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The Health Hazards Of NOT Going Nuclear
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 3, 2022
An interesting book. While I agree with it's central argument towards the relative safety of nuclear power, where the book fails is in its discussion and understanding of the world outside nuclear engineering.
More than just being wrong on general issues, (although certainly a product of its time), the author fails to apply the same standards of critical thinking to their understanding of other humans as they do to nuclear engineering.
While the actual facts contained in this book are worth sharing, a better book would have rested on the merits of its arguments, and not personal name calling and damnations of the authors personal boogeymen.
More than just being wrong on general issues, (although certainly a product of its time), the author fails to apply the same standards of critical thinking to their understanding of other humans as they do to nuclear engineering.
While the actual facts contained in this book are worth sharing, a better book would have rested on the merits of its arguments, and not personal name calling and damnations of the authors personal boogeymen.
January 15, 2015
A deeply thought-provoking contrarian work. Good for those who will agree and especially disagree with its thesis.
March 1, 2025
Written 1976, this short (and delightfully snarky) book looks into the main arguments that have been used against nuclear power (safety, waste disposal, environmental concerns, etc.) and uses the same measuring stick with the coal, oil, hydro and solar industries. Beckmann argues the health hazards of NOT transitioning to nuclear energy are far more dangerous than nuclear energy itself.
More lives have been lost to coal pollution, gas explosions, mining accidents, hydro-dam collapses than nuclear accidents, which accounts for only a tiny fraction of energy industry deaths.
He also makes an interesting point about how the measured radioactivity of coal and gas emissions generated by plants is 180 times the minuscule dose received from nuclear plants of equal capacity. In fact, ash from coal-fired plants is so radioactive it would violate the NRC standards which govern nuclear power plants. This ash is chemically active with an infinite half-life and is dumped into landfills where it can leech into the water. Yet, environmental groups in the 70s were campaigning against nuclear and promoting coal as an alternative.
While some parts are dated, most of the book is still relevant today, which shows how much nuclear energy has been stymied by the US. Many of the author's warnings about the health hazards of not going nuclear are more true than ever. A transition to nuclear energy decades ago could have saved thousands of lives that have been lost to disasters caused by the oil and coal industries.
More lives have been lost to coal pollution, gas explosions, mining accidents, hydro-dam collapses than nuclear accidents, which accounts for only a tiny fraction of energy industry deaths.
He also makes an interesting point about how the measured radioactivity of coal and gas emissions generated by plants is 180 times the minuscule dose received from nuclear plants of equal capacity. In fact, ash from coal-fired plants is so radioactive it would violate the NRC standards which govern nuclear power plants. This ash is chemically active with an infinite half-life and is dumped into landfills where it can leech into the water. Yet, environmental groups in the 70s were campaigning against nuclear and promoting coal as an alternative.
While some parts are dated, most of the book is still relevant today, which shows how much nuclear energy has been stymied by the US. Many of the author's warnings about the health hazards of not going nuclear are more true than ever. A transition to nuclear energy decades ago could have saved thousands of lives that have been lost to disasters caused by the oil and coal industries.
January 16, 2015
The clear, pull no punches style, the author's passion and knowledge of the subject and the importance of a reliable energy supply to a modern society combine to make this a 'must read' for anyone who has rejected nuclear power after being exposed to poisonous rhetoric from the 'fear of radiation crowd'. This one book opened my eyes.
December 10, 2017
Fantastic, clear factual, an excellent historical source for a cause lost to US propaganda. The last ten pages should be required reading for every American
October 18, 2023
Incredibly interesting.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews