| LIFE UNDER A CLOUD: American Anxiety about the Atom Allan M. Winkler New York: Oxford University Press, April 1993 |
Rating: 5.0 High |
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| ISBN-13 978-0-19-507821-3 | ||||
| ISBN 0-19-507821-7 | 282pp. | HC | $39.991 | |
Allan Winkler is a professor of history at Miami University (Miami, Ohio). He writes here with a historian's care about the first fifty years of the atomic age. His emphasis is on social and cultural ramifications in the U.S. of the fear engendered by the atomic bomb and by nuclear technology in general.
In a series of eight chapters, he chronicles the various aspects of nuclear technology as they develop over this first fifty years. The chapter titles are:
Every chapter is thoroughly researched and footnoted. Quotes from various players are used to good advantage. Each chapter ends with a paragraph that summarizes the topic. A prologue and an epilogue round out the thoughtful narrative. Finally, extensive notes and a list of bibliographical references (each about 30 pages in length) supplement the text.
I read this book carefully, and I found no typos. If it has a defect, it is that Winkler goes a little overboard in discussing works of fiction that touch on nuclear war. I do not find this a defect, personally; but others might.
In any case, the work is an excellent reference for someone who wants to gain a quick understanding of the history of atomic power, and it has plenty of links to primary sources. Highly recommended.
To contact Chris Winter, send email to this address.