. Mr. Kaszeta does not bog the reader with unnecessary jargon in order for the content he presents to be clear and direct briefing on the subject he percents nor does Mr. Kaszeta linger too much with the history and dvelpment of these weapons but, rather he provides a historic overview in order to provide context.
Truly terrifying.
by Dan Kaszeta is extremely well written, expertly researched which the layperson, history enthusiast and partitioners with security related issues could all benefit from reading this primer. Mr. Kaszeta does not bog the reader with unnecessary jargon in order for the content he presents to be clear and direct briefing on the subject he percents nor does Mr. Kaszeta linger too much with the history and dvelpment of these weapons but, rather he provides a historic overview in order to provide context.
Truly terrifying.
August 11, 2023
A very good review of the history of warfare agents, similar to Jonathon Tucker's War of Nerves in many respects. I found it informative, especially on the more contemporary uses of warfare agents by Aum Shinrikyo, Iraq, Iran and Syria. I did feel that he missed an opportunity to better explore Novichocks, especially as it related to the Salisbury, UK incident and the use of Pharmaceutical Based Agents. Starts strong but ends a little weaker. Overall, a good read that I have recommended to friends and colleagues.
November 8, 2023
This was a very highly anticipated book for me but unfortunately my interest in nerve agents lies mostly in how they affect people and communities. This is a very detailed history of the creation and use of nerve agents but it was lacking a more human element for me. I would highly recommend it to a military history lover or someone interested in chemistry.
March 31, 2022
Such an interesting read. I don't read many non-fiction books but this one had me hooked from the beginning. The technical aspect of it was dumbed down so anyone would understand the science. You don't have to be a chemist to get the gist.
May 24, 2022
outstanding primer to a topic I didn’t know I needed to know about
Borderline 4-5 star on my standard ranking:
***** - will read again
**** - you should read
*** - glad I read
** - wish I hadn’t read
* - wish it hadn’t been written
Borderline 4-5 star on my standard ranking:
***** - will read again
**** - you should read
*** - glad I read
** - wish I hadn’t read
* - wish it hadn’t been written
July 30, 2024
Wow. A phenomenal collection of history in this topic covering almost 100 years. Crazy on the testing that was done on US farms, how this was stored in several states, and worst yet how was intentionally sunk in the oceans. Gulp.
June 5, 2021
Laugh out funny at times. A fascinating book.
February 4, 2022
Really interesting history of nerve agents (and also chemical agents) used or developed for war,, defense, espionage. Scary stuff, but ultimately not as common as one might think.
November 16, 2022
Disturbing but highly interesting and very detailed.
May 14, 2023
Gripping, Clear, Concise
All the details you need, none that you don’t. A suitably technical dive into the technique, mechanism, industry, and history of nerve agents. Reads quick!
All the details you need, none that you don’t. A suitably technical dive into the technique, mechanism, industry, and history of nerve agents. Reads quick!
June 17, 2023
Bem detalhado.
Nota 4.5
Nota 4.5
October 28, 2023
Very good.
November 22, 2023
Bellingcat 💩
October 6, 2024
Growing up in the CBRN world this was sort of a walk through my youth with a bibliography that put sense to things that were going on at the time.
Normal people may like it too.
Normal people may like it too.
January 8, 2025
Excellent history of the development and use of nerve agents, and an outstanding example of history of science writing accessible to expert and lay person alike.
December 13, 2025
DNF 85% I find this book quite boring.
November 6, 2020
Kaszeta definitely has many talents, but art of writing is not among them. Anyway, subject is fascinating that you will forget him slightly boring style. Especially I recommend Appendix I, where is all information about how nerve agenta work.
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