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Chernobyl
On 26 April 1986, the unthinkable happened near the Ukrainian town of Pripyat: two massive steam explosions ruptured No. 4 Reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, immediately killing 30 people and setting off the worst nuclear accident in history. The explosions were followed by an open-air reactor core fire that released huge amounts of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere for the next nine days, spreading across the Soviet Union, parts of Europe, and especially neighbouring Belarus, where around 70% of the waste landed. The following clean-up operation involved more than half a million personnel at a cost of $68 billion, and a further 4,000 people were estimated to have died from disaster-related illnesses in the following 20 years. Some 350,000 people were evacuated as a result of the accident (including 95 villages in Belarus), and much of the area returned to the wild, with the nearby city of Pripyat now a ghost town. Chernobyl provides a photographic exploration of the catastrophe and its aftermath in 180 authentic photos. See the twisted wreckage of No. 4 Reactor, the cause of the nuclear disaster; marvel at historic photos of the clean-up operation, with helicopters spraying decontamination liquid and liquidators manually clearing radioactive debris; see the huge cooling pond used to cool the reactors, and which today is home to abundant wildlife, despite the radiation; explore the ghost town of Pripyat, with its decaying apartment blocks, empty basketball courts, abandoned amusement park, wrecked schools, and deserted streets.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published June 14, 2022
4 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kerrigan
173 books20 followersMichael Kerrigan is a seasoned freelance writer and editor with over thirty years of experience across a wide spectrum of publishing work, from advertising and catalogue copy to book blurbs and specialist nonfiction. A prolific author, he has written around sixty full-length books on subjects ranging from ancient warfare and Slavic myth to modern architecture and the science of consciousness, all aimed at a general readership. He contributed a weekly Books in Brief column to The Scotsman for two decades and has reviewed extensively for the Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, and Financial Times.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 8, 2022
The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion is the human and environmental catastrophe that we shouldn’t forget. We need to remember the horrible consequences of inefficient secretive oppressive system based on fear and coverups and ignoring ecology, safety and common sense.
It includes 180 photos (or so the cover says) to illustrate the timeline. “Before”, with the photos of the young city of Pripyat, somehow oddly beautiful despite its brutalist concrete style. The photos of the ruined reactor and disaster “liquidators”. The “urban wasteland” with those haunting pictures familiar to many, with devastated ruined buildings, nature overtaking the abandoned city of Pripyat, crumbling exteriors and interiors, and that sad Ferris Wheel that became a common fixture in photos.
The aftermath and the present, including the effects on neighboring Belarus that took the brunt of the radiation fallout, having been in the path of the winds and rains. The economic effects and considerations of the cleanup and maintenance and having large areas resettled and deemed uninhabitable, although some still returned.
The accompanying text does a decent job of briefly outlying the disaster, the brief overview of reactor construction issue that precipitated the meltdown, the cleanup, and the lasting economic and health effects.
It’s a good companion to other more technically detailed books with good photos selection for those - like me - who are already exhaustively familiar with the details of the catastrophe and the aftermath, but also a decent primer for those who don’t have much or any knowledge above the events of April 26, 1986 and their consequences.
4 stars.
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Thanks to NetGalley and Amber Books Ltd. for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Also posted on my blog.
“So easy was it for the Soviet authorities to cover up bad news (and so habituated had they become to doing this) that there was never any real incentive for management at plants like this to bring in changes.”
It includes 180 photos (or so the cover says) to illustrate the timeline. “Before”, with the photos of the young city of Pripyat, somehow oddly beautiful despite its brutalist concrete style. The photos of the ruined reactor and disaster “liquidators”. The “urban wasteland” with those haunting pictures familiar to many, with devastated ruined buildings, nature overtaking the abandoned city of Pripyat, crumbling exteriors and interiors, and that sad Ferris Wheel that became a common fixture in photos.
“Pripyat isn’t pretty in the way that Pompeii is. It isn’t really interesting, in truth. The attractive stained-glass window of a city café stands out in standing out. Everything else is ordinary, even dull. A silent cinema; rusting railway carriages; a row of empty clubs in the daycare centre; a shattered piano; an abandoned ferris wheel … these are monuments to mundanity. They arrest our attention not because they’re striking or special in any way but because there’s an unbearable pathos in their ordinariness.
Such scenes move us because they show us a modern city drained of its animating spirit, the mere material of an entity that ought to team with life. All the components are present for a thriving, bustling city — except for the people to whom all this was home.”
The aftermath and the present, including the effects on neighboring Belarus that took the brunt of the radiation fallout, having been in the path of the winds and rains. The economic effects and considerations of the cleanup and maintenance and having large areas resettled and deemed uninhabitable, although some still returned.
The accompanying text does a decent job of briefly outlying the disaster, the brief overview of reactor construction issue that precipitated the meltdown, the cleanup, and the lasting economic and health effects.
