Command and Control
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Command and Control
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Narrated by:
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Scott Brick
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By:
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Eric Schlosser
About this listen
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Command and Control, a ground-breaking account of the management of nuclear weapons from Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation. Read by the award-winning narrator Scott Brick.
A ground-breaking account of accidents, near-misses, extraordinary heroism, and technological breakthroughs, Command and Control explores the dilemma that has existed since the dawn of the nuclear age: how do you deploy weapons of mass destruction without being destroyed by them? Schlosser reveals that this question has never been resolved, and while other headlines dominate the news, nuclear weapons still pose a grave risk to mankind.
Command and Control interweaves the minute-by-minute story of an accident at a missile silo in rural Arkansas, where a single crew struggled to prevent the explosion of the most powerful nuclear warhead ever built by the United States, with a historical narrative that spans more than fifty years. It depicts the urgent effort by American scientists, policymakers, and military officers to ensure that nuclear weapons can't be stolen, sabotaged, used without permission, or detonated inadvertently.
Schlosser also looks at the Cold War from a new perspective, offering history from the ground up, telling the stories of bomber pilots, missile commanders, maintenance crews, and other ordinary servicemen who risked their lives to avert a nuclear holocaust. At the heart of the book lies the struggle to prevent the explosion of a ballistic missile carrying the most powerful nuclear warhead ever built by the United States. Drawing on recently declassified documents and interviews with men who designed and routinely handled nuclear weapons, Command and Control takes listeners into a terrifying but fascinating world that, until now, has been largely hidden from view. It reveals how even the most brilliant of minds can offer us only the illusion of control. Audacious, gripping, and unforgettable, Command and Control is a tour de force of investigative journalism.
©2013 Eric Schlosser (P)2013 Penguin AudioWhat listeners say about Command and Control
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BSG_Fan
- 24-02-2023
Dysturbia
Really enjoyed this Audible. A very entertaining and interesting, but very disturbing listen. From what is presented, it is a miracle that there hasn't been a major nuclear catastrophe in America, or where it stores, drops or loses its nuclear weapons. I can only surmise it's the same behind the iron and bamboo curtains, and probably a good deal worse; and probably worse again on the sub continent and the Korean peninsula. I really enjoyed the way the story was woven together and presented. Well done Eric et al - good job! Cheers ;-D
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Joel
- 04-12-2019
An important Read...
This book was such an amazing read. Detailing the small stories and some of the crazy big stories throughout the end of WW2 and beyond, it a crazy ride through the history and detailing how close we were to world ending mistakes and decisions. Scott Brick narration is brilliant and Eric Sclossers compilation and skill to provide a coherent and extremely enjoyable story, makes this book a must have !
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Bob
- 28-05-2018
Very engaging and thoughtful.
This needs to be on the desk of every politician all over the world. Excellent
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sonja
- 27-01-2022
Fantastic insight
A great read (or listen) with multiple stories and accounts woven together to tell a scary truth about how close we often came to a nuclear disaster…
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- h3v4n5
- 09-08-2023
Both awe inspiring and terrifying
Command and Control was extremely well researched, constructed and told through many engaging and interesting stories of the cold war. It opened my eyes to the multitudes of various issues with command and control of nuclear weapons and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Well worth the 20ish hours.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jason
- 01-05-2017
Detailed and Eye-Opening
Having always wondered about just how safe nuclear weapons are and just how close the world has come to accidental or unlawful detonations, I started this book hoping to get a detailed insight in to that secretive world. I was not disappointed.
Command and Control expertly weaves countless fascinating stories through a main storyline of an accident at a ballistic missile site in the US. It covers both the government-level policy and engineering-level detail for all aspects of nuclear weapons. Even with the fine detail - in fact, because of the fine detail - I was captivated through the entire book and was constantly amazed at just how disastrous the history of nuclear weapons has been. And how it easily could have been far worse.
The narration was one of the best, if not the best, that I have heard. The readers tone and inflictions expertly underscored the text and made listening to the book a real pleasure.
If you are remotely interested in the subject, I highly recommend this book.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andrew
- 16-06-2018
Great book
Great writing and the narrator was very good! Well worth it. I listened to it piecemeal, being long, but every bit was interesting!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Damon
- 28-12-2016
excellent.
I found this a remarkably suspenseful tale, exciting and well told. The historical interposed with the drama and facts. well researched.
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- Mr
- 22-02-2015
More relevant the further it gets from events
This book, whilst seemingly about the management (or not) of the US nuclear program, tells a much deeper story about the limits of human capacity to manage risk. Exploring in detail the risks, and risk management strategies put in place, it masterfully avoids becoming dry by weaving in the personal stories of those involved.
Both terrifying and hopeful, this book gently examines the edges of human capacity, and the likelihood of accidental Armageddon.
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- matt r.
- 25-06-2018
stunning, educational and terrifying
stunning, educational and terrifying be prepared for an edge of your seat ride through 50 years of history where you can't help but ask "how did we make it through that? "
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