Meltdown: Stories of Nuclear Disaster and the Human Cost of Going Critical

by Joel Levy

Meltdown investigates and recreates the dramatic events behind the most notorious nuclear accidents in history, as well as those shrouded in secrecy.

Combining human tragedy with revealing explanations, each account describes humanities struggle to harness and control nuclear power. From the pioneers of Los Alamos who got up close and personal with the cores of atomic bombs, to the hapless engineers in a Soviet fuel-processing plant who unwittingly mixed up disaster in a bucket, and from the horrors of Chernobyl to the terrifying impact of a tsunami at Fukushima. Meltdown explores the past and future of this extraordinary and lethal source of near-limitless power.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Audiobook

375 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Joel Levy is a writer and journalist specializing in science and history. He is the author of over a dozen books, including The Little Book of Conspiracies and Scientific Feuds: From Galileo to the Human Genome Project. Phobiapedia is his first book for children.

Reviews

[Kathryn Minn · Rating 4 out of 5]

On completing this book I am surprised at how many facts I didn't actually know about some of the biggest accidents in the Earth's history. I found that this book really opened my eyes up to nuclear power, and how we as a species have been so close to setting off real life disasters that could have comprised this planet. The way this book is written I wouldn't recommend it to any lay person. I would venture that to enjoy this book as a whole you need some previous knowledge about physics and in particular how nuclear works, but as long as you have that basic knowledge Joel Levy is successful in filling in any of the gaps you had with easy to follow wording. I'm not completely writing off enjoyment of this book from people who don't know much about science or physics in particular because the way in which Levy writes is so easy to folllow that a lay person may be able to sufficiently follow along to understand it, as long as he/she takes a pausing breath even so often. It took me a little while to really get into it but once I did I found my interest really piqued.

[Daniel Durrance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply and darkly fascinating, although I personally feel the attempt to make this easy to read wasn't quite reached. Many paragraphs are just a stream of numbers and techno-babble and are tough to read but the stories of people at the hearts of these incidents are both haunting and interesting.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that'll help me sleep at night... A fascinating read that leads one to the inevitable conclusion that the only reason humanity hasn't blown itself up yet playing around with a technology it never should have touched is sheer dumb luck.

[Nyamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and easy to follow. Was particularly interested in the early days of radiation aka 1900's-1950s

[Siobhan Leahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good

[Sophie Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this comprehensive collection about nuclear disaster stories. So interesting and completely horrifying at the same time. Very well written too and easy to follow for someone who has limited scientific understanding.