It’s a good companion to other more technically detailed books with good photos selection for those - like me - who are already exhaustively familiar with the details of the catastrophe and the aftermath, but also a decent primer for those who don’t have much or any knowledge above the events of April 26, 1986 and their consequences.
4 stars.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Amber Books Ltd. for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
April 20, 2023
An excellent initial exploration of Chernobyl and the disaster. The text gives just enough information to give a pretty complete picture without too much detail. The accompanying photograpy is haunting, to say the least, and there were some photos that I hadn't seen before.
(Thanks to Amber Books for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)
(Thanks to Amber Books for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)
May 3, 2022
This is thought provoking looking at a monumental disaster. As a photo book I expected before and after photos of the infamous Chernobyl plant. I’ve never thought about how the plant provided power and jobs to so many people. Photos of building the plant and the pride in the community centers are very interesting. The book covers before the disaster, the catastrophe, the cleanup, urban wasteland, Belarus and Chernobyl today. Russia deserves the blunt of the blame for cutting corners and having management more concerned with chain of command than safety. Without the tv mini-series I don’t think I would know the extent of the damages and loss of lives for those that tried to stop the fires, and clean and seal the plant. But in reading I was surprised at how quickly they were able to get so many people to safety. The photos are fascinating as are the descriptive blurbs. One annoyance, which others have noted, is sometimes the narrative is interrupted by pages of photos and you almost lose track of what you’re reading. The book was finished before the recent Ukraine invasion. It will be a while before we know if there are any radiation consequences for the Russian troops being in the isolation zone. I learned a lot by reading this book even though it is mainly a photo book. Thank you to NetGalley and Amber books for a temporary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2022
As a 90s baby, most of my knowledge of Chernobyl comes from the miniseries and random Buzzfeed articles so it was nice to read through this book and gain more context for the disaster. This book is divided into six sections: before the disaster, the catastrophe, the cleanup, urban wasteland, Belarus, and Chernobyl today. The book provides good historical information as well as great photography. I was expecting this to be more of a photo book comparing the location before and after the disaster, so I was pleased to find that this book contained a lot more information. This book did have my pet peeve with these books where the narrative will have several pages of photos in the middle of a sentence, which means I had to flip back multiple times to remind myself what I was reading. I did like that this book included consequences outside of Ukraine as we tend to think of it as an isolated incident. The book leaves off with the location being monitored and open only to select individuals. Sadly, due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, this is no longer the case as Russian forces took over Chernobyl without any care for the lasting radiation which will likely have lasting consequences.
May 2, 2022
Yes, there are other ways to look at Chernobyl – both in book form and on the small screen. No, without a handy subtitle this book will get to vanish with a most unwelcome half-life. But yes, this should easily be considered if you have half an interest in the history of the disaster.
Coming from Amber Books, it is of course very highly pictorial. The core text (damn, I'd better rephrase that) – the main bulk of the writing – is one short flowing essay, split into chapters yet reading practically as a piece – when sentences are not broken up by 20pp gaps, that is – and something that won't take nearly as much time as you'd expect. No, the main reading time comes from the copious captions to the images, and seeing as the essay leaves out key elements and just refers to them once it's too late (the 'sarcophagus', the trial of those more or less in charge) you have to think of those as the real thing we're here for.
Here it is that the details come through, and the forgotten aspects of it all, such as the fields of vehicles too 'hot' to touch for decades yet, and the way the other three reactors were still online for many years afterwards. At times it feels that the essay is there to cover all that cannot be included in the captions, but all the same it does still throw up surprises of its own – a chunk may be cattily political to some ears, but only rightly so by mine, as it looks at how heinous the situation has been in Belarus, with their budget still wrecked on an annual basis by the costs of the disaster, and apparently 70,000 people still on a list waiting to be evacuated to safety. Their movement, if it ever happens, must be the latest shutting of the stable door after the horse has bolted in history.
Chernobyl should have been a 'wham bam, change your life' kind of situation, especially to the likes of I who was thirteen as it happened. But it never got to have the 9/11 kind of impact, and instead something as comparatively petty as the Zeebrugge ferry disaster was the Big Tragedy I was first aware of. That's pretty much all down to how it leaked out slowly, with admission of the problem coming not at all promptly from either Kiev or Moscow. I think because it was more of a 'drip, drip' news story there's even more reason to be genning up on it. Our historian author could have been more hand-holding when it comes to the science, but this is not too stuffy or long a read, and certainly has a place in the market for many who would wish to know more. A strong four stars.
Coming from Amber Books, it is of course very highly pictorial. The core text (damn, I'd better rephrase that) – the main bulk of the writing – is one short flowing essay, split into chapters yet reading practically as a piece – when sentences are not broken up by 20pp gaps, that is – and something that won't take nearly as much time as you'd expect. No, the main reading time comes from the copious captions to the images, and seeing as the essay leaves out key elements and just refers to them once it's too late (the 'sarcophagus', the trial of those more or less in charge) you have to think of those as the real thing we're here for.
