Command and Control
By Eric Schlosser
Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety
Summary of Command and Control book by Eric Schlosser
An insightful and compelling history of the United States’ nuclear weapons, their manufacture and safety concerns, and the Damascus accident, based on research and interviews woven into story form.
Chapters in Command and Control book summary
What do you get from this book? A comprehensive understanding of the American nuclear weapons program and the Damascus accident
The first nuclear explosion, “trinity,” was carried out in secret in 1945; its force was stronger than anyone predicted
The Manhattan project was the combined effort of physicists from around the world
Pearl harbor launched the U.S. into world war ii; “fat man” and “little boy” were developed to destroy Japanese cities
Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed over 100,000 people and remain the only time atomic weapons were used in war
The cold war began in 1947 and lasted until 1991; the strategic air command was formed as a result
The nuclear arms race between the U.S. and Soviet Union escalated, nearly resulting in an “atomic blitz”
The hydrogen bomb and sputnik 2 created worldwide panic and propelled the 1950s push for more nuclear weapons
The single integrated operational plan (SIOP) was put in place to coordinate America’s nuclear attacks and cause massive destruction
Safety precautions developed by sac failed on multiple occasions, aided by a lack of military screening
September 18, 1980: the Damascus accident was caused by a series of mistakes and a lack of safety precautions
September 19, 1980: despite attempts to clear the silo of toxic fumes, it exploded, injuring over a dozen workers
Reagan and Gorbachev brought an end to the cold war and spurred the collapse of the soviet union
The modern military is no safer or more organized than past militaries, though “eco-friendly” warheads are being designed
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Command and Control — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Command and Control book
- military enthusiasts
- college students
- anyone with an interest in nuclear weaponry
About the author of Command and Control
Eric Schlosser
Investigative journalist Eric Schlosser is renowned for his groundbreaking exposés Fast Food Nation (2001) and Reefer Madness (2003). His investigative articles have won him the National Magazine Award and Sidney Hillman Foundation Award, and have appeared in The New Yorker and The Atlantic Monthly. Schlosser’s 2013 book Command and Conquer was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for History.
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