W. Patrick McCray
Lawrence Badash's new book deftly weaves the science of nuclear doomsday with Reagan-era political debates and citizens' reactions. A Nuclear Winter's Tale shows, in surprising ways, how the science of nuclear war connected to other disciplines like ecology and meteorology. As we face new nuclear and climate-related perils, the story of nuclear winter exemplifies the challenge of providing essential yet contested scientific advice. This well-researched and clearly-written book is a must-read for anyone wishing to understand both the Nuclear Age and the complex relations between scientists, politics, and society.
From the Publisher
"Badash has written an exciting account of the 1980s' deep concern about nuclear winter in the scientific and political world. This book is an interesting story of the complex web of characters and motives." -- Warren M.
Washington , Senior Scientist and Head, Climate Change Research Section,
Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric
Research
David Kaiser
"A Nuclear Winter's Tale provides the first in-depth study of the science and politics of 'nuclear winter.' The book admirably weaves together a wide range of scientific and technical efforts, from basic physics and chemistry to meteorology,
ecology, nuclear-weapons design, and beyond. All the while, the book traces political developments, foreign policy, public relations, and media accounts across an international canvas. In addition to interviewing several key players in the controversy, Badash has tracked down obscure technical reports, back-room memos, and far-flung media coverage. He weaves all these together, skillfully explaining complicated scientific practices and political negotiations in a refreshingly clear manner. A major achievement."-- David Kaiser, MIT, author of Drawing Theories Apart
Warren Washington
"Badash has written an exciting account of the 1980s deep concern about nuclear winter in the scientific and political world. This book is an interesting story of the complex web of characters and motives." -- Warren M.
Washington, Senior Scientist and Head, Climate Change Research Section,
Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research