Here it is that the details come through, and the forgotten aspects of it all, such as the fields of vehicles too 'hot' to touch for decades yet, and the way the other three reactors were still online for many years afterwards. At times it feels that the essay is there to cover all that cannot be included in the captions, but all the same it does still throw up surprises of its own – a chunk may be cattily political to some ears, but only rightly so by mine, as it looks at how heinous the situation has been in Belarus, with their budget still wrecked on an annual basis by the costs of the disaster, and apparently 70,000 people still on a list waiting to be evacuated to safety. Their movement, if it ever happens, must be the latest shutting of the stable door after the horse has bolted in history.
Chernobyl should have been a 'wham bam, change your life' kind of situation, especially to the likes of I who was thirteen as it happened. But it never got to have the 9/11 kind of impact, and instead something as comparatively petty as the Zeebrugge ferry disaster was the Big Tragedy I was first aware of. That's pretty much all down to how it leaked out slowly, with admission of the problem coming not at all promptly from either Kiev or Moscow. I think because it was more of a 'drip, drip' news story there's even more reason to be genning up on it. Our historian author could have been more hand-holding when it comes to the science, but this is not too stuffy or long a read, and certainly has a place in the market for many who would wish to know more. A strong four stars.
April 14, 2022
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Chernobyl by Michael Kerrigan. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Amber Works Ltd. for providing an ARC to review.
Through extensive photographs, Kerrigan shares the events that lead to Chernobyl's nuclear disaster, the city of Pripyat before and after the explosion, and the lasting effects on Ukraine and Belarus.
I have read several works regarding this topic and this book had the best photographs of them all. The extensive photos of the power plant, the city, and the post-explosion places you into the events. I learned quite a bit about the long-term effects as well as the political climate that created this horrific event. For anyone interested in the historic event, I recommend giving this book a try. It is the perfect start when researching Chernobyl.
Through extensive photographs, Kerrigan shares the events that lead to Chernobyl's nuclear disaster, the city of Pripyat before and after the explosion, and the lasting effects on Ukraine and Belarus.
I have read several works regarding this topic and this book had the best photographs of them all. The extensive photos of the power plant, the city, and the post-explosion places you into the events. I learned quite a bit about the long-term effects as well as the political climate that created this horrific event. For anyone interested in the historic event, I recommend giving this book a try. It is the perfect start when researching Chernobyl.
April 15, 2022
"26 April 1986: Chernobyl" by Michael Kerrigan provides excellent documentation of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The book covers the background, catastrophe itself, the clean-up, the ongoing impact to the surrounding countries, and Chernobyl today. The text clearly covers the history of this event, and the 180+ photographs provide haunting testament to the impact. With vivid pictures of abandoned equipment and eerie ruins, this book feels exactly like a real-life "Tales From the Loop".
This book is amazingly timely. Although it was written before Russia's 2022 appalling wanton invasion of Ukraine, the author does not hesitate to describe the heavy (deadly) price that Russian policy has had on Soviet citizens.
Given the authors clear writing, and excellent selection of photographs, I believe that he would be well qualified to write a photo documentary book on the genocide committed by Putin's 2022 invasion and slaughter of Ukrainian citizens. (This is a complement! And such a book would be beneficial for the world!)
I thank Michael Kerrigan and Amber Books for graciously providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
This book is amazingly timely. Although it was written before Russia's 2022 appalling wanton invasion of Ukraine, the author does not hesitate to describe the heavy (deadly) price that Russian policy has had on Soviet citizens.
Given the authors clear writing, and excellent selection of photographs, I believe that he would be well qualified to write a photo documentary book on the genocide committed by Putin's 2022 invasion and slaughter of Ukrainian citizens. (This is a complement! And such a book would be beneficial for the world!)
I thank Michael Kerrigan and Amber Books for graciously providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
May 12, 2022
Chernobyl… It’s difficult to accept that 36 years have passed since the world’s greatest nuclear disaster.
Most of us have, to some degree, heard of the Chernobyl disaster, but not many know the full story (I don’t think most of us will ever know) or what happened before, during and in the aftermath.
This book gives us an in-depth account of the disaster of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the, at the time, brand new city of Pripyat in Ukraine.
It was the hope and future of clean energy and little after midnight on April 26th 1986 the world was forever changed by the explosions in Reactor 4 of Chernobyl.
At the time, Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union, so the full and truthful casualty count has never been disclosed or updated, as the official reports, to this day, only seem to take into account the workers and first responders at the scene on that fateful night.
Through more than 180 real photographic accounts and descriptions, this book shows us what life was like before that day, the modern facilities of this Nuclear Power Plant and the amenities created surrounding it for the workers and families; it shows us the disaster, the direct and indirect side effects of the radiation exposures both in humans and animals, as well as in the soils and nature areas surrounding it. How it expanded to pretty much all of Europe and still has long lasting effects to this day.
And sadly, due to current events, those consequences might have just been aggravated and prolonged for far longer than any of us can imagine.
This book not only details the disaster and direct implications of it, but it also delves into the political side of things, as the Soviet Union and Ukraine itself did not want to fully admit what had happened publicly until much later.
In fact, were it not for foreign news reports, the world might have never known in due time that a nuclear disaster had happened in Chernobyl.
This book was sad, heartbreaking, impactful, detailed and essential.
I sincerely recommend that everyone picks up this book and shares it with future generations, so that what happened may never be forgotten and that, hopefully, through knowledge and awareness, it never happens again.
The book will be officially released on June 14th in all major retailers and I genuinely think everyone should grab a copy of they can.
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amber Books for granting me access to this advanced copy in exchange for my review and honest opinion.
📸☢📚🏷
#Chernobyl #NetGalley #NonFiction #Photography #History #Ukraine
Most of us have, to some degree, heard of the Chernobyl disaster, but not many know the full story (I don’t think most of us will ever know) or what happened before, during and in the aftermath.
This book gives us an in-depth account of the disaster of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the, at the time, brand new city of Pripyat in Ukraine.
It was the hope and future of clean energy and little after midnight on April 26th 1986 the world was forever changed by the explosions in Reactor 4 of Chernobyl.
At the time, Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union, so the full and truthful casualty count has never been disclosed or updated, as the official reports, to this day, only seem to take into account the workers and first responders at the scene on that fateful night.
Through more than 180 real photographic accounts and descriptions, this book shows us what life was like before that day, the modern facilities of this Nuclear Power Plant and the amenities created surrounding it for the workers and families; it shows us the disaster, the direct and indirect side effects of the radiation exposures both in humans and animals, as well as in the soils and nature areas surrounding it. How it expanded to pretty much all of Europe and still has long lasting effects to this day.
And sadly, due to current events, those consequences might have just been aggravated and prolonged for far longer than any of us can imagine.
This book not only details the disaster and direct implications of it, but it also delves into the political side of things, as the Soviet Union and Ukraine itself did not want to fully admit what had happened publicly until much later.
In fact, were it not for foreign news reports, the world might have never known in due time that a nuclear disaster had happened in Chernobyl.
This book was sad, heartbreaking, impactful, detailed and essential.
I sincerely recommend that everyone picks up this book and shares it with future generations, so that what happened may never be forgotten and that, hopefully, through knowledge and awareness, it never happens again.
The book will be officially released on June 14th in all major retailers and I genuinely think everyone should grab a copy of they can.
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amber Books for granting me access to this advanced copy in exchange for my review and honest opinion.
📸☢📚🏷
#Chernobyl #NetGalley #NonFiction #Photography #History #Ukraine
May 10, 2022
Chernobyl by Michael Kerrigan is a photographic account of the construction, operation, catastrophe, clean up, and aftermath of the nuclear reactor plant there.
It is always easy to criticize a book for what it never tried to be. While researched and written as an overview of the life cycle of plant 4, this is not meant to be an exhaustive and comprehensive account of the details. This is meant to offer enough context for the photographs to tell their own stories. In this the book succeeds. If you want more detail and something closer to a thriller narrative I'd recommend Midnight in Chernobyl. In fact, having read that book first made these photographs that much more chilling for me. But Kerrigan is not trying to do here what Higginbotham did in Midnight, so to criticize a book for what it isn't meant to be is disingenuous at best.
The context provided here is actually wonderful for its purpose. We read enough to then look at the photographs and think about the people in them or, even more disturbing, the people not in them. Minute details would bog this book down, this isn't told as an exciting narrative story but as an overview to set up the main elements of the book: the powerful photographs.
I would recommend this to those with little knowledge of the details but who want to see the devastation for themselves as well as those who have read one of the more detailed accounts and want more visuals to accompany what they know. In fact, I think this book couples very well with Midnight in Chernobyl for those who want a well-rounded account.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
It is always easy to criticize a book for what it never tried to be. While researched and written as an overview of the life cycle of plant 4, this is not meant to be an exhaustive and comprehensive account of the details. This is meant to offer enough context for the photographs to tell their own stories. In this the book succeeds. If you want more detail and something closer to a thriller narrative I'd recommend Midnight in Chernobyl. In fact, having read that book first made these photographs that much more chilling for me. But Kerrigan is not trying to do here what Higginbotham did in Midnight, so to criticize a book for what it isn't meant to be is disingenuous at best.
The context provided here is actually wonderful for its purpose. We read enough to then look at the photographs and think about the people in them or, even more disturbing, the people not in them. Minute details would bog this book down, this isn't told as an exciting narrative story but as an overview to set up the main elements of the book: the powerful photographs.
I would recommend this to those with little knowledge of the details but who want to see the devastation for themselves as well as those who have read one of the more detailed accounts and want more visuals to accompany what they know. In fact, I think this book couples very well with Midnight in Chernobyl for those who want a well-rounded account.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
June 5, 2022
I have always been curious about history. Very recently I started looking into the Chernobyl's nuclear accident.
I liked that this book was easy to understand especially because the innerworks of a nuclear powerplant when explained can be a bit difficult to comprehend. To see the pictures of the nuclear power plant, the lives of people before and after this devastating calamity, definitely made this whole experience even more real and shocking.
It was concise and informative, perfect for people who want to learn the intricate details about this project, the impact it was going to have if the reactor hadn't exploded and the repurcussions of the accident.
Highly recommend to history enthusiasts or anyone who wants to learn about Chernobyl's disaster.
I liked that this book was easy to understand especially because the innerworks of a nuclear powerplant when explained can be a bit difficult to comprehend. To see the pictures of the nuclear power plant, the lives of people before and after this devastating calamity, definitely made this whole experience even more real and shocking.
It was concise and informative, perfect for people who want to learn the intricate details about this project, the impact it was going to have if the reactor hadn't exploded and the repurcussions of the accident.
Highly recommend to history enthusiasts or anyone who wants to learn about Chernobyl's disaster.
May 10, 2022
After just reading Sherhii Plokhy's account of the disaster at Chernobyl last month, I came upon on this book with high expectations. For a picture account of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, I thought there would be more pictures of the before, immediately after the catastrophe and the after. The photos and details enclosed definitely gave me the reaction of "a picture is worth a thousand words," but is a more brief synopsis.
I understand this was more a visual of of everything that happened at Chernobyl so it is not as comprehensive of Plokhy's book or Midnight in Chernobyl. I like this more for the pictures and it is definitely not about the timeline.
Recommended for people not as familiar with the events that occurred at Chernobyl desiring a brief lesson.
Thanks to Netgalley, Michael Kerrington and Amber Books Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 6/14/22
I understand this was more a visual of of everything that happened at Chernobyl so it is not as comprehensive of Plokhy's book or Midnight in Chernobyl. I like this more for the pictures and it is definitely not about the timeline.
Recommended for people not as familiar with the events that occurred at Chernobyl desiring a brief lesson.
Thanks to Netgalley, Michael Kerrington and Amber Books Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 6/14/22
July 20, 2023
An impressive collection of contemporary photographs. The narrative gives a sparse but correct overview of the event. For a fuller and more harrowing account, I’d recommend reading Adam Higginbotham’s Midnight in Chernobyl, perhaps with this book on hand to refer to photos of Pripyat and the reactor.
April 30, 2022
Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC copy of this book.
I recently finished reading "Midnight in Chernobyl," so I felt compelled to request this book. Unfortunately, the information fell flat when compared to Adam Higginbotham's work. Having the pictures for reference was a nice addition when I had trouble visualizing some of the more technical engineering aspects, but the layout of the pictures in the ebook made it difficult and frustrating to read at times.
Also, there were a couple of pictures that lacked thorough captioning. One standout example of this was at the end of the book, a picture of a Geiger counter was shown reading "4.91 μSv'h." The caption simply said "LIVE ISSUE - As of 2011, radiation levels at Chernobyl were still high..." but didn't explain what this meant. I had to look it up myself and found this explanatory reference that made the picture way more impactful: https://research.csu.edu.au/integrity...
Decent, but not the best read or resource.
I recently finished reading "Midnight in Chernobyl," so I felt compelled to request this book. Unfortunately, the information fell flat when compared to Adam Higginbotham's work. Having the pictures for reference was a nice addition when I had trouble visualizing some of the more technical engineering aspects, but the layout of the pictures in the ebook made it difficult and frustrating to read at times.
Also, there were a couple of pictures that lacked thorough captioning. One standout example of this was at the end of the book, a picture of a Geiger counter was shown reading "4.91 μSv'h." The caption simply said "LIVE ISSUE - As of 2011, radiation levels at Chernobyl were still high..." but didn't explain what this meant. I had to look it up myself and found this explanatory reference that made the picture way more impactful: https://research.csu.edu.au/integrity...
Decent, but not the best read or resource.
May 13, 2022
I'm old enough to remember when it happened and what were the impacts on everyday life.
The photos in this books are haunting and eery and they give a clear picture of what happened.
A book that can help to remember the disaster and what could happen again.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The photos in this books are haunting and eery and they give a clear picture of what happened.
A book that can help to remember the disaster and what could happen again.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
May 1, 2022
Really fascinating book on Chernobyl. I knew that there had been an accident, and that Pripyat had been quickly evacuated, but had little knowledge of the actual event, and the destruction that extended far beyond Pripyat.
Wonderful pictures, and I enjoyed how the book covered how the accident occurred, why it was inevitable, and the information about the people who helped contain the fallout.
Thank you #netgalley for the ARC.
Wonderful pictures, and I enjoyed how the book covered how the accident occurred, why it was inevitable, and the information about the people who helped contain the fallout.
Thank you #netgalley for the ARC.
April 18, 2022
If you’re wondering what truly happened at Chernobyl, but lack the time or desire to read a much longer book, this is right up your alley. And if you’ve watched the HBO miniseries about Chernobyl, this serves as added knowledge to be had.
As much as this book prominently displays the failings of Soviet rule, the incompetence of bureaucrats, and the lies told to so many people during the events in 1986, it’s also showing a dash of hope. Sure, the land is still contaminated and highly radioactive, but that same land is also reclaiming its spot in the world. Among the decay and despair of abandoned vehicles, homes, belongings, and entire cities or towns, we see that not all is lost. Flora and fauna have come back. Animals have survived. And maybe a lesson or two has been learned? Maybe.
Even as someone who’s read a fair amount about the disaster, and as someone who had a childhood friend who came from Ukraine with her parents (both engineers who worked at Chernobyl during the disaster, and her mother absolutely had radiation-related illnesses for years), this proved to be interesting to me. The heartbreak of lives and homes and security lost really hit home. The heroism of people who either had no clue what they were up against or, even more heroic, DID and still rushed to work until their job was done impressed. The consequences of mismanagement and corners cut were clearly seen here, as well. This book is a strong warning against complacency when dealing with dangerous things, as well as a bit of a finger waved at Chernobyl for destroying life as it was once known.
As much as this book prominently displays the failings of Soviet rule, the incompetence of bureaucrats, and the lies told to so many people during the events in 1986, it’s also showing a dash of hope. Sure, the land is still contaminated and highly radioactive, but that same land is also reclaiming its spot in the world. Among the decay and despair of abandoned vehicles, homes, belongings, and entire cities or towns, we see that not all is lost. Flora and fauna have come back. Animals have survived. And maybe a lesson or two has been learned? Maybe.
Even as someone who’s read a fair amount about the disaster, and as someone who had a childhood friend who came from Ukraine with her parents (both engineers who worked at Chernobyl during the disaster, and her mother absolutely had radiation-related illnesses for years), this proved to be interesting to me. The heartbreak of lives and homes and security lost really hit home. The heroism of people who either had no clue what they were up against or, even more heroic, DID and still rushed to work until their job was done impressed. The consequences of mismanagement and corners cut were clearly seen here, as well. This book is a strong warning against complacency when dealing with dangerous things, as well as a bit of a finger waved at Chernobyl for destroying life as it was once known.
April 19, 2022
A really well done compendium with lots of good information and background of the location and event. I also really enjoyed that I hadn't seen most of this pictures before! This book would be really good if someone was doing a project on Chernobyl and wanted some idea but I could also see it doing well as a coffee table book. This is one of the better and most comprehensive books on the topic out there, especially if you are short on time and can't read 1000 pages.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review
July 17, 2022
Good overview of the Chernobyl meltdown with lots of descriptive pictures. Would be a worthwhile companion to books that go into detail of the timeline and aftermath.
April 15, 2022
Chernobyl by Michael Kerrigan is a photo book telling the story of the action at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in 1986. The book documents the events leading up to the accident including the actions of the on-site management that contributed to the explosion. The numerous photos tell the full story of what happened, the men and women who helped contain the fire at great personal danger and the aftermath.
A great pick if you want detail and photos of the disaster.
One issue was the placement of the captions. It was tough at times to keep up with photos when the caption was on a seperate page.
A great pick if you want detail and photos of the disaster.
One issue was the placement of the captions. It was tough at times to keep up with photos when the caption was on a seperate page.
June 15, 2022
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I just had to request this book! Chernobyl is one of the things I am interested in for several reasons. One because it is so haunting, so scary.
I was eager to see what photographs we would get and what information. Would I see and learn something new?
I loved that this one didn’t just focus on Pripyat. Yes, that is one of the reasons why I took the book because seeing how the town is abandoned is just haunting, but we get plenty of Pripyat. Being build, people living there, and then the aftermath of the ghost town and everything just left behind. But we also get to see wildlife, Belarus and the surrounding areas, and we get to see the reactor. Being build, from the inside, from the outside, and I learned quite some more about the reactor and everything surrounding it. I love it when I already know things but get to learn more!
The text varied in interesting to OMG so boring (when it went more into politics/economics stuff). Sometimes I just gave up on reading as the text just stopped mid-sentence and would continue after 5-6 pages of photographs.. by which time I already forgot what the text said, and thus had to scroll back. It may work in the physical form, though I know from experience it might also not as I have read multiple photography books over the years. I did read, when I could because I read this on a phone and constantly zooming in and out isn’t going so well, the text along with the photographs. Those were interesting to read.
But despite that bit about the text, I did really like reading this one. It was interesting. The photos good. I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just had to request this book! Chernobyl is one of the things I am interested in for several reasons. One because it is so haunting, so scary.
I was eager to see what photographs we would get and what information. Would I see and learn something new?
I loved that this one didn’t just focus on Pripyat. Yes, that is one of the reasons why I took the book because seeing how the town is abandoned is just haunting, but we get plenty of Pripyat. Being build, people living there, and then the aftermath of the ghost town and everything just left behind. But we also get to see wildlife, Belarus and the surrounding areas, and we get to see the reactor. Being build, from the inside, from the outside, and I learned quite some more about the reactor and everything surrounding it. I love it when I already know things but get to learn more!
The text varied in interesting to OMG so boring (when it went more into politics/economics stuff). Sometimes I just gave up on reading as the text just stopped mid-sentence and would continue after 5-6 pages of photographs.. by which time I already forgot what the text said, and thus had to scroll back. It may work in the physical form, though I know from experience it might also not as I have read multiple photography books over the years. I did read, when I could because I read this on a phone and constantly zooming in and out isn’t going so well, the text along with the photographs. Those were interesting to read.
But despite that bit about the text, I did really like reading this one. It was interesting. The photos good. I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 15, 2022
“Like God, radiation was invisible but everywhere, in everything. ‘I’m afraid of the rain’ another survivor confessed. ‘That’s what Chernobyl is. I’m afraid of the snow. Of the forest.’ All Creation bore the imprint of the blast.”
My thanks to Amber Books for a temporary digital review copy via NetGalley of ‘Chernobyl’ by Michael Kerrigan in exchange for an honest review.
In the Introduction Michael Kerrigan states that the intention of this book is to provide an comprehensive overview of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and seeks to separate myth from reality.
In essence this is a photographic history containing 180 authentic photographs with captions and linking text that places them in context.
The photographs are undoubtedly powerful presenting a stark reminder of the event and its aftermath, including the massive cleanup operation that called upon hundreds of thousands of ‘liquidators’ made up of civil and military personnel.
These were poignant and shocking- from images of the reactor before the accident, to the ruined reactor, the deserted city of Pripyat, and the fields of abandoned tanks, trucks, buses and helicopters deemed too contaminated to be touched.
I was shocked to read that the radiation released by the Chernobyl blast was estimated to be 400 times of what was released by the Hiroshima bomb…
I was struck how the photos of Pripyat seemed almost like a 20th Century Pompeii as it documented its decaying buildings including a cinema, public swimming pool, and amusement park rides - all frozen in time.
Having recently seen the Chernobyl mini series I was impressed at how well it visually captured the reality of the site both before and after.
Overall, a powerful account that allows the photos to tell the tragic story of April 26th 1986 when the unthinkable happened and the world was forever changed.
My thanks to Amber Books for a temporary digital review copy via NetGalley of ‘Chernobyl’ by Michael Kerrigan in exchange for an honest review.
In the Introduction Michael Kerrigan states that the intention of this book is to provide an comprehensive overview of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and seeks to separate myth from reality.
In essence this is a photographic history containing 180 authentic photographs with captions and linking text that places them in context.
The photographs are undoubtedly powerful presenting a stark reminder of the event and its aftermath, including the massive cleanup operation that called upon hundreds of thousands of ‘liquidators’ made up of civil and military personnel.
These were poignant and shocking- from images of the reactor before the accident, to the ruined reactor, the deserted city of Pripyat, and the fields of abandoned tanks, trucks, buses and helicopters deemed too contaminated to be touched.
I was shocked to read that the radiation released by the Chernobyl blast was estimated to be 400 times of what was released by the Hiroshima bomb…
I was struck how the photos of Pripyat seemed almost like a 20th Century Pompeii as it documented its decaying buildings including a cinema, public swimming pool, and amusement park rides - all frozen in time.
Having recently seen the Chernobyl mini series I was impressed at how well it visually captured the reality of the site both before and after.
Overall, a powerful account that allows the photos to tell the tragic story of April 26th 1986 when the unthinkable happened and the world was forever changed.
June 12, 2022
With thanks to the author, publishers Amber Books Ltd, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in return for my honest and unbiased review.
This is a useful addition to the by now extensive list of books covering the Chernobyl disaster. It is not nearly as detailed as for example Adam Higginbotham's “Midnight in Chernobyl”, but then that is not the intended thrust of this work. Rather this is a visual history of the before and after states of Chernobyl, Pripyat and Belarus, complemented with some background text at the start of each chapter. As such, this is an ideal starting point for someone with little to no prior knowledge of the Chernobyl disaster who is looking to get a good overview of it.
The pictures are excellent, and really capture both the suddenness with which Pripyat had to be abandoned as as well as the destruction and desolation caused by the disaster to the lands within the exclusion zone. Within the ebook the layout of the pictures did make reading some of the passages of text a little awkward, where in some cases 4-6 pages of pictures were inserted before lines of the same paragraph. A small complaint though, and one which may now be so apparent in the physical book.,
This is a useful addition to the by now extensive list of books covering the Chernobyl disaster. It is not nearly as detailed as for example Adam Higginbotham's “Midnight in Chernobyl”, but then that is not the intended thrust of this work. Rather this is a visual history of the before and after states of Chernobyl, Pripyat and Belarus, complemented with some background text at the start of each chapter. As such, this is an ideal starting point for someone with little to no prior knowledge of the Chernobyl disaster who is looking to get a good overview of it.
