In this timely book, Gwyneth Cravens takes an informed and clarifying look at the myths, the fears, and the truth about nuclear energy.
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reviews
Aug 14, 2011
David
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Gwyneth Cravens grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Sandia Mountains in the distance. With Sandia National Laboratories close by, she worried that the Soviets were going to bomb her home into oblivion. As she got older, like many Americans, she associated nuclear power with nuclear bombs and thus became anti-nuclear. After relocating to Long Island, she joined protesters in successfully preventing the Shoreham nuclear power plant from ever coming on line. It's now something she regrets.
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Mar 31, 2011
Karen
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Daughter read this book for her Biology debate and told me that it may change my opinions about the right kind of energy to use in the future...so here I am. After finishing the book in two days, I have to say...I'm impressed. Gwyneth Cravens presented a very complex and scary subject(in most people's mind, including mine) in a way that is fun and simple to read. She addressed every fear that we have, including waste disposal, safety, radiation, cost, cancer risk..., about nuclear energy (whi
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Sep 25, 2011
Jani-Petri
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This a book written by a person who used to be anti-nuclear, but who changed her mind after learning about it and being concerned about climate change and other damage caused by fossil fuels. The book reports a kind of a road-trip through American nuclear installation throughout the fuel cycle. I found the book to be factually (mostly) correct and while I knew most of the stuff already there was also some new things to learn. I was somewhat annoyed by excessive "girlishness" in some ch
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Dec 14, 2010
Keith
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If you are looking for a good pro-nuclear book, this is pretty good. She covers all the base, talks about contamination risks, terrorism, nuclear proliferation and weapons, all the stuff that you need to address. The main drawbacks are: (a) Tends to go on and on and on . . . pretty well written but too much exposition. (b) Thorium reactors are mentioned but not really discussed. To me, thorium is the way to go and I'd like to hear more about that. (c) The emphasis is on power to maintain bu
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Jul 06, 2008
Bruce
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For me this book was annoying. It is a "green nuclear" book that argues that nuclear power is necessary to save the world from global warming. The author does this by taking tours with a nuclear scientist through the whole nuclear cycle from mine to power plant to waste storage repository. The author also takes a tour of a coal plant which emphasizes how bad coal is from an environmental standpoint for generating energy. Much of what the book does is talk about radiation pollution,
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Dec 04, 2009
Becky
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A firsthand experience of a women, who grew up in the backyard of Los Alamos and feared nuclear power, and her journey researching nuclear power. Starting with a little background on how nuclear power works and then delving into the process from mining to electricity production, her position on nuclear power is changed as she learns about the safety of nuclear power. Highly recommended to gain insight into the industry and learn about the safety of nuclear power.
Oct 28, 2010
Mason
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This definitely made me think again about nuclear power. I've written before about the issue of nuclear waste disposal, but this book made me think the barriers to doing that right are more political than physical.
But still, I have a hard time seeing the world ramping up nuclear fast enough to make much of a dent in our growing greenhouse gas emissions, or to replace dwindling fossil fuels.
But still, I have a hard time seeing the world ramping up nuclear fast enough to make much of a dent in our growing greenhouse gas emissions, or to replace dwindling fossil fuels.
Apr 30, 2011
David
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For anyone who is truly concerned about the environment and is willing to accept that we've been given a bunch of feel-good bones while oil and coal manufacturers politically maneuver our leaders and the media into positions that ensure their profits and bypasses any regulation to curb their underestimated environmental impact. At times, the book is a bit heavy-handed as Cravens dispels myths about radiation, nuclear power, nuclear waste, and the impact of the nuclear industry on the environmen
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Jun 27, 2008
dug
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I really enjoyed this book. Anyone who is totally against nuclear energy should give it a read. I haven't read anything in depth from the opposing viewpoint, but this book definitely opened my eyes about what science has done to make nuclear safe. Who knew that plans for disposing of nuclear waste had already been worked out for a few different locations? Who knew that power plants that use nuclear waste as fuel, therefore greatly reducing it’s half life and quantity had already been develop
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Nov 06, 2009
I first heard about this book on the Dennis Prager show on Nov. 6, 2009. I heard him say something like, you will be exposed to more radiation by eating a banana than if you lived within a 50 mile radius of a nuclear power plant.
