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Effects of Nuclear Weapons
The classic book on the effects of Nuclear Weapons, written with extreme scientific detail, is a MUST HAVE for anyone working in Homeland Security, Emergency Services or in any other Civil Defense capacity. This book is especially important for information services that must be able to provide accurate information in the aftermath of a Nuclear Attack.
750 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2021
Reread. Now a staple of my new office.
February 24, 2011
Amazon third-party, 2009-04-28. I finally found a reasonably-priced ($27.95 + $3.99 shipping, w00t) copy of this classic, a crappy text file and then PDF of which I've suffered through this last decade. Hands down the best (if dated) unlimited-distribution guide to first- and second-generation nuclear weapon physics, with only Bridgman's restricted-distribution Introduction to the Physics of Nuclear Weapons Effects (no GoodReads links, but that's what restricted distribution gets you -- ASIN B0006S2HWK, no ISBN) and various classified compendiums (no titles, but that's what classification gets you :D) being superior.
May 5, 2019
This is a very clear book. It's written so that even if one is not very familiar with mathematics, one can learn the basics. But it still has sections that cover more mathematically sophisticated analysis. I wish that there was a bit more explanation of some of the formulas (that is derivations), but there is also a lot of information that is simply empirical from tests.
The book covers the effects of nuclear weapons, so do not expect any details on how exactly a nuclear weapon works. However, it covers the effects quite well. It goes over effects from the blast wave, the thermal radiation, and the nuclear radiation systematically. This includes looking at what sort of damage can be caused to existing infrastructure and to people.
I do wish it used SI, but its use of a mix of metric and English units is understandable given what the book is for. Other than that, it is a quite straightforward but enlightening read on what happens when nuclear weapons explode.
The book covers the effects of nuclear weapons, so do not expect any details on how exactly a nuclear weapon works. However, it covers the effects quite well. It goes over effects from the blast wave, the thermal radiation, and the nuclear radiation systematically. This includes looking at what sort of damage can be caused to existing infrastructure and to people.
I do wish it used SI, but its use of a mix of metric and English units is understandable given what the book is for. Other than that, it is a quite straightforward but enlightening read on what happens when nuclear weapons explode.
November 1, 2022
This is what this book is:
“Table 12.46
PROBABILITIES OF GLASS FRAGMENTS PENETRATING ABDOMINAL WALL”
“12.50 Evaluation of human tolerance to decelerative tumbling during translation in open terrain is more difficult than for impact against a rigid surface described above.”
“LARGE DOSE (OVER 1,000 REMS):
SURVIVAL IMPROBABLE
12.122 Very large doses of whole-body radiation (approximately 5,000 rems or more) result in prompt changes in the central nervous system. The symptoms are hyperexcitability, ataxia (lack of muscular coordination), respiratory distress, and intermittent stupor. There is almost immediate incapacitation for most people, and death is certain in a few hours to a week or so after the acute exposure.”
The idea that this book has to exist is horrifying and is probably evidence that our species is doomed.
“Table 12.46
PROBABILITIES OF GLASS FRAGMENTS PENETRATING ABDOMINAL WALL”
“12.50 Evaluation of human tolerance to decelerative tumbling during translation in open terrain is more difficult than for impact against a rigid surface described above.”
“LARGE DOSE (OVER 1,000 REMS):
SURVIVAL IMPROBABLE
12.122 Very large doses of whole-body radiation (approximately 5,000 rems or more) result in prompt changes in the central nervous system. The symptoms are hyperexcitability, ataxia (lack of muscular coordination), respiratory distress, and intermittent stupor. There is almost immediate incapacitation for most people, and death is certain in a few hours to a week or so after the acute exposure.”
The idea that this book has to exist is horrifying and is probably evidence that our species is doomed.
September 29, 2017
A beast of a book that's highly technical at times. I had to skip the optional math heavy supplements of some chapters but still got the gist of them. Definitely worth the effort to read.
June 14, 2021
Great treatment of this niche topic.
May 19, 2013
This book was recommended to me by a nuclear engineering professor at Oregon State University. While other books on the subject give you pasteurized and digested view of the topic, this one presents the theory and studies that drive our conclusions about the effects of nuclear weapons. The 1977 edition (and perhaps others) comes with the "Nuclear Bomb Effects Computer" attached to the back cover--a stack of rotating paper disks for computing blast craters, thermal energy, etc.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews