Science, Technology and the Nuclear Arms Race

By Dietrich Schroder and Dietrich Schroeer

Book Overview

A comprehensive survey of the nuclear arms race from a technological point of view, which will appeal to the scientist and non-scientist alike. Provides information for the layman on this current topic and is designed for undergraduate courses in political science, history, international studies, as well as physics courses on the subject. Explores the motivation behind the development of various nuclear arms technologies and their deployment and examines the effects these technologies have on military, political and social strategies. Discusses the nature of deterrence and alternatives to it, arms control, and disarmament.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471881414
• ISBN13: 9780471881414
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book for Everyone - Easy to Comprehend

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When it comes to the technology surrounding nuclear weapons, many people assume that it is much too complicated a topic to ever understand. This book provides indepth study of what occurs physically when a nuclear weapon is detonated. Schroeer goes on to examine the history and political aspects of the nuclear age, ranging from the physical effects of the Hiroshima bomb to the theories of Robert MacNamara to the Mutually Assured Destruction scenario. Timely subjects for the post-9/11 world are covered as well, such as ballistic missle defense, arms control/nuclear proliferation, and civil defense against weapons of mass destruction. Further chapters examine biological and chemical weapons such as anthrax and VX nerve gas. What I enjoyed most about this book is that a person with a non-scientific background can understand the subject matter. There is such a panopoly of knowledge present here, it is a real tribute to the talent that went into writing this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.