Jul 13, 2010
Viola
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Interesting, well researched, definite proof that using my almighty nuclear engineering skills I can take over the world. Thank Gwyneth when I'm older and run everything, will you?
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Sep 16, 2008
Kristen
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So far pretty good. I had to return it to the library and with school going now don't know when I'll finish. It is interesting because it talks about how so many are afraid of nuclear energy and gives the truth about it. I think it's interesting because the author was originally against it and when she learned about it she realized how helpful it will be. Especially interesting to me with the elections and the party who's motto is now "yes we can" says no to everything practical like
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Apr 09, 2008
Kate
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Great overview of the argument for a nuclear power revolution. Author, once a skeptic, becomes a believer after her investigation of the nuclear fuel cycle and the probabilistic risk assessment performed to investigate long-term storage and current safety issues. Did you know that if you took all of your power needs from nuclear sources for your entire life, the waste would fit into a container the size of a coke can? If you used coal... your waste would occupy hundreds of rail cars...
Jun 14, 2008
Jeff
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I was sold on the need for an expansion of our nuclear power industry years ago. However, this book vividly demonstrates why nuclear power is the only viable source for large-scale power that does not contribute to the change in our climate. It also makes it clear that those who are opposed to nuclear power are, in a word, stupid. They are either ignorant of the facts or they are purposely conjuring worst-case scenarios in order to scare the populace.
Mar 22, 2009
Andy
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A great overview on nuclear power, covering the fuel cycle from cradle to grave. Gwyneth tears down popular assumptions and fears, replacing them with truths and hope. If you have any doubts about the safety and cleanliness of nuclear power, you should read this. I would now rather live right next to a nuclear power plant than I would an overripe banana.
Jun 16, 2009
Stenmarks1981
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A nice read, there are some new facts and viewpoints. It's researched well. Cravens seems a little too enthralled with Rip Anderson, but the guy does know his stuff. I'd like to see a little more time spent with opposing positions.
Nov 10, 2008
Ed
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The case for nuclear power as a way to tackle climate change written by a very green environmentalist who personally visits uranium mines, nuclear and coal power stations, nuclear waste storage facilities and talks to all the experts. Really opened my eyes to the data. Not quite convinced but thinking hard about it.
May 07, 2010
I tried reading this, but I didn't find it entertaining enough to finish it. I had no real problem with the content or her arguments. My difficulty was that I was expecting fun non-fiction book. Lots of imformative books find a way to be entertaining, this one didn't and so was a slow and somewhat boring read.
Mar 28, 2008
Kevin
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Not always easy to read, but very thorough. The author walks the reader from her anti-nuclear stance (second hand ignorance) to her pro-nuclear power stance by interviewing nuclear scientist and learning about nuclear power in various ways (first hand knowledge).
Jul 31, 2008
Charles
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Most interestesting is the description of the actual danger from radiation. The reality is not quite a scary as the non scientfic media view.
Apr 09, 2008
20% of the U.S. energy supply is from nuclear sources - I did not know that. Even if this makes a good case I will do more research.
Jan 07, 2008
Ondrej
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Very well written and informative book about nuclear energy in the US. A must read for anyone interested in future energy supply.
Oct 15, 2009
P.S.
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If I was sold on mass civilisation, I would be sold on powering it nuclear by this book. Resold me on Deep-Science geekdom.
Feb 13, 2008
John
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Educational and insightful. A non-technical book that gets the science right and is short on hyperbole. Read and learn.
Nov 17, 2008
For me it was preaching to the faithful but good all the same. Ignore the AGW nonsense.
Jan 21, 2012
Rohit
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Unfolds the truth about nuclear energy, its big benefits and fatal hazards from misuse.
Jun 17, 2008
Thomas
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A well researched case for nuclear power from a radical environmentalist viewpoint.