The pictures are excellent, and really capture both the suddenness with which Pripyat had to be abandoned as as well as the destruction and desolation caused by the disaster to the lands within the exclusion zone. Within the ebook the layout of the pictures did make reading some of the passages of text a little awkward, where in some cases 4-6 pages of pictures were inserted before lines of the same paragraph. A small complaint though, and one which may now be so apparent in the physical book.,
June 29, 2022
This book was brilliant. I just had to read it all in one sitting. The photographs were amazing and gave off a very eerie feeling. The pictures just spoke volumes and created lots of emotions looking at them it was scary at times knowing just how many people were and still are affected by this tragedy. It was also very fascinating to read and learn about as this event happened when I was very young. I loved how it was broken into sections describing what it was like before, during, after the event and what it is like today. It was fantastic to read and learn about it all and it flowed so well. I have read a few books already on this subject. This book seemed to give the information that no other book I have read on the subject has ever covered before. I especially loved learning about the efforts to contain the reactor, how the other reactors were still used after the event and the eye watering costs both economic and environmental. If you really want to learn about this devastating disaster then look no further and read this book I definitely recommend it. I will be looking out for more books by this amazing author.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating this stunning account of a very disturbing disaster.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating this stunning account of a very disturbing disaster.
April 12, 2023
Cover: It looks like a normal picture until you glance to the right.
I remember the Chernobyl accident quite well. Everything seemed just fine, until haha, ops, it’s better if you stop eating certain foods, go inside when it rains, and the wind might carry radioactive dust, but no biggie? The fact that we were hundreds of miles, if not more, from Chernobyl didn’t seem to matter. There was something out there and it was dangerous. I was a kid back then, but it made a lasting impression; every once in a while, I delve deep into the accident itself and its consequences.
Just for that reason, Chernobyl is a book that couldn’t escape my radar. Besides, it’s an Amber Books book, which means top quality. As always, the pictures are fantastic: I saw a lot of them throughout the years, especially the ones featuring the Exclusion Zone tours, but most of them were amateurish. Chernobyl hosts great historical ones.
Maybe a little more info would have been good, both on the events that lead to the accident—the miniseries on HBO says something along the lines of ‘links in a chain of disaster’?—and the outcome, but this is me splitting hair.
Great and informative read.
5 stars on GR.
[Check more reviews @ https://bookshelvesandteacups.wordpre...]
I remember the Chernobyl accident quite well. Everything seemed just fine, until haha, ops, it’s better if you stop eating certain foods, go inside when it rains, and the wind might carry radioactive dust, but no biggie? The fact that we were hundreds of miles, if not more, from Chernobyl didn’t seem to matter. There was something out there and it was dangerous. I was a kid back then, but it made a lasting impression; every once in a while, I delve deep into the accident itself and its consequences.
Just for that reason, Chernobyl is a book that couldn’t escape my radar. Besides, it’s an Amber Books book, which means top quality. As always, the pictures are fantastic: I saw a lot of them throughout the years, especially the ones featuring the Exclusion Zone tours, but most of them were amateurish. Chernobyl hosts great historical ones.
Maybe a little more info would have been good, both on the events that lead to the accident—the miniseries on HBO says something along the lines of ‘links in a chain of disaster’?—and the outcome, but this is me splitting hair.
Great and informative read.
5 stars on GR.
[Check more reviews @ https://bookshelvesandteacups.wordpre...]
January 9, 2023
I recall vividly as a kid in the 1980s this horrific event, this book is a photographic work on the avoidable as pointed out in the book when you read about the previous close-calls and failed safety tests and How the Soviets cut corners like everything else in the Soviet Union. How far this spread , just so infuriating and sad. I do not like the author did a book on the darksideofTheChurch or something like and do not care for Pic of Castro in there, Also Belarus and the current Ukraine is covered and how it looks now. devastating indictment of Communism and it's inescapable destiny of failure. A Must read,Must look and Own.
November 9, 2022
This is a really amazing book, full of rare photos and an interesting history which still has relevance especially today. I have been interested in Chernobyl since the drama series on HBO a few years ago, and this really gave the real people involved a face. This will be even better in a published book and I would definitely recommend to people interested in history, world events, eastern Europe or Soviet policy and its failings.
January 2, 2023
This book was a fabulous find while browsing the bookstore the other day. The photographs were incredible from start to finish. There were so many interesting facts, both new and old, that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I am fascinated by this subject and always willing to check out a new book about the topic. This was a newer publication and had great insights so many years after the disaster.
August 3, 2024
A good, if very light and high-level overview of the building of Chernobyl reactors as well as the city of Pripyat, the disaster, and the aftermath.
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