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Dark Sun

The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb

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Dark Sun

By: Richard Rhodes
Narrated by: Richard Rhodes
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About this listen

 Here, for the first time, in a brilliant, panoramic portrait by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb, is the definitive, often shocking story of the politics and the science behind the development of the hydrogen bomb and the birth of the Cold War.

Based on secret files in the United States and the former Soviet Union, this monumental work of history discloses how and why the United States decided to create the bomb that would dominate world politics for more than forty years. Americas History History & Philosophy Military Science United States Weapons & Warfare World Soviet Union Russia Cold War War Air Force
All stars
Most relevant
The Thermal nuclear weapons, the science, the history, the politics, the espionage, the arms-race and the Cold War; all in one book.
I wish that the author's "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" was also available as an audiobook.
Also wish that both were available as unabridged…

Essential history

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A relatively short audiobook. I'm not sure how much has been abridged, but thoroughly enjoyable and informative. The focus is on the years immediately following the end of the second world war. The main attraction of reading about the cold war, for me, is how it was largely a war of mind games between the superpowers, as opposed to a hot war where fighting takes place. This tells it from the American perspective and gives a fascinating insight into the doves and hawks within the US government and Strategic Air Command as they come to terms with the developing nuclear technology and the race to build a superbomb. The plans that were considered for a counter strike or even a pre-emptive strike against the USSR with a bomb that was thought could potentially be a doomsday weapon. A strategy that was chillingly termed 'Killing a nation'. Richard Rhodes reads his own book perfectly.

Killing a nation

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I loved reading Richard Roads other books listening was good as well. However what enjoyed especially about his books is his care for important details. I have the feeling this book was abridged a bit to rigorous.

Abridged version

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This is as good as it gets. A comprehensively detailed, yet accessible work that manages to deliver not only the facts but also the gravity and nuance without ever becoming laboured.
Read by the man himself. Unmissable.

Rhodes at his best

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